The Berlinale is a few months away, however the press tour has already started. New head Tricia Tuttle held a meet and greet for local press discussing the plans for making the city’s biggest cinema event more relevant. The American born said “she wanted to bring back enthusiasm to the Berlinale.” Was this a polite snub to previous heads Carlo Chatrian and Dieter Kosslick? It has been no secret Berlin has lost its luster over the years with filmmakers and other professionals. Europe’s third biggest film festival fell far behind Cannes and Venice. The American gatherings, Sundance and SXSW aim for youth over politics.
Tricia has her hands full, the first female while being fourth head in six years. A newbie in a city with many cultural and structural differences. Former East, former West attitudes make a peculiar tasting soup when combined in a pot. Chatrian got pushed out by backroom forces. The former London Film Festival head took over after many disagreements over the direction of festival. Where does the Berlinale stand in the circuit? Commercial? Politics? Mainstream? European Arthouse? Tuttle wants to attract younger audiences with a new social media plan along with cheaper tickets for students. That plan looks good on paper; however, a film festival is about films. A Deadpool or Dune sequel would get the under 30 crowd attention, not typical Berlinale Palace fare.
Festivals are not just gatherings, but places to discuss cinema. The organisation’s press room is more a sterile inoculation clinic than a conversational space. The 300 or so titles running in the different sections are not fully curated forcing attendees to ask each other for recommendations. Sadly, as Potsdamer Platz no longer functions as a central point, chit chatting is difficult. One film unrolls in Friedrichshain, then seven km to Charlottenburg for another, shoes, patients and luck will be needed. Hopefully, the Berlinale will find a new physical center. And sadly, there are still no midnight screenings.
Good Luck Ms. Tuttle. Restoring a reputation is hard work.
Will we attend the 75th Berlinale February 3rd after the 2018 banning? We will apply and see.