While the glitterati of Hollywood often use the global stage to champion safe, curated causes, the 76th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) witnessed a moment of raw, unscripted courage that didn’t come from a Western A-lister. Instead, it came from Pakistani auteur Sarmad Khoosat.
Khoosat was in Berlin for the world premiere of his latest independent feature, Lali, a film already being hailed as a poetic masterpiece of homegrown cinema. But when he took to the podium, he chose to use his visibility to address the elephant in the room: the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Breaking the “A-List” Silence
In a festival year where many high-profile attendees remained noticeably silent on the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, likely fearing professional blowback or “cancel culture”, Khoosat’s intervention was a stark contrast. While Hollywood’s heavy hitters stuck to prepared remarks about the “magic of cinema,” Khoosat used his platform to bridge the gap between art and the visceral suffering of humanity.
He spoke with a quiet intensity, reminding the international audience that cinema cannot exist in a vacuum. He pointed out how “we must stand on the right side of history.”
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‘Lali’ as a Vessel for Truth
The film Lali itself is a testament to Khoosat’s commitment to marginalized voices. By bringing this local Pakistani production to one of the world’s most prestigious “Big Three” festivals, Khoosat had already achieved a monumental win for South Asian cinema. However, by speaking out for Gaza, he ensured that his presence in Berlin was defined by more than just artistic merit; it was defined by moral clarity.
#Berlinale2026 Film #1 Lali
Dir: Sarmad Sultan Khoosat.
An impressive start to my festival, and such a surprise. Was joined by @FilmRookie290 for this one-
My rushed/morning review below 🪡 pic.twitter.com/TLYgQaJHbD— Sou (@soucekyoself) February 21, 2026
The Global Reaction
The speech has since resonated far beyond the theater walls in Berlin. On social media, fans and activists have lauded Khoosat for possessing the backbone that many Western celebrities seemed to have misplaced. For the Pakistani diaspora and the global South, Khoosat’s words were a reminder that the most powerful stories aren’t always the ones on the screen; sometimes, they are the ones told by the filmmaker standing in the spotlight, refusing to stay silent.
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