Press release of February 26, 2026
Do not deliberately destroy the Berlinale!
According to media reports, the Minister of State for Culture, Wolfram Weimer, has called an extraordinary meeting of KBB GmbH (Federal Cultural Events in Berlin) for Thursday morning. This is understandable, given the need for discussion following Saturday’s Berlinale awards ceremony. However, we were dismayed to learn that the meeting will apparently discuss the dismissal of Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle.
The remarks made by Syrian-Palestinian director Abdallah Alkhatib at the awards ceremony could be seen as a veiled threat, and should be condemned if this is the case. Alternatively, they could be seen as an expression of bitterness at being left alone by German society to deal with the suffering caused by the Gaza war. Above all, PEN Berlin regrets the missed opportunity for a prominent Palestinian voice to speak out in favour of peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians, moderation and exchange, and against terrorism and anti-Semitism.
But that’s beside the point. Statements made by Abdallah Alkhatib are protected by freedom of expression – just as wearing the kufiya and displaying the Palestinian flag are, of course.
And none of this can be blamed on Tricia Tuttle. As our founding member Daniel Kehlmann said: »If Tricia Tuttle were to be dismissed because of things that award winners said and did on stage, it would be the greatest catastrophe in German cultural policy since the search of Heinrich Böll’s home in 1972.«
We are certain that the Berlinale would suffer immense damage as an internationally relevant festival. Such wanton destruction of the German cultural scene and self-inflicted provincialisation must not be allowed to happen.
Wolfram Weimer was right to protest against the disinvitation of Israeli conductor Lahav Shani, as well as the proposed exclusion of Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest. ‘We appeal to Mr Weimer to take the right side again this time — for the freedom of art — and not to become the gravedigger of the Berlinale,’ said PEN Berlin spokesperson Deniz Yücel.
PEN Berlin. We stand by our word.