A week ago, the Berlin Film Festival was bracing for the worst.
Alongside possible pro-Palestinian protests of the sort that took place at Sundance last month, it looked like a much larger demonstration, by German film industry and local activists, might completely shut down the red carpet. There was growing anger over the Berlinale’s decision to invite members of Germany’s far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) to tonight’s opening gala. More than 200 film professionals, most of them from within the German industry, issued an open letter calling the decision “incompatible” with the festival’s official commitment to being a place of “empathy, awareness, and understanding.”
The Berlinale, which is state-funded, regularly invites 100 members of the Berlin state parliament to attend opening night. The parliament picks the guests, making sure to include members from all elected parties. Since 2017, that’s included the AfD.
“They always get invited, and...
Alongside possible pro-Palestinian protests of the sort that took place at Sundance last month, it looked like a much larger demonstration, by German film industry and local activists, might completely shut down the red carpet. There was growing anger over the Berlinale’s decision to invite members of Germany’s far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) to tonight’s opening gala. More than 200 film professionals, most of them from within the German industry, issued an open letter calling the decision “incompatible” with the festival’s official commitment to being a place of “empathy, awareness, and understanding.”
The Berlinale, which is state-funded, regularly invites 100 members of the Berlin state parliament to attend opening night. The parliament picks the guests, making sure to include members from all elected parties. Since 2017, that’s included the AfD.
“They always get invited, and...
- 2/15/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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