Tunisian Filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania Rejects Her Award at the Cinema for Peace Gala in Berlin
Published by La Presse – February 18 2026
Overview
At the Cinema for Peace Gala held in Berlin on Monday, Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania was honored for her film “The Voice of Hind Rajab.” Instead of taking the trophy home, she used her acceptance speech to launch an un‑filtered political statement, leaving the award on stage as a symbolic protest.
Key Points
| What happened | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Ben Hania’s film – nominated for the Academy Awards and BAFTA – won the “Most Precious Film” prize. | The accolade is usually a career milestone; her refusal turned it into a political act. |
| After her speech, she deliberately left the trophy onstage. | The gesture signaled dissent against the gala’s other honorees and the broader political climate. |
| The same evening, former Israeli general Noam Tibon was also recognized for “saving his family” during the Oct. 7 2023 attacks. | Pairing the two awards juxtaposed conflicting narratives, prompting Ben Hania to publicly reject the celebration. |
| High‑profile guests included Kevin Spacey (accused of sexual assault) and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. | Their presence highlighted the gala’s controversial mix of art, politics, and celebrity. |
| The gala runs parallel to the 76th Berlinale (Berlin International Film Festival) but is not part of the official program. | The Berlinale itself has been under fire for its stance on the Gaza conflict. |
Ben Hania’s Speech – A Call for Accountability
“I feel more duty than gratitude,” Ben Hania said, referring to her film that documents the Red Cross’s attempt to rescue Hind Rajab, a six‑year‑old Palestinian girl brutally killed by Israeli soldiers in 2024.
- “What happened to Hind is not an exception; it is part of a genocide.”
- She condemned narratives that frame such violence as legitimate self‑defence or justify it by “complexity of context,” arguing they silence protest voices.
- “Peace is not a perfume sprayed over violence to give power a veneer of refinement,” she warned, insisting cinema must not become a public‑relations tool.
Ben Hania added that lasting peace is impossible without accountability. She announced she would leave the prize in Berlin as a reminder:
“Justice demands responsibility. Without responsibility there is no peace,” she declared, recalling the murder of Hind, her family, and the paramedics who tried to help.
She concluded:
“Tonight I will not take this award home. I leave it here as a reminder. When peace is pursued as a legal and moral obligation based on accountability, I will return to accept it with joy.”
The Wider Controversy at the Berlinale
- Wim Wenders, head of the Berlinale jury, sparked outrage on Feb 12 during the opening press conference by stating that “cinema must stay out of politics,” despite Germany’s continued support for Israel amid the Gaza offensive, which a UN commission labeled a genocide in 2025.
- Indian author Arundhati Roy withdrew from the festival, calling Wenders’ remarks “unacceptable and unforgivable,” and arguing that claiming art should be apolitical “closes the debate on an ongoing crime against humanity.”
- In the Indian outlet The Wire, Roy wrote: “What is happening in Gaza is a genocide of the Palestinian people, backed by the United States, Germany, and other European nations.”
Film Program Adjustments
Two restored Palestinian‑related films were removed from the schedule in solidarity with Palestinian cinema:
- “Sad Song of Touha” by Atteyat Al Abnoudy
- “The Dislocation of Amberde” by Hussein Shariffe
The removal was announced jointly by La Cinémathèque du Caire and the directors’ families.
Institutional Responses
- Tricia Tuttle, director of the Berlinale, defended Wim Wenders, citing the “complexity of public discourse” artists face.
- Palestinian actress Hiam Abbas rebutted: “I disagree. Everything we do is political. Some filmmakers lack courage. If we avoid these topics, we make art for art’s sake, and that does not interest me.”
- Abbas attended the festival with “Only Rebels Win” by Danielle Arbid, playing a Christian Palestinian woman in love with a South‑Sudanese migrant.
The Berlinale continues to be criticized for its lack of a clear stance on Gaza, especially when compared to its vocal positions on the Ukraine war and Iranian protests. This episode reignites the debate over the political responsibility of artists and cultural institutions at a festival long regarded as a platform for activism.
Related Reading
Tunis applauds the bold move of Kaouther Ben Hania in Berlin
Keywords: Cinema for Peace Gala, Kaouther Ben Hania, Hind Rajab, Palestinian genocide, Berlin International Film Festival, Wim Wenders, Arundhati Roy, political art, accountability, peace, Gaza conflict.
