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Arundhati Roy quits Berlinale jury

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Author Arundhati Roy withdrew from the Berlinale jury, saying she was disgusted after jury president Wim Wenders said films should "stay out of politics" and would not comment on Gaza.

by Henning Melber

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he-mel.bsky.social
Author Arundhati Roy, 'Shocked and Disgusted' by Jury's Gaza Remarks, Pulls Out of Berlinale 2026 thewire.in/politics/aut...
Author Arundhati Roy, 'Shocked and Disgusted' by Jury's Gaza Remarks, Pulls Out of Berlinale 2026
The Indian author, film maker and peace activist responds to a recent attempt by jury membres at the festival to deflect from the violence inflicted by Israel on the Gaza strip.
thewire.in
February 13, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Público
Cinema should not be political, Mr. Wenders? Yellow Letters is there to counter it

The first good film at the Berlinale is about the moral dilemma of an artist's resistance, directed by Turkish-German Ilker Çatak. Meanwhile, author Arundhati Roy canceled her planned visit to the festival.

Reposts 1 13h

Reposted by Catherine J. Frieman

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vietthanhnguyen.bsky.social
I love Arundhati Roy's courage, integrity, intelligence, and her artistry as a writer of fiction & nonfiction.

Wim Wenders, the jury chair, on being questioned about Gaza, said filmmakers have to stay out of politics. Roy said a genocide demands a response from everyone, artists included. I agree.
Arundhati Roy quits Berlin film festival over ‘stay out of politics’ comment
Author says she is ‘disgusted’ by claim from jury president Wim Wenders that film-makers should remain apolitical
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Le Monde
The writer Arundhati Roy cancels her Berlinale appearance after the jury refused to comment on Gaza

The Indian writer and activist deplored the jury's choice, including its president Wim Wenders, not to comment on Israel's actions in Gaza, which she calls genocide. “Let them know that history will judge them,” she fumed.

The writer Arundhati Roy cancels her Berlinale appearance after the jury refused to comment on Gaza
Reposts 27 14h

by Alex Callinicos

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alexcallinicos.bsky.social
Good for Arundhati Roy! m.thewire.in/article/poli...
Author Arundhati Roy, Shocked and Disgusted by Jurys Gaza Remarks, Pulls Out of Berlinale 2026 - The Wire
The Indian author, film maker and peace activist responds to a recent attempt by jury membres at the festival to deflect from the violence inflicted by Israel on the Gaza strip.
m.thewire.in
February 13, 2026 at 7:38 PM
The Guardian
Arundhati Roy is right, not Wim Wenders – here are eight films that have changed politics

From ‘honour’ killings to nuclear war, some screen works have led directly legislative action - despite what jury head Wenders suggested at the Berlin film festival Should film festivals be more than just screenings and red carpets? Should they prompt us to think about the role cinema plays in the world? Novelist Arundhati Roy certainly thinks so. She pulled out of the jury at the Berlin festival in protest at jury president Wim Wenders’ claim that films should “stay out of politics” ; she said Wenders’ stance was “unconscionable”, and that to “hear [him] say that art should not be political is jaw-dropping. ” Wenders had suggested that cinema is a way to build empathy, but not directly change politicians’ minds. However this is simply not true. Some films - both documentary and narrative - have not only changed public opinion about social issues but led directly to legislation. Despite evidence to the contrary, politicians are people too. They can be moved. And sometimes they are even moved to action. Continue reading. . .

Arundhati Roy is right, not Wim Wenders – here are eight films that have changed politics
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Süddeutsche Zeitung
Berlinale: 'Shocked and Disgusted'

The writer Arundhati Roy cancels her trip to the Berlinale because the Wim Wenders-led jury refuses to issue a statement on Gaza's suffering. But must artists be forced to publicly take a position in the Middle East conflict?

Berlinale: 'Shocked and Disgusted'
Reposts 0 16h

Reposted by Mohan J. Dutta

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Der Spiegel
Arundhati Roy won't attend Berlinale because of Wim Wenders' remarks

Wim Wenders called cinema a 'counterweight to politics' and did not want to comment on the Gaza war as jury president of the Berlinale. Therefore the Indian author Arundhati Roy canceled her trip to the festival.

Arundhati Roy won't attend Berlinale because of Wim Wenders' remarks
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La Repubblica
Berlinale, Arundhati Roy Pulls Out: 'Wenders is disconcerting. Artists must talk about politics'

The writer withdraws from participating in the festival in protest at the jury president's decision not to address political topics.

Reposts 1 18h

by Gregory B. Lee

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gblee.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/film/2026/fe...
Arundhati Roy quits Berlin film festival over ‘stay out of politics’ comment
Author says she is ‘disgusted’ by claim from jury president Wim Wenders that film-makers should remain apolitical
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:57 PM
The Guardian
Arundhati Roy quits Berlin film festival over ‘stay out of politics’ comment

Author says she is ‘disgusted’ by claim from jury president Wim Wenders that film-makers should remain apolitical The author Arundhati Roy has withdrawn from the Berlinale after the film festival’s chief jurist said film-makers must stay out of politics. The festival got off to a shaky start on Thursday after the competition jury, led by the German film-maker Wim Wenders, fielded questions about the conflict in Gaza. Asked if films can affect political change, Wenders said that “movies can change the world” but “not in a political way” . Continue reading. . .

Arundhati Roy quits Berlin film festival over ‘stay out of politics’ comment
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by Daniela Gabor

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danielagabor.bsky.social
catching up with this and what a shameful twisting of 'films are not political' from that Berlinale jury. - another reminder of the unbearable emptiness of liberal artists.

thank you Arundhati Roy!
February 13, 2026 at 2:46 PM

Reposted by Robin Celikates

7%
haymarketbooks.org
Author Arundhati Roy, 'Shocked and Disgusted' by Jury's Gaza Remarks, Pulls Out of Berlinale 2026
Author Arundhati Roy, 'Shocked and Disgusted' by Jury's Gaza Remarks, Pulls Out of Berlinale 2026
The Indian author, film maker and peace activist responds to a recent attempt by jury membres at the festival to deflect from the violence inflicted by Israel on the Gaza strip.
thewire.in
February 13, 2026 at 2:24 PM
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