Berlinale Director Tricia Tuttle Stresses Supporting Local Exhibitors, Hooking Young Audiences: ‘I Think We Need to Just Focus on How We Excite People About Cinema’

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At the Cinema Vision 2030 conference, hosted by the German independent cinema organization AG Kino – Gilde, Tricia Tuttle, the new Berlinale director, emphasized the significance of indie films, her plans to broaden the festival beyond Berlin, and the value she places on emerging filmmakers in a conversation held on Wednesday.

In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Berlinale, the festival will air its opening ceremony, which includes Tom Tykwer’s opening film “The Light,” in movie theaters across seven German cities: Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart, for the first time.

Tuttle explained her plan to grow the Berlinale beyond just Berlin, aiming to make it more convenient for German viewers and boost partnerships with exhibitors. She said, “A festival can and really should help exhibitors and distributors, and I believe involving audiences outside of Berlin is crucial. What also intrigues me is helping independent cinemas beyond Berlin, perhaps by attending the opening night events.

From 2018 to 2022, serving as the head of the BFI London Film Festival, she saw a significant growth of 76% in attendance at the event. To replicate this success, she adopted a similar approach, distributing films to independent cinema outlets in various cities throughout the U.K.

Speaking about his eagerness to assist the exhibition sector, Tuttle acknowledged that it could be challenging for the Berlinale to undertake a nationwide project due to the fact that, compared to London, films are often nearing their release dates there.

Working on world premieres can be more challenging as the films are often not near their release dates in their home countries, or they haven’t been purchased for distribution yet.

Talking about Berlinale’s extensive lineup, Tuttle expressed her initial approach with her team was to understand and maneuver through the different segments, while advocating for Perspectives, the fresh first feature competition. She explained, “We are genuinely thrilled by emerging filmmakers since they can often be the most daring, unconstrained by preconceived notions and truly audacious in their artistic pursuits. We aim to highlight them, but I also believe that the industry at large finds them intriguing.

I made it clear that my decision to program films wasn’t driven by market demand alone. However, I emphasized that considering ways to increase a film’s visibility in the market could be incredibly beneficial, not just for me, but for everyone involved.

Regarding the festival’s eclectic schedule, Tuttle expressed her belief that it wasn’t prompted by the present global political situation. Instead, she finds the array of unique stories from various perspectives and countries invigorating. For her, showcasing these stories isn’t about checking off boxes on a list, but rather enhancing cinema. She believes that this diversity results in a more compelling program overall.

Similarly, Tuttle emphasized the significance of capturing the interest of younger generations for the festival. This was a strategy she effectively executed at the BFI, which in turn brought about a surge of fresh vitality.

We took great pride in our ability to attract younger viewers, and we achieved this consistently by concentrating annually on how we engage with them and recognizing the elements within our programming that resonated with them.

One significant concern she pointed out was the ticket price. She explained, “I discovered that young people share our love for cinema just as much, but often find it too costly or exclusive. I felt strongly about making this event inclusive, so I asked myself, ‘How can we make it more affordable and accessible to everyone?’ The answer was clear: by lowering the price and ensuring ease of access to the festival.

Tuttle stated, “It’s essential we concentrate on sparking people’s interest in cinema, as this can create a chain reaction. I aim to incorporate some of this energy into the Berlinale. I strongly believe that identifying your audience, comprehending who they are, and learning how to communicate with them effectively are three key factors for any festival or exhibitor.

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2025-02-12 20:51