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German position on Israel-Gaza debate ‘putting artists off’ film festival

Berlinale head, Tricia Tuttle, says some artists fear criticism of Israeli actions will be condemned as antisemitism

Tricia Tuttle, the head of the Berlin international film festival, said a perception that Germany had been overzealous in its policing of speech about the Middle East conflict, and controversy over this year’s awards ceremony, were having an impact as she planned her first edition. With its roots in cold war cultural outreach for West Berlin, it is known as the most politically minded of Europe’s big three festivals, alongside Cannes and Venice, while still serving up high-wattage Hollywood glamour. In an interview in her office on Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz, where the annual festival takes place, Tuttle said some film-makers, whom she preferred not to name, had questioned how free they would be to express themselves on screen and off about one of the most fraught contemporary conflicts.

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