Artists turn the closing night of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival into a powerful protest against violence in Gaza and western silence
At the closing ceremony of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, filmmakers used their spotlight to condemn the ongoing war in Gaza and Western governments’ responses — in some cases rejecting awards or delivering impassioned speeches that shifted the night from celebration to protest.
A Politicized Finale in Berlin
This year’s Berlinale, traditionally a showcase of international cinema, became one of the most politically charged editions in its history. Against the backdrop of the devastating situation in Gaza, several award winners seized their moment on stage to speak out — transforming the closing gala into a platform for protest.
Lebanese Director Marie-Rose Osta Rejects Silence
One of the night’s most emotional moments came from Lebanese filmmaker Marie-Rose Osta, who won the Best Short Film award for Someday a Child. In her acceptance speech, she drew a stark contrast between her film’s fantastical premise and the brutal realities faced by children in Gaza and Lebanon.
Osta reminded the audience that while her fictional child protagonist might have “superpowers,” real children in Gaza and across Palestine do not have anyone strong enough to protect them from bombs and war. She stressed that no child should need superpowers just to survive. The speech directly criticized what she saw as international indifference and the veto powers of major world governments that have allowed the conflict to continue.
Palestinian-Syrian Filmmaker Abdallah Al-Khatib Takes the Stage
Palestinian-Syrian director Abdallah Al-Khatib — whose film Chronicles From the Siege won Best First Feature at the festival’s Perspectives section — also used his acceptance speech to make a powerful political statement.
Al-Khatib unfurled a Palestinian flag on stage and explicitly criticized the German government for what he called its “complicity” in Israel’s actions in Gaza. He told the crowd that as a Palestinian, he felt compelled to use the festival platform to speak for his people. He concluded with a bold vision: that one day a major film festival would be held in the heart of Gaza — a symbolic scene of freedom and resilience for cinema and for Palestinians alike.
According to international reporting, German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider reportedly walked out of the ceremony in protest at Al-Khatib’s comments.
Broader Industry Pushback Before the Ceremony
The protests at the Berlinale’s finale were foreshadowed by broader industry dissent. Dozens of international filmmakers, writers and actors — from Tilda Swinton to Javier Bardem and Mike Leigh — signed an open letter earlier in the festival condemning the Berlinale’s leadership for what they saw as censorship of artists who wished to speak out against the war in Gaza. This letter accused the festival of institutional silence and urged a clearer stance from the organization.
Separately, Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania publicly declined a film award at a Berlin gala earlier in the festival in protest over the event’s decision to honor an Israeli military figure alongside artistic guests — a rejection framed as opposing what she called genocide in Gaza.
Closing Thoughts
What was meant to be a night celebrating the world’s cinema instead became a global flashpoint: artists standing in solidarity with civilians affected by war and calling attention to human suffering far beyond the silver screen. The debate opened at the Berlinale continues to unfold in cultural and political circles worldwide.
From: Tasnimnews