Berlinale
Chatrian defends filmmakers
Carlo Chatrian is the artistic director of the Berlinale. photo
© Soeren Stache/dpa
After the Berlinale awards ceremony, one-sided criticism of Israel’s politics and anti-Semitism will continue to be debated. Now the artistic director speaks out.
The outgoing artistic Berlinale boss Carlo Chatrian defended the criticized filmmakers after the controversial final gala of the film festival. Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth sees further need for action.
“Regardless of our own political views and beliefs, we should all remember that freedom of expression is a crucial part of what constitutes democracy,” wrote Chatrian and Berlinale program director Mark Peranson on Instagram and the Portal X.
Mourning for victims on both sides
The awards gala was attacked in such a violent manner that some people now feel their lives are threatened, said Chatrian and Peranson. This is unacceptable. “We stand in solidarity with all filmmakers, jury members and other festival guests who have received direct or indirect threats and stand behind the decisions for the program of this year’s Berlinale.”
Chatrian and Peranson recalled both the suffering of the Israeli hostages at the hands of Hamas and the people of Gaza whose lives are in danger. They demanded the release of the hostages. “Mourning the loss of people on the one hand does not mean that we do not also mourn the loss of everyone else. To suggest otherwise is simply dishonest, shameful and polarizing.”
The Middle East conflict was discussed several times during the gala on Saturday. Numerous jury members and award winners called for a ceasefire in the Gaza war verbally or with badges. Statements spoke of “apartheid” in connection with the situation in the territories occupied by Israel and of “genocide” in relation to the army’s actions in Gaza. Afterwards there was criticism including accusations of hatred of Israel and anti-Semitism.
Israeli filmmaker receives death threats
During the gala, Israeli filmmaker Yuval Abraham spoke about the politics of apartheid. He was honored with the Palestinian Basel Adra in an Israeli-Palestinian collective for the film “No Other Land” about settlement policy in the West Bank. Abraham says he has been receiving death threats ever since. His family was also threatened.
Chatrian and Peranson wrote of the hope that the Berlinale would remain a “window to the free world” and a place where all films can be shown. “A place where any international guest can come without having their political views scrutinized.”
They referred to statements by the director of the Anne Frank educational institution, Meron Mendel: “It would be wrong to describe all those who criticize Israel one-sidedly and sometimes with radical positions as anti-Semites,” Mendel told the dpa. “Whether we like it or not, we have to learn to tolerate such debates.”
Roth: Countering anti-Semitism in the cultural sector
Minister of State for Culture Roth said in the magazine “Der Spiegel”: “We have to counter anti-Semitism in the cultural sector much more effectively.” One possible way is codes of conduct of the institutions. “It’s about the question of where artistic freedom ends when it violates human dignity.”
From Roth’s point of view, such rules of conduct alone are not enough. They would have to be established through further training and sensitization and implemented in day-to-day practice. “This is a process that unfortunately doesn’t happen overnight.”
Roth himself is criticized. She sat in the hall during the gala, as did Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner and Senator for Culture Joe Chialo (both CDU). It was only much later that everyone criticized the one-sided criticism of Israel made by some filmmakers at the gala.
The federal government is the sponsor of the Berlinale, and Berlin contributes to the financing. Now Roth said: “I have a very difficult time with the idea that representatives of the federal and state governments and thus the state would intervene at an international film festival, a cultural event hosted by the Berlinale.”
The Green politician once again announced a comprehensive review. The supervisory board of the federal cultural events in Berlin, which includes the Berlinale, should deal with this. She called a special meeting, said Roth. According to dpa information, the committee will meet on March 11th.
“It is bitter that the unsuccessful and sometimes unbearable awards ceremony is now overshadowing the entire Berlinale,” said Roth. She also regretted the form of the dispute; it was only about black and white, friend and enemy. “The spaces in between are lost, people no longer listen to each other.” This heated atmosphere is particularly dangerous for the Jews.