France, Feb. 19 -- Now in its 76th year, the Berlin Film Festival has never been a stranger to political statements.

But this year the Berlinale - partly funded by the German government and with a reputation as one of Europe's most progressive big festivals - has come under fire from members of the film industry themselves.

In an open letter published by the Film Workers for Palestine collective on Tuesday, prominent figures condemned what they called "institutional silence on the genocide of Palestinians".

"We write as film workers, all of us past and current Berlinale participants, who expect the institutions in our industry to refuse complicity in the terrible violence that continues to be waged against Palestinians," it stated.

Am...