Under-fire Berlinale chief Tricia Tuttle is set to stay on at the festival following a week of turbulence and meetings with the German government.
Tuttle’s leadership came under threat after the 2026 edition of the festival was overshadowed by political debate, with several filmmakers using their acceptance speeches during the awards ceremony to make pro-Palestinian statements and speak out about Gaza, sparking backlash from politicians and parts of the German media.
German Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider reportedly walked out of the ceremony after Palestinian director Abdallah Al-Khatib — who won the top Perspectives section for his film “Chronicles From the Siege” — accused German authorities of “being partners in the genocide in Gaza by Israel.”
Tuttle was later criticized in Germany’s right-wing media — including Bild — over a photo from the festival of her with the team from “Chronicles From the Siege” in which several were wearing Palestinian keffiyehs and holding flags.
While Tittle has been allowed to remain in place, reports have suggested that the festival will sign up to a new code of conduct and introduce an advisory board as part of the consensus that was reached between organizers and the German government which finances the festival.
The festival released a statement shortly after the end of the board meeting on Wednesday, alluding to an arrangement although no details were provided.
“After today’s Supervisory Board meeting of the KBB on the future of the Berlinale, we welcome the Board’s confirmation of the importance of the independence of our work,” said the festival. “We share their conviction that the festival is on the right path and that it can continue to grow and improve under Tricia Tuttle’s leadership. We have also received recommendations rather than conditions related to Tuttle’s continued employment. Their consideration and any implementation now rests with the Berlinale, and we will review them.”
The Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer, meanwhile, was quoted in Die Zeit telling the Bundestag’s cultural affairs committee that, “The decision has been made that Ms. Tuttle will continue.”
Tuttle has three years left on her five-year contract as director of the Berlinale, with German tabloid Bild — which has been pushing for her to be fired — saying that the German Culture Ministry had failed to agree on mutual terms on a departure deal.
Instead, Tuttle — who had openly stated she wanted to stay — has reportedly agreed to the creation of a new advisory board, alongside the requirement that all festival participants will sign a code of conduct that Bild claimed would include “a taboo against antisemitism.”
The reaction to attacks against Tuttle was met with a wave of support for the festival head from around the world. Thousands of industry figures — including Sean Baker, Wim Wenders and Tilda Swinton — signed a letter throwing their weight behind her, while 32 other film festival heads — including Cannes’ Thierry Fremaux — published an open letter “in support of Tricia Tuttle’s wish to continue as Berlinale Festival Director.
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