FIPRESCI on Artistic Freedom and the Independence of Cultural Institutions

In accordance with its statute, which upholds freedom of expression, critical independence, and dialogue across artistic and political differences, the International Film Critics Federation – FIPRESCI affirms that the director of the Berlin International Film Festival Tricia Tuttle succeeded in maintaining the Berlinale as a platform for diverse and even conflicting opinions. Not all of these views will be comfortable or widely shared; yet their very existence is essential. Any attempt by government authorities to silence certain perspectives, or to punish those who have enabled them, contradicts the fundamental values of art, democracy, and the Berlinale itself.

FIPRESCI remains committed to defending the autonomy of cultural institutions, the integrity of film criticism, and the independence of its partners worldwide. Political interference has no place in the governance of cultural institutions, particularly one of the Berlinale’s international stature. Such pressure risks transforming spaces of creative expression into instruments of ideology, weakening their credibility and eroding public trust. Cultural institutions must be protected from both overt and subtle forms of political coercion. Suppressing cultural plurality ultimately undermines democratic discourse and diminishes the essential role of art in questioning, reflecting, and enriching society.

©FIPRESCI 2026