Letter Signed by Over 80 Celebrities Protests Berlin Festival’s Political Silence; Ethan Hawke: Don’t Ask Political Questions of “a Bunch of Drunk, Tired Artists”
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, more than 80 artists who have previously attended the Berlin International Film Festival published an open letter condemning the event’s stance on the Gaza war and what they described as the “censorship” of figures who spoke out. Among the signatories are actors Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem, Tatiana Maslany, Peter Mullan, and Tobias Menzies, as well as directors Mike Leigh, Lukas Dhont, Miguel Gomes, and Adam McKay.
The artists criticized what they called the Berlinale’s “silence,” stating that they expect entertainment industry institutions “not to be complicit in the horrific violence continuing against the Palestinian people.”
The letter was published just days after the start of the festival and the unexpected refusal of jury president Wim Wenders to answer political questions at a press conference. Wenders and other jury members declined to respond to a question regarding the German government’s support for Israel. They argued that filmmaking is “the opposite of politics” and that the Berlinale should distance itself from political matters.
Festival director Tricia Tuttle later issued a statement amid the backlash, saying: “Artists should not be expected to comment on broader debates surrounding the positions of previous festival editions or its current activities over which they have no control.”
In another section of the letter, the 80 artists strongly disagreed with Wenders: “One [politics] cannot be separated from the other [art].” They added that the international film community is changing, noting that more than 5,000 filmmakers—including major Hollywood stars—have boycotted Israeli film companies.
Following Wenders, several other celebrities, including Neil Patrick Harris and Michelle Yeoh, avoided political questions in various ways, while Rupert Grint had previously stated: “Obviously, I oppose fascism.”
Meanwhile, Ethan Hawke faced another political question during a press conference for the film The Weight. When asked about the Berlinale’s silence regarding the “ongoing genocide” in Gaza and the resurgence of “fascism” in Europe and the United States, he replied: “Anything that fights fascism, I support.”
He began his response by saying: “The last place you’d go seeking spiritual guidance is a bunch of tired, drunk artists talking about their movie.”
After receiving applause, Hawke continued: “That said, I love cinema, and I believe in its power… It’s like a dream that heals us and prepares us for the next day. I feel that all of us at this festival are responsible for creating an international dream life.”
He added: “We’re not telling anyone what they should do. We’re just citizens expressing our opinions, and you can interpret them however you like. We are not the greatest thinkers in the world who can bring about peace. It seems incredibly difficult for humanity, and the more we talk about it, protecting children becomes the priority. That is our duty as adults. I feel your question comes from a political position different from mine. But I respect you and your question.”
Hawke stars in The Weight as Samuel Murphy, who, after the death of his wife, is imprisoned and sent to a labor camp run by a man played by Russell Crowe. Seeking only freedom and a chance to reunite with his daughter, he becomes entangled in the camp leader’s gold-smuggling scheme.
