Arundhati Roy Quits Berlin Film Festival Over Gaza Remark: Key Points

Booker Prize-winning Indian author and activist Arundhati Roy withdrew from the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) after strongly criticising remarks made by members of the festival jury regarding the war in Gaza. Calling the comments “unconscionable,” Roy said artists cannot remain silent in the face of humanitarian crises, turning what was meant to be a cultural event into a wider debate about art, politics and moral responsibility.

Roy had been expected to attend a screening of In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones, the 1989 film for which she wrote the screenplay, selected this year for the festival’s Classics section.

Here are key points to know about her exit.

1. Protest After Comments by Jury

In a statement first published by The Wire, Arundhati Roy announced her decision to withdraw from the 2026 Berlinale after jurists, including jury president Wim Wenders, made remarks suggesting artists and filmmakers should “stay out of politics.”

Roy described those comments as “jaw-dropping”, saying they effectively shut down serious discussion of ongoing humanitarian crises such as the war in Gaza.

2. Roy’s Stand on Art and Responsibility

Roy has always been outspoken on political issues. In this case, she argued that art and politics cannot be separated when human lives are at stake. For her, staying quiet would mean accepting injustice.

“It is a way of shutting down a conversation about a crime against humanity even as it unfolds before us in real time,” Roy wrote in her statement.

That belief is what pushed her to step away from the festival, even though it meant missing an important moment in her film career.

3. The Film She Was Meant to Present

Roy was scheduled to attend a screening of her 1989 film In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones, which was being shown in a restored version.

She had earlier expressed excitement about the screening. Her withdrawal meant she would not be present for the event, even though the film remained part of the festival.

This has sparked the audience worldwide and divided opinions, wherein the decision of the filmmaker and novel is both appreciated for its moral stance and condemned in similar ways.

4. A Bigger Debate Beyond One Event

The controversy has sparked a larger discussion: should artists stay neutral during global conflicts, or do they have a duty to speak up?

Roy’s decision has divided opinion. Some see it as a strong moral stand, while others believe film festivals should remain focused on cinema, not politics.