2023-09-18 12:11:26
Opinion cultural policy
Save the Berlinale!
As of: 12:13 p.m. | Reading time: 2 minutes
Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth at the Berlinale 2023
Quelle: picture alliance/dpa
You can listen to our WELT podcasts here
In order to display embedded content, your revocable consent to the transmission and processing of personal data is necessary, as the providers of the embedded content require this consent as third party providers [In diesem Zusammenhang können auch Nutzungsprofile (u.a. auf Basis von Cookie-IDs) gebildet und angereichert werden, auch außerhalb des EWR]. By setting the switch to “on”, you agree to this (revocable at any time). This also includes your consent to the transfer of certain personal data to third countries, including the USA, in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. You can find more information about this. You can revoke your consent at any time using the switch and privacy at the bottom of the page.
Germany is losing in all areas – including as the location of what is currently the most important film festival in the world. In the search for an artistic director, the Berlinale threatens to fall even further behind Cannes and Venice – if the search committee around Claudia Roth doesn’t finally understand what it’s all about.
The pillars of powerful post-war Germany are crumbling. The massive auto industry – slowed down by the e-revolution. The proud world export champion – knocked off his pedestal. The iron work ethic – eaten away by basic income dreams. The trend-setting Documenta – self-dismantled. And now also the Berlinale. For a long time it belonged to the holy triad of festivals, alongside Cannes and Venice; at times even as primus inter pares.
This position has eroded over the past ten years, not in terms of interest (320,000 tickets sold make it the largest German cultural event), but in terms of international weight: the most renowned directors, the biggest stars, the hottest films now go to Cannes (and the… Rest to Venice).
also read
The reasons are varied, from the unfavorable February date to the unclear program profile to the lack of charisma on the part of the management. The fact that the Berlinale Supervisory Board has now intervened, changed structures and wants to replace the dual leadership with a “directorate” is a prerequisite for recovery, but not recovery itself.
A lot will depend on the new director, and she will be appointed by a search committee. The new person must have a taste for films, contacts to world cinema and Hollywood, festival experience, charm sponsors and politicians, be present in the media – and speak German.
also read
Opinion reform decided
A requirement profile that can hardly be fulfilled, the finders – including Minister of State Claudia Roth and Oscar director Edward Berger – will have a correspondingly difficult time. The unpleasant circumstances of the separation from the previous Berlinale boss Carlo Chatrian (400 filmmakers worldwide protest in an open letter) are unlikely to encourage candidates. The new leadership should be presented no later than the next Berlinale in February 2024, the last under the old management. We wait with trepidation.
#Claudia #Roth #Berlinale #Save #film #festival