Arundhati Roy quits Berlin film festival over ‘stay out of politics’ comment

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Reporting by Mia Reynolds

2 MIN READ • VERIFIED BUREAU

20:58 AEST

13 February 2026

Arundhati Roy quits Berlin film festival over ‘stay out of politics’ comment

Analysis Update: Feb 13, 2026

Arundhati Roy quits Berlin film festival over ‘stay out of politics’ comment
Editorial Note: Verified report synthesized from primary documentation released within the last 24 hours.

Core Summary: Arundhati Roy quits Berlin film festival over ‘stay out of politics’ comment

The recent development involving Arundhati Roy quits Berlin film festival over ‘stay out of politics’ comment has triggered a necessary re-evaluation of established standards. Industry observers are looking closely at the data points emerging from this update.

Author says she is ‘disgusted’ by claim from jury president Wim Wenders that film-makers should remain apolitical

The author Arundhati Roy has withdrawn from the Berlinale after the film festival’s chief jurist said film-makers must stay out of politics.

The festival got off to a shaky start on Thursday after the competition jury, led by the German film-maker Wim Wenders, fielded questions about the conflict in Gaza. Asked if films can affect political change, Wenders said that “movies can change the world” but “not in a political way”.

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Analytical Perspective on Arundhati Roy quits Berlin film festival over ‘stay out of politics’ comment

Primary indicators suggest this shift is driven by structural market adjustments. Analysts observe that Arundhati Roy quits Berlin film festival over ‘stay out of politics’ comment signals a departure from historical patterns, necessitating a more agile approach to policy and oversight.

Original report and verified details: Source Verification.

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