Tricia Tuttle of Berlinale Talks About the Risks of Political Backlash and “Gotcha Moments” for Film Festivals

While actress Amy Adams did not attend the Berlinale this year, her absence has largely gone unnoticed, as media attention has shifted towards the festival’s handling of political discourse. This shift follows remarks made by jury president Wim Wenders during the opening press conference, in which he suggested that filmmakers “have to stay out of politics.” His comments came during a discussion about the Israel-Gaza conflict, igniting a debate on the festival’s stance regarding political commentary.

The backlash against Wenders and other guests, who have been reluctant to engage with political questions not directly related to their films, prompted festival director Alena Tuttle to release a statement on Saturday titled “On Speaking, Cinema and Politics.” In it, she defended artists’ rights to choose whether to address political issues presented to them.

“I really don’t think that’s what he meant. I really don’t. He had just spoken about a different kind of politics in his answer,” Tuttle explained. “He was answering a question about a possible double standard in empathy for Ukrainians and Iranians compared to the situation in Gaza.”

Tuttle further expressed that Wenders had aimed to protect the festival, which she believes was not interpreted generously. “Sometimes we say things that need a lot more space to talk about, and we don’t have that kind of space,” she noted.

She expressed confusion over how the festival has been portrayed as less political or even dismissive of political discourse. “I really don’t understand it because the work is there,” Tuttle remarked. “We cannot have a political position on loads of different issues because that becomes all we talk about.”

Reflecting on her experience in previous years, she noted that discussions around political causes often overshadowed the films themselves. “It’s never about not programming the work. The work is there and it’s genuinely political,” she added, assuring that artists have the freedom to express their views.

Tuttle’s direction at the festival officially began in 2025, following a tumultuous edition in 2024 that was marred by debates over the Israel-Gaza conflict and controversy surrounding invitations extended to far-right AfD politicians.

While addressing the recent backlash, Tuttle admitted, “To say I’m in despair is wrong, but it is tiring. It is exhausting.” She opined that the caution exhibited by individuals in discussing political topics stems from a fear of being misunderstood. “When you talk about politics in a compressed way, there’s the potential to be misunderstood,” she explained.

Tuttle suggested that some portrayals of the festival may be influenced by “bad will,” denouncing the practice of taking sound bites out of context. “To take a sound bite of someone’s answer and then twist it is misinformation. That’s twisting what someone has said for your own political views,” she asserted.

When asked about her commitment to her five-year contract, Tuttle was both ambivalent and determined. “Let’s wait and see. I plan on it. We have to ensure that the festival is sustainable. The discourse over the last couple of days definitely makes us weaker,” she stated.

She expressed a concern that the fear of “gotcha moments” would deter individuals from attending the festival unless they felt compelled to discuss politics exclusively. “That’s a real issue,” she warned.

The 76th Berlinale continues through February 22, featuring key events such as the international premiere of Sundance hit Josephine on Friday, along with dialogues with renowned directors Jafar Panahi and Chloe Zhao. The festival also aims to attract prominent figures, with Tuttle noting that the scheduling of the Bafta awards ceremony during the festival’s second weekend has played a role in securing attendees.

“We wanted the festival to be strong the whole way through,” Tuttle said, explaining that the programming strategy is designed to maintain consistent interest throughout. “It’s planned that way to make people stay,” she concluded.