An open letter signed by more than 80 international film professionals, including a pair of high-profile actors, criticizing Berlinale for silence on the Gaza War and accusing the festival of contributing to censorship of artists who oppose Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Following Arundhati Roy’s withdrawal from the festival after provocative remarks about staying out of politics, media coverage and pressure around political questioning at Berlinale press conferences intensified, prompting defense statements from festival director Tricia Tuttle.

The piece situates the debate within wider conversations about the role of artists in political advocacy and the responsibility of film institutions to address human rights issues.

Context includes ongoing Gaza conflict statistics, noting casualties on both sides since the Hamas attack in early October 2023, while the UN cautions about reliability of some figures.

The letter is framed within broader geopolitics at film festivals and media coverage of the Gaza conflict, with references to international legal considerations at the International Court of Justice.

The letter was published in Variety and calls for industry institutions to reject complicity and acknowledge the political dimensions of art amid the Gaza conflict.

Festival director Tricia Tuttle said many Berlinale filmmakers profess a deep respect for human dignity and would not remain indifferent to global suffering, noting conflicts in Gaza/West Bank, the DRC, Sudan, Iran, Ukraine, and beyond.

In 2024, Berlinale highlighted Palestinian dispossession in West Bank through the documentary No Other Land; German officials criticized some directors’ remarks during that year's awards ceremony.

The letter’s publication by Variety helped gather signatures from prominent creatives warning against perceived political neutrality in the face of humanitarian crises.

Additional context includes Berlinale press conference remarks and Ethan Hawke’s comments at a separate festival presser about artists opposing fascism.