Eighty-one prominent filmmakers and actors have united to voice their concerns in an open letter to the Berlinale festival, condemning its perceived silence on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Their statement is in direct response to comments made by German director and jury president Wim Wenders, who urged artists during the festival's opening to 'stay out of politics.' The artists vehemently rejected Wenders' assertion, emphasizing the inseparable nature of cinema and political discourse.

The letter states that the artists are dismayed by the Berlinale's involvement in the censorship of those who raise their voices against the accusations of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza by Israel. They argue that the festival is neglecting its moral responsibilities in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis, and that the German government's role in facilitating these severe allegations cannot go unaddressed.

Signatories include a high-profile list of industry figures, such as Javier Bardem, Tilda Swinton, and Brian Cox, among others. This public outcry reflects a broader trend where artists feel a profound obligation to engage with pressing political issues, highlighting tensions within the art community regarding the intersection of politics and artistic expression, especially in contexts of war and human rights violations.