arts24 - Political debate casts a shadow over 76th Berlin Film Festival
France 24
by Olivia SALAZAR-WINSPEARFebruary 18, 2026
Of the three major European film festivals, Berlin's annual event has often featured political films and commentary. Yet this year's jury president Wim Wenders stirred up controversy when he said that artists should "stay out of politics", prompting Indian author Arundhati Roy to cancel her appearance at the festival. Film critic Emma Jones brings us up to date on this heated debate and flags up the movies making headlines at the Berlinale so far.
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Originally published on France 24 on 2/18/2026