The German Minister of Culture has said it welcomes Tricia Tuttle’s willingness to remain on as the director Of The Berlinale but with recommendations attached.
““Tricia Tuttle has energetically set the course for the Berlinale over the past few months, guiding it out of a crisis that had been looming for some time. I thank her for her willingness to continue on this path,” Berlinale Minister of Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer said in a lengthy statement following a meeting on Wednesday.
The statement said Wednesday’s meeting would set the course for the future of the Berlinale and that a
The Supervisory Board of the Berlinale Film Festival (KBB) formulated recommendations for strengthening the festival in order to develop it further in the long term and to secure its social acceptance and economic stability. These recommendations include the establishment of an advisory forum as well as the development of a KBB-wide code of conduct. The
Berlinale should also ensure its future viability in terms of personnel and finances, particularly with regard to the involvement of the film industry, media companies, and potential investors. The Supervisory Board reaffirmed its firm commitment to combating antisemitism and endorsed the KBB’s clear stance on protecting, promoting, and amplifying Jewish perspectives.
State Minister Wolfram Weimer, Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the KBB: “Tricia Tuttle has energetically set the course for the Berlinale over the past few months, guiding it out of a crisis that had been looming for some time. I thank her for her willingness to continue on this path.
The Supervisory Board of the KBB and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and
the Media (BKM) will constructively support the necessary processes. With the recommendations adopted today, we have laid the foundation for strengthening the festival’s public acceptance. Art and artists should once again be at the heart of the Berlinale.”
The statement suggested that Tuttle will remain in her role although there has been no official confirmation from the Berlinale as yet.
The statement comes amid a week of chaos in the German capital following a report in the German tabloid Bild that Tuttle’s job was under threat. Bild said the German Culture Minister was considering Tuttle’s job in part because of a series of pro-Palestinian speeches during the festival’s closing ceremony.
There has been a groundswell of support for Tuttle from cinema professionals in Germany, Europe, and beyond. An open letter, first reported by Deadline, circulated across the industry and featured more than 2,500 signatories, including Sean Baker, Kleber Mendonça Filho, and Nancy Spielberg.
Yesterday, A diverse group of film festival directors, including longtime Cannes head Thierry Frémaux, published a letter in support of Tuttle. Other signatories included Toronto Film Festival CEO Cameron Bailey, Rotterdam head Vanja Kaludjercic, San Sebastian director José Luis Rebordinos, and Locarno director Giona A. Nazzaro.
more to follow…
