Overview
- An extraordinary KBB supervisory-board meeting at the Chancellery made no personnel decision, with officials saying discussions on the festival’s direction with Tricia Tuttle will continue in the coming days.
- The dispute intensified after filmmaker Abdallah Alkhatib used his awards speech to accuse the German government of complicity in genocide in Gaza, prompting Minister Carsten Schneider to leave the hall and fresh scrutiny of a photo showing a Palestinian flag with the winning team.
- A report claiming Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer would remove Tuttle did not materialize; the BKM cited ongoing talks, and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung characterized the firing claim as a rumor.
- Support for Tuttle surged: about 700 film professionals signed an open letter backing her, the Deutsche Filmakademie gathered more than 2,500 signatories warning against political pressure, and over 500 Berlinale staff publicly affirmed their confidence.
- Positions hardened across politics, with CDU figures urging consequences and SPD/Greens and cultural bodies defending artistic independence, as some filmmakers, including Golden Bear winner İlker Çatak, warned they would boycott the festival if Tuttle were ousted.