German director Wim Wenders used a press conference at the Venice Film Festival to clarify remarks that provoked criticism when he served as jury president at the Berlin film festival in February, saying filmmakers work from a different, more empathetic mindset than politicians.
Wenders rejects charge he told filmmakers to avoid politics
Asked whether he would revise earlier comments about the relationship between filmmaking and politics — remarks that drew particular attention amid debate over Germany’s support for Israel during the Gaza war — Wenders said he had been misunderstood. He insisted his point was not that artists should refrain from politics, but rather that they approach the world with empathy and an impulse to change it.
"We are not working with a mindset of politicians. We are working with a mindset of empathetic people. And we are into changing things. I say that again and I hope you're not misquoting me and saying we have to stay out of politics because we do the opposite. We are the antidote."
The director, known for films such as Paris, Texas, made the remarks while presenting a new documentary about Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. He reiterated that his earlier phrasing — reported by some outlets as suggesting filmmakers must "stay out of politics" — did not capture his intention.
Festival flashpoints and public reaction
Wenders’ clarification punctuates a broader pattern: European film festivals this year have frequently become forums for political debate, particularly in light of the Gaza conflict. Organisers, jurors and filmmakers have been pressed repeatedly to state positions, and their comments have been amplified and contested in the media.
At Venice’s opening press conference, fellow jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal offered a contrasting view, saying that films are "fundamentally, undeniably political." The exchange underscores an ongoing, unresolved question about whether cinema’s power rests in explicit advocacy or in the subtler shifts in perspective that art can produce.
- Wenders’ clarification: Filmmakers operate from empathy and seek change; not an admonition to avoid politics.
- Context: The comments were discussed amid debates over Germany’s stance during the Gaza war and the role of cultural figures in geopolitics.
- Industry reaction: Festival platforms and their leaders continue to be sites of contest over speech and responsibility.
What the director actually said — and where
At Venice, Wenders framed his remarks as a defence of an artistic mindset distinct from political calculation. He pointed to empathy as a defining trait of filmmakers and suggested that cinema’s strength lies in its capacity to alter how people see things rather than in exercising power in the way politicians do.
| Occasion | Reported remark |
|---|---|
| Berlin film festival (February) | Quoted by some as saying filmmakers "cannot really enter the field of politics" |
| Venice Film Festival (September) | Clarified that filmmakers are empathetic and seek change; rejected interpretation that they should stay out of politics |
Wenders also linked his remarks about politics to his new film on Zumthor, noting the relationship between politics and architecture. He contrasted prefabricated, efficient building approaches favoured in some political contexts with Zumthor’s handcrafted, singular structures — an analogy he used to highlight the disparity between political expediency and artistic singularity.
The exchange highlights a dilemma facing cultural institutions: how to balance artistic autonomy with the public expectation that high‑profile figures will address pressing geopolitical crises. For festival organisers and artists alike, the line between cultural expression and political stance remains contested.
Whatever the intent behind Wenders’ initial comments, his clarification at Venice aims to recalibrate the public record: that filmmakers, in his view, are not politically neutral by refusing engagement but instead approach change through empathy and creative practice.
