A Palestinian-Syrian film director accused Germany of being “partners in the genocide in Gaza by Israel” at the Berlin Film Festival, prompting a German minister to walk out of the awards ceremony.
The remarks by Abdallah Al-Khatib, whose “Chronicles From the Siege” won the Berlinale’s Perspectives section for emerging filmmakers, capped a politically charged festival, with organizers facing criticism from actors and directors for not taking a stance on the war in Gaza.
“Some people told me, maybe you have to be careful before you say what I want to say now, because you are a refugee in Germany, and there are so many red lines. But I don’t care. I care about my people, about Palestine,” said Al-Khatib, standing on stage with a keffiyeh scarf draped on his shoulder and raising a Palestinian flag at the end of his speech late on Saturday.
“So I will say my final word to the German government. You are partners in the genocide in Gaza by Israel. I believe you are intelligent enough to recognize this truth, but you choose not to care.”
German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, who was in the audience, walked out following the remarks. “The Federal Minister considers these statements unacceptable and therefore left the event during the speech,” a spokesperson said on Sunday.
Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor praised Schneider’s reaction to the speech. “Respect for Minister Schneider and his moral clarity,” he told Germany’s Bild newspaper.
On Friday, American actor Channing Tatum was asked by reporters during a Berlinale press conference whether he’d join over 80 other Berlin Film Festival alumni in signing an open letter to the festival’s organizers, requesting they take an official stance on Gaza.
Tatum hesitated to answer as other reporters present yelled out, “Oh no,” and “Ask about Hamas.”
Tatum stated he hadn’t fully heard the question before the festival staff thanked the original reporter for her question and said they would move on to the next question.
Berlin’s film festival, known by its nickname the Berlinale, has a reputation for being more politicized than its peers, Venice and Cannes, and this year’s edition was marked by frequent discussions about the Israel-Hamas War.
German director Wim Wenders used his final appearance as jury president to urge filmmakers and activists to act as allies, not rivals, after his comment that filmmakers should not be political caused Indian novelist Arundhati Roy to pull out.
Several other award winners used their speeches to express solidarity with Gaza.