Congrats to Emin Alper at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival

I am losing my respect for Wim Wenders fast, but I continue to admire Emin Alper. I remember Emin from our college days as a nice, calm person.

Here’s what happened at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale 2026):

The Context: Wim Wenders’ Controversy

German filmmaker Wim Wenders, serving as jury president of the 76th Berlinale, sparked controversy during the festival’s opening press conference when asked about the war in Gaza and Germany’s role. He stated that filmmakers should “stay outside politics” and that “films can change the world, but not in a political way”. Polish jury member Ewa Puszczyńska described the issue as “complex” and “a little unfair,” arguing that artists shouldn’t be held responsible for state decisions.[instagram]​

These remarks triggered significant backlash. Indian writer Arundhati Roy, who was invited as a guest speaker, withdrew from the festival, calling the stance “unfathomable” and describing it as a way of silencing speech “while a crime against humanity is underway”.[instagram]​

Emin Alper’s Speech at the Kurtuluş Premiere

Turkish filmmaker Emin Alper premiered his new film Kurtuluş (Salvation) in the main competition (Golden Bear contender) on February 15 at the Berlinale Palast. The film explores how a community can come to commit horrific crimes. After the screening, which received a prolonged standing ovation, Alper took the stage and delivered a powerful speech that directly contradicted Wenders’ call for political neutrality:anews.com+1

“This film is about how a community can perpetrate terrible crimes. History is full of such stories… and unfortunately, so is the present. Today, we are witnessing the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza. The only thing that can stop these crimes is a strong reaction from the world — yet we have abandoned Palestine.”anews.com+1

He went further, stating: “Whether it is Western powers complicit in this crime or autocratic regimes outside the West, we cannot rely on governments. We must rely only on ourselves and on the peoples of the world; we must stay alert, stand up together, and become the force of change”.[instagram]​

Aftermath and Significance

Alper’s speech was met with prolonged applause from the audience, marking one of the festival’s most defining political moments. Kurtuluş is the first Turkish film accepted into the Berlinale main competition since Alper’s own Kız Kardeşler in 2019. The festival’s awards ceremony is scheduled for February 21. The entire episode underscored the ongoing tension at Berlinale 2026 between those calling for artistic neutrality and those insisting that art and politics cannot be separated, especially during active conflicts.