CMAT Slams Berlin Film Festival's Political Retreat: 'It's Cowardice'

CMAT just delivered the kind of fiery backstage rant that makes you remember why live music matters. Fresh off her BRIT nomination for International Artist of the Year, the Irish singer-songwriter (real name Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson) torched the Berlin Film Festival's recent retreat from political discourse with all the intensity of a festival headliner closing out the main stage.

The whole mess started when veteran director Wim Wenders, serving as jury president at Berlinale, suggested cinema should "stay out of politics." After massive blowback, festival head Tricia Tuttle tried damage control, saying artists shouldn't be "expected to speak on every political issue." CMAT wasn't having any of it. "Everything is politics," she told the Guardian with the kind of conviction that fills arenas. "You don't get to make art in a fascist state. Fascism is on the rise in every single country in the world."

This isn't just philosophical posturing from someone riding high on critical acclaim. Her latest album landed at number four on NME's best of 2025 list, with critics praising how she "cemented herself as a generational talent." The record tackles everything from deep Irish trauma to capitalism through a Jamie Oliver metaphor, all within 50 minutes of brilliant songwriting. Her track "Take A Sexy Picture Of Me" hit number three on the year-end songs list.

CMAT called the festival's stance "cowardice," arguing that successful artists who distance themselves from politics have "wiped their hands clean" of responsibility to working classes and oppressed people. With her biggest UK and Ireland tour launching this month and major festival slots lined up including Mad Cool, TRNSMT, and Electric Picnic, she's proving that taking a stand doesn't hurt your drawing power. Sometimes the best shows come from artists who refuse to shut up and sing.