February 27, 2026
As a long-standing partner organization of the Berlinale, we are following the current developments surrounding the festival’s future direction and the political interference in artistic freedom with great attention and deep concern. The form of publicly orchestrated scandalization and media polarization contradicts and undermines any possibility for a well-grounded engagement with the complex social issues of our time—issues that artists address in diverse ways in their work, particularly within the framework of an international film festival. Precisely because of this, we welcome the decision and any effort to discuss such fundamental questions with prudence, a sense of proportion, and openness—particularly when it actively involves all stakeholders.
Since its founding, the Berlinale has stood for freedom of artistic expression, diversity of perspectives, and open public discourse. It is not only an international showcase for cinematic art, but also a space in which controversial voices can be heard, uncomfortable questions can be asked, and cultural debates can take place. This openness is not a secondary aspect—it is the very essence of the festival.
Freedom of art and freedom of speech are fundamental assets of a democratic society. They mean that artistic decisions must be made independently of political, economic, or ideological influence. Where this independence is called into question, it is not only a festival that is put at risk, but also trust in cultural institutions as a whole.
We would like to emphasize explicitly: defending artistic freedom and freedom of expression does not constitute taking sides with particular content or positions. It is a commitment to the principle that art can create spaces in which dissent, ambivalence, and social negotiation are possible. An international festival such as the Berlinale bears a particular responsibility to safeguard these spaces.
Since 1971, Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art has been responsible for the Berlinale Forum, and since 2006 also for Berlinale Forum Expanded. Year after year, social and political upheavals, crises, and new beginnings around the world are reflected there across the full spectrum of aesthetic forms and formats represented in the films shown. The festival’s history bears witness to a vibrant, contentious, and respectful culture of debate that has shaped the Berlinale for decades and continues to this day.
We therefore call on all parties involved to sustainably safeguard the festival’s independence and to maintain a constructive exchange. Only in this way can it be guaranteed that the Berlinale will remain a place where cultural diversity and democratic debate are taken for granted.
As a partner organization, we stand unequivocally behind Tricia Tuttle and remain committed to a strong, independent, and courageous Berlinale—in the spirit of art, filmmakers, and open public dialogue.
