More than 500 staff members of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) have publicly expressed their support for artistic director Tricia Tuttle in an open letter released as her future at the helm of the event is being debated. The show of backing comes ahead of an extraordinary meeting convened by Germany’s culture minister, Wolfram Weimer, to discuss the festival’s direction.

Tuttle took over as artistic director two years ago, succeeding Carlo Chatrian, and has since found herself at the center of a major political backlash that overshadowed the festival’s latest edition. In the letter, the signatories stress that “more than 500 Berlinale employees have jointly shared this message with policymakers and the public (…) and speak with one voice in unanimous support of the extraordinary Tricia Tuttle as Director of the Berlinale.”

The text highlights the team’s direct experience working with Tuttle during her tenure. “We have worked closely with Tricia during her mandate and witnessed firsthand the clarity, integrity and artistic vision she has brought to the Berlinale,” the letter states. It also underscores the internal impact of her leadership: “She has made the hundreds of Berlinale colleagues feel individually respected and collectively proud of our achievements over the course of two difficult years.”

Staff members say her appointment was the right decision by the supervisory board overseeing the festival. “We do not exaggerate when we say, as one voice, that it is unlikely the board could have appointed a more intelligent, ethical and responsive leader, nor one more dedicated to the principles that make this festival a vital platform for cinema in Germany and internationally,” the document adds.

The controversy initially erupted over accusations of political censorship when prominent figures — including jury president Wim Wenders — declined to address political topics during the event. The situation escalated, however, during Saturday’s closing ceremony, when several award winners used their acceptance speeches to express support for Palestine and Gaza.

According to media reports, German Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider walked out of the ceremony after Palestinian director Abdallah Al-Khatib — winner of the Perspectives section with his film Chronicles From the Siege — accused the German government of “being complicit in the genocide in Gaza by Israel.”

The backlash culminated in the federal commissioner for culture and the media announcing an extraordinary meeting of the Berlinale’s governing body to “discuss the future direction of the festival.” Unlike the Cannes Film Festival, which is privately run, the Berlinale is directly controlled by the German state. Tuttle was appointed by a board chaired by Claudia Roth, the former culture commissioner who stepped down last year, with the aim of revitalizing the event and aligning it more closely with Cannes and Venice.

Before arriving in Berlin, Tuttle led the BFI London Film Festival during a five-year period of sustained growth in which audiences nearly doubled. In a recent interview, she acknowledged that she had always known the Berlinale would be “a lightning rod for political controversy.” Even her first edition was marked by tensions in Germany, including the rise of the far right and pressure on the festival to take a stance in the Gaza-Israel conflict.

Addressing claims of censorship, Tuttle defended her position: “It’s not that I’m trying to make the festival less political. Politics and films about politics are a very important part of every festival, and also of the Berlinale. I just want to keep the balance right so we can talk about the art of cinema and support the market.”

Open Letter in Support of Tricia Tuttle
noted by the Berlinale team
February 26, 2026
The Berlinale team looks back on a successful festival 2026, realised collectively and met with a strong response from filmmakers from around the world as well as tens of thousands of audience members in the cinemas. In light of the ongoing debates and recent developments, more than 500 Berlinale employees (as of 26 February, 8:45 a.m.: 510) have now jointly shared this message with policymakers and the public.
We, the staff, contract employees and freelancers of the Berlinale and associated institutions, representing a plurality of perspectives, speak with one voice in unanimous support of the extraordinary Tricia Tuttle as the Director of the Berlinale.
We have all worked closely with Tricia during her tenure and witnessed firsthand the clarity, integrity, and artistic vision that she has brought to the Berlinale. She has made the many hundreds of Berlinale colleagues feel individually respected and collectively, extremely proud of our achievements over the course of two difficult years.
We do not exaggerate when we say, as one, that it is unlikely the KBB Supervisory Board could have appointed a more intelligent, ethical and responsive leader for the Berlinale, nor one more dedicated to the core principles that make this festival a vital platform for cinema in Germany and internationally.
We hope this message will go some way to communicating the extent of the admiration and loyalty Tricia has inspired in all who are invested in the future of the Berlinale, and the future of cinema.