Backlash ensues as Berlin Film Festival extends invitations

 The Berlin International Film Festival is facing criticism for extending invitations to far-right politicians, Kristin Brinker and Roland Briller of Alternative for Germany (AfD), to the opening ceremony on February 15. Over 200 film professionals and culture workers have signed an open letter, urging the organizers to retract these invitations, expressing concerns about the ceremony's safety for various communities, including Jews, women, BIPOC, LGBTI+, disabled, Roma and Sinti, and Jehovah’s Witness, who have historically faced persecution.

Notable signatories of the letter include UK-based writer and programmer Jemma Desai, Palestinian British filmmaker Saeed Taji Farouky, and Konstantina Levi, the founder of a Berlin-based studio. The Berlinale, a 10-day festival showcasing 239 films, is a significant global film industry event, attracting tens of thousands of cinephiles annually. The festival, which receives state funds, defended its decision, citing bureaucratic reasons and emphasizing that the far-right politicians are not welcome due to their ideology.

The jury, led by Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, includes renowned directors Christian Petzold, Ann Hui from Hong Kong, and Albert Serra from Spain. The festival assured on social media that it intends to communicate its disapproval of far-right ideologies in a letter to the AfD representatives, emphasizing the importance of democratic values at Berlinale.

bafta awards 2024

cabaret voltaire

berlinale

telluride film festival

chinchilla show bluey

island cove villas