German filmmaker Wim Wenders has clarified his controversial comments about the role of filmmakers in politics, saying his point was not that filmmakers should avoid politics altogether.
Speaking at a press conference at the Venice Film Festival, Wenders said filmmakers operate from a fundamentally different mindset than politicians and described cinema as an antidote to political thinking.
His comments come months after remarks at the Berlin Film Festival triggered a major debate over whether filmmakers and festivals should take political positions on issues such as the Gaza war.
What Wenders said in Venice
Wenders was asked Sunday to reflect on the comments he made while serving as president of the Berlinale’s international jury in February.
He said he could repeat what he said in Berlin, but acknowledged that he could have been more explicit.
Wenders explained that filmmakers are, in his view, “the opposite of politicians” because they work through empathy.
His argument was that politics operates without the same emphasis on empathy, while filmmakers approach stories through human experience and emotional understanding.
“We have a very different thing,” Wenders said, according to Variety.
He argued that filmmakers work with a different set of rules and are interested in changing things, while politics is more concerned with confirming what already exists.
‘Stay out of politics’ was not what he meant
The controversy began after Wenders spoke at the opening press conference of the 2026 Berlin Film Festival in February.
Asked about the political role of cinema amid questions surrounding Gaza, Wenders said movies could change the world but not necessarily through direct political action.
He argued that filmmakers should act as a counterweight to politics rather than become political actors themselves.
The remarks were widely interpreted as Wenders calling on filmmakers to stay out of politics.
That interpretation is what Wenders is now pushing back against.
At Venice, he said that “we have to stay out of politics” was not an accurate representation of what he intended to say.
He stressed that filmmakers can do the opposite of politicians while still addressing issues that affect society.
“We are the antidote,” he said.
Berlin comments sparked a festival-wide debate
Wenders’ original comments quickly became one of the biggest controversies of the Berlinale.
The debate intensified as filmmakers and actors were repeatedly asked about politics, Gaza and the responsibilities of artists during the festival.
Indian author Arundhati Roy withdrew from the Berlinale after criticizing Wenders’ remarks, calling the idea that art should remain outside politics deeply troubling.
The Berlin festival subsequently defended its filmmakers and jury after the controversy grew.
The episode also highlighted a longstanding question in international cinema: Should filmmakers directly engage with political issues, or can films create social change without becoming political statements?
Maggie Gyllenhaal offers a different view
The discussion has continued at Venice.
Venice jury president Maggie Gyllenhaal has argued that movies are inherently political.
Speaking at the opening of the festival, she said cinema can create opportunities for people to find empathy within themselves, particularly when confronting difficult or morally complicated subjects.
That creates an interesting contrast with Wenders’ position.
Both filmmakers emphasize empathy, but Wenders sees cinema as a counterweight to political thinking, while Gyllenhaal argues that the very act of making and presenting films is fundamentally political.
Wenders is at Venice with a new documentary
Wenders’ comments came as he presented his latest documentary, “From Inside Out – The Architecture of Peter Zumthor.”
The film explores the work and philosophy of Swiss architect and Pritzker Prize winner Peter Zumthor.
According to the official Venice program, the 114-minute documentary uses immersive 3D cinematography to explore Zumthor’s buildings through the experiences of visitors, residents and craftspeople.
The documentary is being shown out of competition at Venice.
Why his clarification matters
Wenders’ latest remarks do not amount to a reversal of his Berlin position.
Instead, he is trying to make the distinction he believes was lost in the original controversy: filmmakers do not need to behave like politicians in order for cinema to influence society.
For Wenders, that influence comes through empathy, human stories and the ability of films to change how people see the world.
His comments are likely to keep the debate alive at a time when major film festivals are increasingly being asked to respond to wars, human rights issues and political conflicts.
And this time, Wenders appears determined to make sure his position is not reduced to the phrase that caused the original backlash: “stay out of politics.”
