Hundreds of filmmakers express their solidarity with Tricia Tuttle in an open letter

The “Bild” reported on Wednesday, citing circles of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media (BKM), that Weimer was demanding the replacement of Tricia Tuttle. In government circles, however, it was said that Tuttle himself was the driving force behind the potential separation.

On Thursday morning, after the supervisory board meeting, a spokesman for the BKM announced that discussions about the organization of the Berlinale would “continue in the coming days between the director, Tricia Tuttle, and the supervisory board.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of filmmakers expressed their solidarity with Tuttle in an open letter. It has almost 700 signatories spoke out against a possible dismissal of the Berlinale boss: “Freedom of speech and freedom of art are not only the supporting pillars of every democratic society, but also the space that we filmmakers need to create our art. We are appalled by the violation of this space and the Attempt to exert political influence over the management “One of the most famous and important film festivals in the world,” the letter says, among other things. The signatories include Director Tom Tykwer, actress Tilda Swinton and former jury president Todd Haynes.

It had been known for a long time that Weimer wanted to talk to Tuttle after the festival about the future direction of the Berlinale. The artistic director was there several times during the ten-day festival because of the criticized the Berlinale’s hesitant stance in the Middle East conflict become.

The Indian writer Arundhati Roy canceled her visit to Berlin at short notice after jury president Wim Wenders declared at the beginning of the festival that filmmakers should not express themselves politically. Tuttle also received an open letter from over 80 artists, including Tilda Swinton and Javier Bardem, who accused the Berlinale of “censorship” because the festival did not give space to pro-Palestinian voices.

Weimer clearly supported the Berlinale boss last Sunday. “Tricia Tuttle and Wim Wenders have designed this edition of the festival sensitively, fundamentally liberal and artistically demanding, taking into account the special global political challenges. In doing so, they have sustainably consolidated the character of the film festival as a platform for artistic dialogue, for cultural diversity and for democratic values,” said Weimer.