Berlinale Winners Condemn Israel’s Actions In Gaza & U.S. & German Governments At Highly Charged Closing Ceremony

A highly charged Berlinale closing ceremony saw multiple winners condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza, describing it as “genocide”. One winner, Abdallah Alkhatib, who picked up the evening’s Best Feature Debut prize for his film Chronicles From the Siege, also criticized the German government for what he described as its “complicity” in Israel’s actions. The speech […] Abdallah Alkhatib and Taqiyeddine Issaad accept the GWFF Best Feature Film Debut Award for “Chronicles From the Siege” on stage at the Award Ceremony of the 76th Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin at Berlinale Palast on February 21, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. Getty A highly charged Berlinale closing ceremony saw multiple winners condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza, describing it as “genocide”. One winner, Abdallah Alkhatib, who picked up the evening’s Best Feature Debut prize for his film Chronicles From the Siege, also criticized the German government for what he described as its “complicity” in Israel’s actions. The speech saw the ceremony’s host Désirée Nosbusch become emotional and get into back-and-forth with audience members who called out in support of the criticism of Israel and the German government. She reminded the audience and TV viewers that artists’ personal views don’t necessarily reflect those of the publicly-backed Berlinale. She also called on those heckling in the crowd to remain respectful. Related Stories News Tricia Tuttle On "Emotionally Charged" Berlinale: "We've Been Publicly Challenged This Year: And That's Good"