The Berlinale has declared that it does not intend to abide by the Bundestag’s resolution on antisemitism. As an association of Jewish citizens, we have taken note of this with the greatest concern. Shortly before the end of the term of office of Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth, this reveals the result of her years of cultural policy: a publicly funded film festival that does not wish to position itself clearly against antisemitism – despite a dramatic rise in antisemitic incidents in Germany – and which thereby evidently signals that antisemitic outbursts will be tolerated.
What is showing itself here is the direct consequence of a cultural policy that was not willing to counter antisemitic tendencies in art and culture decisively enough. In 2025 the Berlinale receives funding of up to 12.8 million euros from federal funds, after the grant was increased by 1.9 million euros. In addition, the State of Berlin contributes funding of one million euros. In view of this considerable financial support, it is all the more important that the Berlinale lives up to its social responsibility and positions itself clearly against antisemitism.
The Bundestag resolution “Nie wieder ist jetzt: Jüdisches Leben in Deutschland schützen, bewahren und stärken” was adopted at the end of 2024 in response to the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents. Among other things, it demands that no public funds be awarded to projects that spread or tolerate antisemitic content. That the Berlinale refuses to take this clear stance is a scandal and a direct consequence of the far too often lukewarm attitude of the outgoing Minister of State for Culture with regard to antisemitism.
For years there have been warnings that a negligent handling of antisemitism in cultural policy would have long-term consequences. Now this seed has come up: one of Germany’s most renowned cultural events is setting itself against the important stance taken by the Bundestag.
It cannot be that public money continues to flow to an event at which the probability is high that antisemitic outbursts will be given a stage. The federal government must ensure that the Berlinale commits itself unambiguously to the resolution on antisemitism – otherwise the financial funding should be reconsidered. Whoever does not fight antisemitism in culture, or does not fight it consistently enough, bears part of the responsibility for its normalisation.
