Celebrated Indian Author Arundhati Roy Withdraws from Berlinale Over Jury's Refusal to Comment on Gaza

Roy cited the "unconscionable statements" made by the jury when asked to weigh in on the political situation in Gaza.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Celebrated Indian author Arundhati Roy has withdrawn from presenting her 1989 campus comedy "In Which Annie Give It Those Ones" at the Berlinale film festival, citing the "unconscionable statements" made by the jury when asked to comment on the situation in Gaza. Roy said that "to hear them say that art should not be political is jaw-dropping" and a way of "shutting down a conversation about a crime against humanity even as it unfolds before us in real time."

Why it matters

Roy's withdrawal highlights the ongoing tensions between art and politics, and the pressure on high-profile artists and cultural figures to weigh in on global issues. The Berlinale jury's refusal to comment on Gaza has drawn widespread criticism, with many arguing that art and politics are inextricably linked.

The details

Arundhati Roy was scheduled to present her 1989 film "In Which Annie Give It Those Ones" as part of the Classics section at this year's Berlinale film festival in Berlin. However, she has now pulled out of the event, citing the "unconscionable statements" made by the jury when asked to comment on the situation in Gaza. Roy said that "to hear them say that art should not be political is jaw-dropping" and a way of "shutting down a conversation about a crime against humanity even as it unfolds before us in real time."

  • Arundhati Roy was scheduled to present her film at the Berlinale film festival in Berlin in 2026.

The players

Arundhati Roy

A celebrated Indian author who was scheduled to present her 1989 film "In Which Annie Give It Those Ones" at the Berlinale film festival.

Berlinale Jury

The jury panel for the Berlinale film festival, which faced criticism for refusing to comment on the situation in Gaza when asked.

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What they’re saying

“To hear them say that art should not be political is jaw-dropping. It is a way of shutting down a conversation about a crime against humanity even as it unfolds before us in real time — when artists, writers, and filmmakers are perhaps the only ones who can keep that conversation alive.”

— Arundhati Roy (The Wire)

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing debate around the relationship between art and politics, and the pressure on high-profile artists to use their platforms to address global issues. Roy's withdrawal from the Berlinale festival underscores the challenges faced by cultural institutions in navigating these complex and sensitive topics.