Tunisian Director Declines Berlin Award in Protest Over Gaza Conflict
Tunisian film director Kaouther Ben Hania refused to accept an award at the Cinema for Peace gala in Berlin on Monday, February 19, 2026, leaving the “Most Valuable Film” prize on stage as a demonstration against what she described as international political support for Israel’s actions in Gaza. The move underscores a growing wave of protest within the film industry regarding the ongoing conflict.
Ben Hania was recognized for her project, The Voice of Hind Rajab, but chose to produce a statement about the killing of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab and the two paramedics who attempted to rescue her. “Peace is not a perfume sprayed over violence so power can experience refined, and can feel comfortable,” Ben Hania told the audience. “If we speak about peace, we must speak about justice. Justice means accountability.”
According to reports, Ben Hania’s decision was also prompted by the fact that an Israeli general was honored at the same Berlinale gala. She stressed that the Israeli military killed Rajab, her family, and the paramedics, “with the complicity of the world’s most powerful governments and institutions.”
“I refuse to let their deaths become a backdrop for a polite speech about peace,” Ben Hania stated. “What happened to Hind is not an exception. It is part of a genocide.”
The director added that she would only accept the award “with joy” when peace is pursued as a “legal and moral obligation, rooted in responsibility for genocide.” The incident comes after other figures in the arts community have voiced their concerns, including Indian writer Arundhati Roy, who announced she would not attend the Berlin Film Festival after disagreements over the festival’s stance on political statements. The Berlinale has rejected accusations of censorship regarding filmmakers who have spoken out about the situation in Gaza.
The protest highlights the increasing intersection of art and activism, as filmmakers and artists use their platforms to address global political issues. Ben Hania’s gesture serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict and the demand for accountability.
