Palestinian Artist Basma al-Sharif's Film Screening Sparks Controversy in Germany

Berlin-based Palestinian artist Basma al-Sharif presented her 16-mm film 'Morgenkreis' (2025) at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf in January 2026 as part of a series organized by student collective SPARTA. The event faced significant opposition from a pro-Israel advocacy group within Germany's Christian Democratic Party, which circulated a dossier of the artist's social media posts and demanded cancellation. Düsseldorf's mayor, antisemitism commissioner, and cultural minister joined calls to cancel. Academy director Donatella Fioretti refused to cancel but limited attendance to academy members due to security concerns. Protesters gathered outside the venue on January 21, 2026, while al-Sharif entered through a back entrance. The film explores themes of separation and institutional assimilation through a kindergarten scene, drawing parallels to displacement and diaspora experiences. Al-Sharif's work addresses Palestinian identity and the violence of separation from homeland.