At the Berlinale closing event several prizewinners transformed acceptance speeches into pointed political statements, reigniting debates about free speech and festival responsibility
What happened
The Berlinale’s closing night, meant to be a celebration, turned into a raw, politicized moment. Several winners used their acceptance speeches to speak about the violence in Gaza and to call out the festival for how it has handled political debate. What might have been applause and glamour instead grew tense: laureates appeared onstage wearing keffiyehs and brandishing flags, asking for solidarity, accountability and an end to suffering they described as tantamount to genocide. The audience responded in fits and starts—applause, interruptions, heated exchanges—while hosts tried to steer the program back to order and security occasionally intervened.
Voices from the stage
Abdallah Al‑Khatib, who won Best Feature Debut for Chronicles From the Siege, stood beside a Palestinian flag and spoke with visible urgency. Wearing a keffiyeh, he said he felt compelled to speak for his people, accused the German government of complicity in Gaza, and urged filmmakers to keep resistance and human dignity at the center of their work. Short‑film winner Marie‑Rose Osta folded thanks into a stark image: she contrasted an allegorical child who could topple fighter jets with the real, fragile children in Lebanon and Palestine, insisting their protection is non‑negotiable.
Other winners offered different responses. Golden Bear recipient İlker Çatak did not launch into politics; he thanked his collaborators and pointed out a scene in his film that mirrored the divisions he’d seen in Berlin. Still, the festival’s prizes tended to favor films that probe state violence, repression and civic rights—an unmistakable tilt toward politically engaged cinema.
How the festival reacted
Festival director Tricia Tuttle and jury president Wim Wenders addressed the fallout from the stage. Wenders urged dialogue, compassion and mutual respect, while Tuttle defended the Berlinale as a forum for debate, saying artists will sometimes voice views that make people uncomfortable. Host Désirée Nosbusch repeatedly attempted to keep the evening focused on honoring filmmakers, even as she acknowledged winners’ right to speak. The result was an on‑air atmosphere that grew tense at times: speeches were shortened or paused, interruptions punctuated the program, and security had to step in on several occasions.
The wider fallout
Criticism came from multiple directions. Some attendees and signatories of an open letter faulted the festival’s response to Gaza, arguing it hadn’t done enough; others insisted cultural events should remain neutral spaces devoted to art. The controversy pulled in festival leadership, jurors and outspoken artists and spilled into screenings and panel discussions throughout the event.
What this means for festivals
The episode exposes a dilemma facing cultural institutions: programming and politics are no longer easily separated. Curators must balance the value of free expression with concerns about safety, audience dynamics and the expectations of a varied public. Decisions about who may speak, when and under what conditions have shifted from logistical details to major policy questions that festivals will increasingly have to confront.
What comes next
Organizers are under pressure to set clearer rules on political expression and how to handle disruptions. Industry figures are calling for firmer moderation standards at public events. Coverage will continue to track official responses from festival authorities, statements from award recipients and any further developments.
Highlights from the ceremony
– Multiple winners explicitly described the situation in Gaza as genocide and demanded accountability from public institutions. – Interruptions and onstage confrontations forced several speeches to be cut short or altered; security intervened repeatedly. – The awards reflected a political current, honoring films that interrogate state power, repression and human rights.
We will update this story as verified information and official statements become available.