On February 18, 2026, more than 80 prominent figures from the film industry, including Oscar winners Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem, and Mike Leigh, condemned the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) for its 'institutional silence' regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The open letter, coordinated by the Film Workers for Palestine collective, accused the festival of 'censorship' and silencing artists who speak out against Israel's actions, labeled as genocide by various international organizations. The letter emphasized that filmmakers advocating for Palestinian rights faced aggressive reprimands from festival organizers last year, with one filmmaker reportedly investigated by police for a speech rooted in international law. This backlash was intensified by comments from the Berlinale's jury president, Wim Wenders, who suggested that filmmakers should 'stay out of politics.' His remarks prompted Indian author Arundhati Roy to withdraw from the festival, expressing her 'shock and disgust.'