All articles tagged with #arundhati roy
At the 2026 Berlin Film Festival, controversy erupted after jury president Wim Wenders said movies can’t be political, prompting Arundhati Roy to withdraw and eliciting comments from stars like Neil Patrick Harris, Michelle Yeoh, Rupert Grint, and Tom Morello about the politicization of art and cinema’s role in addressing current events.
The Berlin film festival defended its filmmakers and jury after Wim Wenders’ comments that art isn’t inherently political drew criticism and led Arundhati Roy to withdraw; organizers argued artists should not be required to comment on every political issue and stressed the importance of context and artistic freedom.
The Berlinale issued a lengthy statement from festival head Tricia Tuttle in response to a media backlash over political questions, reaffirming that artists should not be expected to comment on every political issue and emphasizing the festival’s dedication to free expression and cinema.
The Berlinale issued a lengthy defense of its filmmakers and jury, notably jury president Wim Wenders, after a media storm over remarks suggesting filmmakers should stay out of politics; Arundhati Roy cancelled her visit in protest. Festival chief Tricia Tuttle contributed a reflection on 'Speaking, Cinema and Politics,' affirming artists’ right to free expression and saying they should not be pressured to comment on every political issue, while the festival continues to showcase diverse perspectives across 278 films.
Arundhati Roy’s 1989 English-language campus satire In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones is being restored by the Film Heritage Foundation for a Berlinale Classics world premiere in 2026, with a March Indian theatrical release to attract younger audiences. The film follows a group of Delhi architecture students, including Roy (as Radha) and Shah Rukh Khan in his screen debut, blending Hindi-English dialogue with witty critiques of bureaucracy and campus life, and is celebrated as a landmark in Indian cinema that still feels relevant to today’s institutions and youth culture.
Acclaimed author and activist Arundhati Roy criticizes the Indian government's treatment of minorities and the hosting of the G20 summit in India, stating that world leaders are aware of the human rights violations but won't address them. She highlights the excessive promotion of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the event, which she sees as a vanity event for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Roy warns that India is moving towards fascism and losing its democratic values, with violence against minorities increasing and the constitution being set aside. She emphasizes the need for global attention to prevent India from descending into chaos and war.