The Berlin Film Festival (Berlinale) is known as an event that addresses political issues and defends human values, so it was expected that the war between Hamas and Israel would cast a shadow over the festival in its seventy-fourth edition through the increasing pace of discussions and protests during the events.
During the opening ceremony on February 15, some banners were raised on the red carpet reading “Free Gaza,” and although the ceremony did not stop, the noise increased over the following days.
Unexpectedly, about 50 pro-Palestinian people staged a protest on Sunday (February 18) at the European Film Market, one of the most prominent events of the festival where attendance is limited to film industry professionals.
Demand a strong statement
Not limited Criticisms Even some angry positions came from within the festival, as 60 contractors working in the festival signed an open letter demanding an official statement. An official statement from the festival sheds light on the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Artistic director Carlo Chatrian and executive director Marit Riesenbeek said the festival aims to create “a space for dialogue about the war in Gaza.” Photo: Jens Kalaene/dpa/picture alliance
In this, artistic director Carlo Chatrian and executive director Marit Riesenbeck expressed their sympathy for “all the victims of humanitarian crises in the Middle East” and that they want to “acknowledge the suffering of everyone and open our program to the most complex and diverse points of view in the world.”
However, this position did not meet the aspirations of the signatories of the letter, as they said: “We join the global solidarity movement demanding an immediate ceasefire and calling for the release of all hostages.” The letter added, “We need strong institutional positions at a time when the world is witnessing the loss of civilian lives in… Gaza “It is unimaginable, including the loss of the lives of journalists, artists and film workers, as well as the destruction of a unique cultural heritage.”
“Boycott Germany”
More than 100 participants in the screenings section of the expanded forum, which is known for its independent nature, signed an open letter in which they expressed their solidarity with four filmmakers who withdrew their works that were supposed to participate in the exhibition. the festival.
In a statement on Instagram, the four artists expressed their solidarity with the “Boycott Germany” movement, which calls for a boycott of state-sponsored cultural institutions in Germany, in protest against the country’s reluctance to call for a ceasefire.
Because of its Nazi past, Germany believes it has a historical responsibility to stand by Israel.
“Chikun” was based on the play “The Unicorn” by Eugène Ionesco, which chronicles the sudden rise of fascism before World War II. Image from: Agav Films
“Shikun”
What is noteworthy about the festival is that it witnessed the participation of a number of Israeli filmmakers who criticized the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israeli director Amos Gitai is one of the most prominent Israeli voices criticizing the Netanyahu government, as he participates in the festival By showing his latest film, titled “Chikun”, which is a work of a political nature, as it is based on the play “The Unicorn” by Eugene Ionesco, which narrates the sudden rise of fascism before World War II.
The idea for the film “Shikun” was born during the period of massive protests in Israel against Netanyahu’s controversial legal reform, which the opposition considered an attack on Israel’s democracy.
The film’s events take place in the Israeli “Chikon” residential complex, where authoritarian thinking is growing among some residents, while others decide to resist, according to an Agence France-Presse report.
Through the film, Gitai challenges viewers with an unconventional narrative structure, which emerged from his talk about how he is bored with the dominance of identical narrative narratives in films produced by the major live broadcast platforms in the world.
The film includes quotes from some of the world’s leading thinkers, from Umberto Eco to Robert Musil, in addition to excerpts from an article by Israeli journalist Amira Hass entitled: “I was just following orders.” What will you tell your children? Hass, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, wrote this article to her fellow Israelis to raise their awareness of the plight of Gazans.
Haas strongly criticized Germany’s position towards Israel after the attack on October 7, as she published a few days after the attack an opinion article in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz entitled “Germany! You have betrayed your responsibilities for a long time.”
Israeli director Amos Gitai said that Israel has become “a hostage to Netanyahu’s most right-wing coalition.”Photo: Ottavia Da Re/Sintesi/Photoshot/picture alliance
The film “Chikon” concludes with a quote from the poem “Think of Others” written by the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish in the late 1990s.
Gitai: Netanyahu poses a threat to Israel
During his participation in a round table organized on the sidelines the festivalGitai used very clear terms to express his opinions about the current Israeli government.
After stressing that Hamas’s terrorist attacks were unjustified, Gitai said that Israel had become “a hostage to Netanyahu’s most right-wing coalition,” adding that Netanyahu “is a person who is adept at manipulation at the highest levels.”
In an interview with DW, Gitai said that Netanyahu may “destroy Israel,” adding that the current prime minister “brought together the worst components of Israeli society from the extremist nationalist elements and the extreme racist and reactionary Orthodox figures who stand against… Women’s rights And gays. Therefore, it can be said that (Netanyahu) is an important element in this tragedy.”
Invitations to the German government
“Shikun” is not the only film participating in the festival that deals with… Conflict in the Middle East In the panorama section, the film “No Other Land,” which is a joint Palestinian-Israeli production, participates.
The documentary narrates the struggle of Palestinian activist Basil Adra, one of the film’s directors, for years against plans to displace the residents of his village located in “Masafer Yatta” with the aim of building a training ground for the Israeli army. “Masafer Yatta” is located in the part of the West Bank, or what is called (Area C), under security and administrative control of Israel.
The film documents the joining of Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham to Adra’s efforts after he became an activist after learning the Arabic language and witnessing the injustice being done to him. Israeli occupation.
A photo of the members of the “No Other Land” directing team: from left to right, Yuval Abraham, Hamdan Bilal, Rachel Szur, and Basil Adra. Photo from: Monika Skolimowska/dpa/picture alliance
The two activists believe that repression inevitably leads to violent reactions, which prompted them to call on Western countries to put more pressure on the Israeli government to end the occupation.
In an interview with DW, Abraham said, “I know that the Germans feel a lot of guilt for what happened during World War II,” adding that many of his relatives were killed during the Holocaust.
In his appeal, Abraham said: “Do not now turn this feeling of guilt into a weapon by rejecting the call for a ceasefire. It is better to use it to help us reach a political solution and put pressure on Israel To end the occupation.”
He added, “I believe that this would be the most ethical position that the government should take.”
Prepared by: Muhammad Farhan
The Berlin Film Festival hands out its prizes to the winners
After a long three-month wait due to the Corona pandemic, the awards for the 71st edition of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) were finally presented.
Image: Michael Sohn/AP/picture alliance
Outdoor ceremony
Finally, on Sunday (June 13, 2021), the winners received their awards at the Berlin Film Festival after a three-month wait. An outdoor ceremony was held on Museum Island in the German capital.
Image: Axel Schmidt/REUTERS/picture alliance
The “Golden Bear” award for best film went to the satirical film “Bad Luck Banging or Looney Born” by its Romanian director, Radu Jude.
Photo: Tobias Schwarz/REUTERS
The mask is present
The film was filmed during the pandemic and the actors appear wearing masks. The film’s events revolve around a school where problems occur due to a pornographic film. The film addresses the issue of social hypocrisy, through scathing images of contemporary society, from the army to clerics and pretenders of virtue.
Image from: Silviu Ghetie / Micro Film 2021
Jude previously won the Silver Bear for Best Director in 2015 for his film “Afrim!” In which he addressed the issue of racism against Roma people in Romania. Regarding his new film, Nadav Lapid, one of the jury members, said that “no one can remain indifferent” when he attends it.
Image from: Silviu Ghetie/Micro Film 2021
The Grand Jury Prize was awarded to Japanese director Ryosuke Hamaguchi for his film “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy.” A film that presented with great skill and depth three amazing stories about the great and rich coincidences in life and hidden illusions.
Image from: 2021 Neopa/Fictive
Jury Prize
The Silver Bear for the Jury Prize went to the documentary Mr. Bachmann and His Class, directed by German director Maria Speight. Its events revolve around a class in a German school and their distinguished teacher.
Image from: Madonnen Film
Silver Bear for Best Director, awarded to Dennis Nagy for Natural Light (Hungary). Its events take place in the period shortly before the end of World War II.
Photo by: Tamás Dobos
Best acting performance
The “Silver Bear” for best acting performance went to German Marne Eggert as best actress for her role in the tragic comedy film “Ish Bin Dain Mensch” (I Am Your Human). In it, she plays the role of a scientist testing a robot as a life partner.
Photo: Tobias Schwarz/REUTERS
Change the program
Due to the pandemic, the festival management was forced to reschedule its events. The festival was divided into two events spaced apart in time, one of which was held digitally last March, in light of which the winners were determined.
Image from: Christoph Soeder/dpa/picture alliance
The second will be held between the 9th and 20th of this month, where films will be shown to the public in open spaces. This coincided with the phase of easing restrictions in the German capital, Berlin. Writer: W.B
Image: Michael Sohn/AP/picture alliance
