Home / Arts and Entertainment / Berlinale Jury Head: Film's Empathy, Not Politics
Berlinale Jury Head: Film's Empathy, Not Politics
12 Feb
Summary
- Cinema can foster empathy and change people's daily lives.
- Filmmakers should remain separate from political decision-making.
- The Berlinale jury will award Golden and Silver Bears to 22 films.
Veteran director Wim Wenders, assuming the jury presidency for the 76th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), has highlighted cinema's profound capacity for empathy and healing.
Speaking at the festival's opening on February 2024, Wenders described filmmaking as a tool for building bridges and fostering understanding. He suggested that while movies may not sway political decisions, they can significantly alter individual perspectives on life.
Wenders advocated for a separation between filmmaking and direct political action, stating that cinema's role is to be the "counterweight" to politics, focusing on human experiences rather than partisan agendas.
The Berlinale, one of Europe's most politically attuned film festivals, will screen 22 features for its top Golden and Silver Bear awards. The festival opened with "No Good Men," Afghanistan's first rom-com, and will feature new works from numerous international stars.
