The artistic director of the Berlin International Film Festival, Carlo Chatrian, announced on Saturday that he will resign next year following changes to the festival’s management structure by Germany’s culture minister.
Chatrian became one of the two leaders of the “Berlinale” in 2019, along with executive director Mariette Rissenbeek, effectively replacing Dieter Kosslick who had been the festival director for a long time.
Earlier this year, Rissenbeek had already stated that she would not extend her contract and would leave in March 2024. Then, on Thursday, Culture Minister Claudia Roth announced that the festival will now be led by a single person in the future.
A commission was set up to search for a new leader, and Chatrian expressed his willingness to enter into discussions about his role in the new Berlinale team. However, in a statement posted on the festival website, Chatrian made it clear that he will not be staying.
“I thought that continuity could be facilitated if I remained part of the festival, but, in the new structure as it has been presented, it is quite clear that the conditions for me to continue as Artistic Director no longer exist,” Chatrian said.
Therefore, the upcoming edition of the festival will mark the end of his journey as the Artistic Director.
The 74th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival is scheduled to take place from February 15-25, 2024.
Chatrian, who was previously the artistic director of the Locarno film festival in Switzerland, took on the role in Berlin in 2019.
Carlo Chatrian’s decision to resign as the head of the Berlin International Film Festival marks the end of an era for the prestigious event. As one of Europe’s major annual film festivals, the Berlinale has long been recognized for its celebration of diverse and innovative cinema from around the world. Chatrian’s tenure brought a fresh perspective and new artistic direction to the festival, and his decision to step down reflects the changing landscape of festival management. It will be interesting to see who will assume the role of leading this influential platform for filmmakers and cinephiles alike in the future.
