BERLIN, Feb 21, (V7N) - The 76th Berlin Film Festival concluded Saturday after 10 days in which its 22 competition films were overshadowed by debate over the role of politics in filmmaking.

The controversy began when jury president Wim Wenders responded to a question on German support for Israel by saying: “We cannot really enter the field of politics.” His remarks drew outrage, prompting novelist Arundhati Roy to withdraw from presenting her restored 1989 film.

A letter signed by dozens of film industry figures, including Javier Bardem, Tilda Swinton, and Adam McKay, condemned the Berlinale’s “silence on the genocide of Palestinians.” Festival director Tricia Tuttle rejected the accusations, calling them “misinformation.”

Despite the row, standout films included We Are All Strangers by Anthony Chen, a Singaporean family drama satirizing social disparities; Rose by Markus Schleinzer, featuring acclaimed German actress Sandra Hüller; and Queen at Sea by Lance Hammer, starring Juliette Binoche.

The festival also spotlighted repression in Iran, with director Mahnaz Mohammadi presenting Roya, and dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi denouncing government violence against protestors.

END/WD/RH