(Credits: Elena Ternovaja / YouTube Still)
Tue 17 February 2026 18:11, UK
Tilda Swinton and Javier Bardem are among 81 names from the film industry who have signed an open letter to the Berlin Film Festival, criticising the organisation’s “silence” on Palestine.
Berlinale has been at the centre of controversy throughout its run this year, following comments from its head juror, Wim Wenders, who said “we should stay out of politics” during the opening press conference, in response to a question about the German government’s funding of the festival and its complicity with Israel.
This prompted the head of the festival, Tricia Tuttle, to share a statement which said: “Artists should not be expected to comment on all broader debates about a festival’s previous or current practices over which they have no control.”
Huge backlash then ensued, with Indian author and activist Arundhati Roy pulling out of her planned appearance due to the controversy.
However, the pressure has now been taken one step further by more than 80 names who have previously appeared at the Berlin Film Festival, including the likes of Swinton and Bardem, signing an open letter on February 17th to say they are “dismayed” at these actions.
Per Variety, it states that they “expect the institutions in our industry to refuse complicity in the terrible violence that continues to be waged against Palestinians,” while deploring Wenders’s comments about keeping politics out of film as “You cannot separate one from the other.”
The letter, which is also signed by a range of film industry figures such as Angeliki Papoulia, Peter Mullan, Adam McKay, and Mike Leigh, pointed to the example of the Film Workers for Palestine group, which has made a commitment not to work with Israeli filmmaking institutions.
The signatories also noted that the festival had previously made “clear statements” condemning the “atrocities” taking place in other conflicts around the world, including Ukraine and Iran.
The letter ends by saying: “We call on the Berlinale to fulfil its moral duty and clearly state its opposition to Israel’s genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against Palestinians, and completely end its involvement in shielding Israel from criticism and calls for accountability.”
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