“Free Palestine” shouts at the Berlinale film “No Other Land” British presenter accidentally reveals surprise party

During the premiere at the Berlinale, the Palestinian-Israeli film collective ‘No Other Land’ took a stand against the director’s position on the conflict in the Middle East and described Israel as an apartheid state. The four filmmakers called for a ceasefire in Gaza, but did not elaborate on their position against the Berlinale director.

The documentary ‘No Other Land’ is about the displacement of Palestinians in the villages of Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the West Bank. The film shows how Palestinian Basel Adra documents the gradual demolition of villages in his home region by soldiers on behalf of the Israeli government. Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham begins to support him in his efforts. “No Other Land” was filmed in October 2023; the Hamas massacre against Israel is only mentioned in passing in the film.

After the film, individual spectators in the audience shouted slogans such as ‘Free Palestine’ – two men calling for peace for Israel and Palestine were shouted down and insulted.

The Berlinale’s leading duo described the film festival in mid-January as a platform for peaceful dialogue about the conflict in the Middle East. Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian emphasized that their condolences go out to all victims of the crises in the Middle East and beyond. “We want everyone’s suffering to be noticed and for our program to open up different perspectives on the complexity of the world.”

Film festivals are “places of meeting and exchange and make an important contribution to international understanding,” said the joint statement accompanying the presentation of the program. (sda/dpa)