Overview
- The Tunisian director left the “Most Valuable Film” trophy on stage, saying peace requires justice and accusing the Israeli army of killing Hind Rajab, her family and two paramedics with the complicity of powerful governments.
- The Voice of Hind Rajab reconstructs the five-year-old’s January 2024 emergency calls after her family’s car came under Israeli fire in Gaza, with the Palestine Red Crescent later reporting her body was found nearly two weeks later.
- The protest coincides with open letters coordinated by Film Workers for Palestine and signed by more than 80 Berlinale alumni, including Javier Bardem, Tilda Swinton, Mark Ruffalo and Brian Cox, accusing the festival of anti-Palestinian bias.
- Festival director Tricia Tuttle rejected claims of censorship, called for adherence to international law and cautioned that official pronouncements risk oversimplifying the conflict.
- Jury president Wim Wenders’ call for filmmakers to “stay out of politics” prompted further backlash and withdrawals, while Ben Hania’s film continues to earn major honors from Venice to Oscar nominations.