Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:02am on 14 Feb 2026,Saturday India Global
Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy has pulled out of the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) after jury president Wim Wenders and others said filmmakers should “stay out of politics” regarding the Gaza conflict. Roy, who was set to present her film in the festival’s Classics section, called their remarks “jaw-dropping” and “unconscionable.” She criticised the refusal to address humanitarian atrocities in Gaza and argued that artists have a responsibility to speak out against crimes against humanity. Her withdrawal highlights the growing debate over art, politics, and moral responsibility in global cinema. (PC: AFP)