More than 80 prominent film industry figures, including Oscar winners Javier Bardem and Tilda Swinton, have issued a joint statement condemning the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). The group expressed dismay over the festival's "institutional silence" regarding the conflict in Gaza and accused the organisers of censoring artists who oppose the ongoing violence. 

The open letter was sparked by comments from this year's jury president, director Wim Wenders, who recently stated that the festival should "stay out of politics" when asked about the situation. Signatories argued that the festival has a responsibility to take a clear stance against what they described as "anti-Palestinian racism".