Ali Arsalan
The Berlin Film Festival, known for its prominence in the film industry, is facing financial difficulties that have led to significant changes for its upcoming 2024 edition. In an effort to address the budgetary shortfall, the festival organizers have announced their plans to reduce the size of the program by eliminating close to a third of its lineup, including the well-regarded Berlinale Series. This bold decision aims to address the financial challenges and ensure the festival’s sustainability in challenging times.
Berlin Film Festival to Reduce Program and Disband Perspektive Deutsches Kino for 2024
The Berlin Film Festival has announced plans to screen approximately 200 films from next year, down from 287 in 2023. Except for the Official Competition, all festival sections will showcase fewer films. As part of the restructuring, the Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar, highlighting new German filmmakers, will be discontinued. Instead, films by German newcomers will be integrated into existing sections.
Addressing the financial challenges faced by the festival, Executive Director Mariëtte Rissenbeek and Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian emphasized in a joint statement;
“Like many other areas of society, cultural institutions and festivals are affected by considerable cost increases but unchanged budgets. We must introduce structural adjustments to create a stable budgetary foundation for the organization and implementation of the Berlinale going forward.”
Mariëtte Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian
Berlinale Series Integrated into Berlin Film Festival’s Gala Screenings
The Berlinale Series strand has been merged with the Berlin Film Festival’s Special Gala screenings, discontinuing its status as an independent program. Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian will now oversee the programming, taking over from Julia Fidel who departed in May.
Notable shows like HBO Max’s “Lust” and Netflix’s “The Eddy” have previously competed in the Berlinale Series, while the first Berlinale Series Award was won by Disney+ Italy’s “The Good Mothers.”
The Berlinale Series Market will remain unchanged.