Berlin Film Festival gets budget boost from city – The Hollywood Reporter

Berlinale

Daniel Seifert

The city of Berlin has pledged to boost the Berlinale’s budget, helping to counter deep cuts that have rocked the organization of one of Europe’s largest film festivals.

At a media event held by the Christian Democratic Union, one of the ruling parties in Berlin’s coalition government, on Tuesday, the city pledged to support the Berlinale with $2.2 million (2 million euros) over the next two years, starting in 2024. This money should help Filling the budget gap left by cuts made by the German federal government.

The government cuts, unveiled this summer, have forced the Berlinale to take major belt-tightening measures, reducing the number of films it screens to around 200 (from 287 this year) and eliminating entire sections, including the Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar in the language. New German. Cinema, and the Berlinale Series section for high-end television series. The cuts have been cited as the reason for the exit of Berlinale co-directors Carlo Chatrian and Mariette Riesenbeek, both of whom will step down after next year’s festival.

The German Federal Ministry of Culture remains the main funder of the Berlinale, financing the event to the tune of $11.8 million (€10.7 million) annually. It increased this by an additional $2.4 million (2.2 million euros) in 2022 and 2023 to help cover rising costs, but that funding is running out this year.

It is unclear where the new money will come from, but it appears that it will initially be funded through the state lottery before becoming part of Berlin’s regular budget in the future. Berlin’s ruling mayor Kai Wegener has been vocal in his support for the Berlinale and backing wider funding for investment in cinema infrastructure in the German capital. Berlin has allocated $5.5 million (5 million euros) for broader support for the city’s theatres, starting with an investment of $1.1 million (1 million euros) in 2024.

The 74th Berlin International Film Festival takes place from February 15 to 25, 2024.