BERLIN: Award-winning Indian writer Arundhati Roy withdrew from the Berlin Film Festival on Friday, citing jury head Wim Wenders’ comments that cinema should “stay out of politics” when asked about Gaza.
Roy told AFP that she was “shocked and disgusted” by Wenders’ response to a question on Palestinian territories during a press conference on Thursday. Roy, whose novel “The God of Small Things” won the 1997 Booker Prize, had been named as a festival guest to present a restored version of the 1989 film “In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones,” which she acted in and authored the screenplay for.
However, she stated that the “unconscionable” sentiments made by Wenders and other jury members prompted her to reconsider, “with deep regret.When asked about Germany’s support for Israel at a press conference on Thursday, Wenders replied, We cannot really enter the field of politics,” and defined filmmakers as “the counterweight to politics.”
Ewa Puszczynska, another jury member, said it was “little bit unfair” to expect the jury to take a direct stance on the matter. Roy noted in her statement that “hearing them say that art should not be political is jaw-dropping.
Also Read:
Saudi–Pakistan Meeting Highlights Joint Action Plan Against Drug Smuggling
Dana Odeh: Empowering Ethical Fashion Through Rock N Shine
