Middle East crisis, Ukraine and far right combine to disrupt Berlin film festival

Jury president Lupita Nyong’o and colleagues were involved in a heated press conference opening a film festival with a history of political engagement

The most political of the big international film festivals is bracing for an even more “spicy” edition than usual, Berlinale jury president Lupita Nyong’o said, as geopolitical tensions bubbled to the surface during the opening press conference.

Berlin traditionally prides itself on its status as the most argumentative of the big three European film festivals, but this year’s event is being buffeted by multiple storms. Bloodshed in the Middle East, the rise of far right parties across Europe, as well as a war in Ukraine entering its third year, were all urgently knocking on the door as the festival’s jury introduced itself on Thursday morning.