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Berlin film festival fends off criticism after jury president Wim Wenders rebuffs calls to criticize Israel

JL;DR SUMMARY The Berlin International Film Festival faces controversy after its jury president, Wim Wenders, declined to make a political statement about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, prompting criticism from artists and the withdrawal of author Arundhati Roy. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Israel Palestine ConflictGazaBerlin Film FestivalArt And PoliticsArundhati RoyWim WendersJury CriticismFree Speech In ArtBerlinale HistoryFestival Controversy

Places mentioned

Berlin, Germany
"BERLIN The renowned Indian author Arundhati Roy has announced she will not attend Berlins annual international film festival over its jurys refusal to comment on the war in Gaza."
Gaza, Palestinian Territories
"The renowned Indian author Arundhati Roy has announced she will not attend Berlins annual international film festival over its jurys refusal to comment on the war in Gaza."
Iran
"was responding to a question from a journalist who accused the festival of showing solidarity with people in Iran and Ukraine, but not with Palestinians."
Ukraine
"was responding to a question from a journalist who accused the festival of showing solidarity with people in Iran and Ukraine, but not with Palestinians."
Poland
"Another jury member, the Polish film producer Ewa Puszczynska, said that it was not fair to ask the judges about government positions on the war in Gaza."
Germany
"Germany has maintained firm prohibitions on some forms of Israel criticism even as challenges to its conduct in Gaza have surged among many Germans and artists worldwide."
Lebanon
"Following a screening of her short film about a boy in Lebanon who lives against the backdrop of Israeli warplanes overhead, meanwhile, director Marie-Rose Osta told the audience that, in case they did not know where Lebanon is, it is north of Palestine, which some of you may call Israel."

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Retrieved 2026-02-18 05:30:56 UTC
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