Filmmakers Support Tricia Tuttle Amid Gaza Controversy In Berlin

In a significant development surrounding the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), Tricia Tuttle, the festival's director, is facing potential dismissal following controversial remarks made by Syrian-Palestinian filmmaker Abdallah Al-Khatib during the closing ceremony. Al-Khatib accused Germany of complicity in genocide in Gaza due to its support for Israel, sparking outrage and calls for Tuttle's resignation. Reports from German tabloid Bild suggested that an emergency meeting was convened by the festival's governing body, KBB, to discuss Tuttle's future, although Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer's office later indicated that discussions were 'constructive and open' without confirming any decision regarding Tuttle's position. Prominent figures in the film industry, including Tilda Swinton and Todd Haynes, have rallied in her defense, stating, 'We defend the Berlinale for what it is: a place of exchange,' highlighting the festival's role as a platform for free expression amidst ongoing tensions over the Israel-Palestine conflict (Business Recorder, February 26, 2026).