Filmmakers support Tuttle in an open letter

“When the future of the festival management is decided in an extraordinary meeting, there is more at stake than a personnel issue. It is about dealing with artistic freedom and institutional independence.”

Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer has called an extraordinary supervisory board meeting for this Thursday. According to the “Bild” newspaper, Tuttle could leave her post early. The American has been directing the Berlinale since 2024. Weimer’s spokesman and the Berlinale did not comment on this.

During the festival there were several debates about how to deal with the Middle East conflict. Several filmmakers such as Swinton and Javier Bardem had accused the Berlinale of not siding with the Palestinians in the Gaza war. In Germany, however, a speech by the Syrian-Palestinian director Abdallah Alkhatib was met with strong opposition.

He had accused the federal government of being a partner in “the genocide in the Gaza Strip.” Environment Minister Carsten Schneider then left the room. Israel’s government denies committing genocide in the Gaza Strip and speaks of self-defense after the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. The federal government also rejects the accusation of genocide.

“None of these statements come from the festival management”

The filmmakers wrote in the open letter that statements made on stage had recently been criticized. “None of these statements come from the festival management itself, but rather from invited filmmakers.” An international festival is not a diplomatic event, but a democratic place worth protecting.

“His strength lies in his ability to tolerate different perspectives and make diverse voices visible.” A photo of the festival management with filmmakers, which showed a Palestinian flag, was also criticized. “Having your photo taken with international guests is part of the practice at such a festival.”

“If personal consequences are derived from individual requests to speak or symbolic interpretations, a problematic signal is created: cultural institutions come under political pressure,” the letter says. “When every controversy brings institutional consequences, discourse becomes control.”