BERLIN — Actors and filmmakers rushed to defend the head of the Berlin film festival Thursday following a media report that her job was on the line over a director’s anti-Israel speech at the event.

Syrian-Palestinian filmmaker Abdallah Al-Khatib kicked off a controversy during Saturday’s closing ceremony by accusing Germany of being complicit in “genocide” in Gaza through its support for Israel.

German tabloid Bild had reported that Tricia Tuttle was due to be dismissed at an emergency meeting on Thursday, citing sources close to state-owned KBB, the company that runs the festival.

Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer’s office confirmed the meeting had taken place but made no mention of Tuttle being sacked, stating that discussions had been “constructive and open” and would “continue in the coming days.”

A group of cinema luminaries, including Tilda Swinton, Todd Haynes, Sean Baker and Tom Tykwer signed an open letter defending the Berlinale as a forum for free expression.

“As filmmakers in Germany and beyond, we are following the debates surrounding the Berlinale and the discussion about the dismissal of Tricia Tuttle with great concern,” they wrote. “We defend the Berlinale for what it is: A place of exchange.”

Angry rows over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have repeatedly rocked the Berlinale, held every February as Europe’s first major film festival of the year.

Environment Minister Carsten Schneider walked out of Saturday’s closing ceremony, labeling Khatib’s remarks “unacceptable.”

Germany, which has a special relationship with Israel due to the horrors of the Holocaust, has been a steadfast supporter of Israel, and criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza has been more muted than in many other countries.

Conservative lawmaker Ellen Demuth was among those who condemned the “antisemitic incident” at the awards ceremony and urged “a fresh start at the top of the film festival.”

The Berlinale Team, in an Instagram post, defended Tuttle, praising her “clarity, integrity and artistic vision.”

Der Gewinner des besten Spielfilmdebüts („Chronicles from the Siege“) Abdallah Alkhatib bei der Berlinale! Er bezeichnet die deutsche Regierung als Partner des Völkermords in Gaza. Nutzen wir die Räume, die sich bieten. Und wer peinlich berührt ist, ist eben peinlich berührt. pic.twitter.com/N8bNOqu6Ed — Shoura Hashemi (@ShouraHashemi) February 21, 2026

Der Gewinner des besten Spielfilmdebüts („Chronicles from the Siege“) Abdallah Alkhatib bei der Berlinale!

Er bezeichnet die deutsche Regierung als Partner des Völkermords in Gaza. Nutzen wir die Räume, die sich bieten. Und wer peinlich berührt ist, ist eben peinlich berührt. pic.twitter.com/N8bNOqu6Ed

— Shoura Hashemi (@ShouraHashemi) February 21, 2026

The writers’ association PEN Berlin said Khatib’s comments were protected by freedom of expression and that if Tuttle were to be sacked over them, it would cause “immense damage” to the festival.

“Such wanton destruction of the German cultural scene, such self-inflicted insularity, must not be allowed to happen,” it said.

The backdrop of the Middle East conflict led to a tense 76th edition of the festival from the start.

More than 80 film professionals criticized the Berlinale’s “silence” on the Gaza war in an open letter, accusing the festival of censoring artists “who reject the genocide” they believe Israel has committed in Gaza.

Israel strongly rejects the accusation, saying the campaign in Gaza – which was launched after the Hamas terror group invaded Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages – only targeted combatants, and that Hamas intentionally puts Palestinian civilians in harm’s way.

Award-winning Indian writer Arundhati Roy withdrew from the festival after the jury president, German director Wim Wenders, said cinema should “stay out of politics” when asked about Gaza.

If so, we have a request. 

Every day during the past two years of war and rising global anti-Zionism and antisemitism, our journalists kept you abreast of the most important developments that merit your attention. Millions of people rely on ToI for fact-based coverage of Israel and the Jewish world. 

We care about Israel - and we know you do too. So we have an ask for this new year of 2026: express your values by joining The Times of Israel Community, an exclusive group for readers like you who appreciate and financially support our work. 

We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.

You clearly find our careful reporting valuable, in a time when facts are often distorted and news coverage often lacks context.

Your support is essential to continue our work. We want to continue delivering the professional journalism you value, even as the demands on our newsroom have grown dramatically since October 7.

So today, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you'll become our partners while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.

Thank you,David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel

1 In the Knesset, Modi says India stands firmly with Israel ‘in this moment and beyond’

2 Bill Gates admits affairs with two Russian women, denies involvement in Epstein’s crimes

3 Israeli woman arrested in Turkey for serving in IDF, released after US intervention

4 Gazan firm to build UAE-funded housing complex in Israel-controlled south — sources

5 As talks resume, Rubio, Vance accuse Iran of trying to restart its nuclear program

6 With Modi in Knesset, Opposition boycott PM’s speech over exclusion of High Court chief

7 Iranian FM arrives in Geneva for talks as US demands any nuclear deal last indefinitely

8 NYC Council sees showdown over watered-down buffer zone bill for houses of worship

Israel-Germany relations

2023-2025 Israel-Hamas war

© The Times of Israel