Israeli director Tom Shoval endorses Berlin festival director

Israeli director Tom Shovalletter to david) has lent his support to the film industry’s growing chorus of support for the beleaguered Berlinale director. Trisha Tuttle.

“I believe in the festival and Tricia,” says Shoval. The Hollywood Reporter. “She has done amazing things under impossible conditions. She is not to blame.”

Hundreds of directors and actors have rallied in support of Tuttle following media reports that he could be fired after controversy erupted over his pro-Palestinian speech at Saturday’s closing ceremony. One of them accused the German government of being a partner in genocide.

German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer said: agree to a crisis meeting Thursday to discuss “the future direction of the festival” with Tuttle and the festival’s oversight committee. Berlinale.” Weimer’s office issued a brief statement after the meeting, saying only that “discussions on the direction of the Berlin International Film Festival will continue over the next few days.”

Tuttle’s future at the festival, two years into a five-year contract, remains uncertain.

American festival director burned German conservative media reported after the Berlin International Film Festival awards ceremony on Saturday. Syrian-Palestinian director Abdallah al-Khatib, who won the best feature film award for the drama ‘Chronicles of the Siege’, sharply criticized Israel and Germany in his acceptance speech. german tabloid image It also featured a photo taken a week earlier showing Tuttle posing with al-Khatib’s film team, several of whom were wearing keffiyeh scarves and one holding a Palestinian flag. As mentioned at the Berlin Film Festival, festival directors are often photographed with film crews during the festival.

Shoval attended this year’s Berlinale with a re-edited version of his documentary. letter to davidIt’s his tribute to his actor friend David Cuio, who was recently released after being held hostage by Hamas on October 7. first version letter to david It was screened at the Berlinale last year, Tuttle’s first year in charge.

“The Trisha I met and spoke to was a person of integrity and human instinct,” says Shoval. neck. “She saw the suffering of (David’s) family. She was willing to put aside her political concerns and do whatever she could to bring the film to the Berlinale, screen it and raise awareness, as well as give us a safe place to talk about art and talk about David without feeling attacked.”

Tuttle, the head of the Berlinale, added that he wanted to have “a vision to return the Berlinale to what it used to be: a platform where everyone can say whatever they want and feel safe to do so.”

Comments made by Al Khatib and others at this year’s awards ceremony “may be uncomfortable to hear,” but he said, “I don’t think that’s what the Berlinale is all about.”

About 700 filmmakers, including Hollywood stars Tilda Swinton, Sean Baker, and Todd Haynes, I signed a petition supporting Tuttle.. Other signatories include Ilker Çatak from Germany. yellow letters, The film, which deals with the threat to artistic freedom under an authoritarian government, was shot in Turkey but took place in Germany, and won the Golden Bear for Best Film at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival.

German and European film academies, the Jerusalem and Haifa Film Festivals, and around 500 Berlinale staff also supported Tuttle.

“I hope Tricia continues to maintain her position,” says Shoval. “Even if she stays, I know she’s under a lot of pressure right now, but I think she’s the one to deal with it. Her integrity is very important to the festival. I think she needs all the help she can get.”