If the Berlin film festival ousts its director, there may be no way back

"The main cause of this difficulty is that Berlin, unlike all of its major competitors, is a national capital. Cannes, Venice, Toronto and Sundance are all hosted in locations far removed from political centres of gravity. In Berlin, world events are for ever on the cinema doorstep and keep on spilling inside."

"The event has long embraced its geographic fate: unlike Cannes and Venice, it is not simply an industry-facing launching pad for new films but also a public-facing festival selling tickets to new films to ordinary Berliners, and the world's largest of its kind. But that openness also has downsides: the corridors of the Berlinale Palast are teeming with locally based film critics."

"The press conferences are rammed with political journalists who struggle with film-makers that find it tough to give unequivocal answers compared with lawmakers in the Bundestag down the road. And the closing gala is attended by politicians who constantly feel they must position themselves for or against whatever is happening on the stage."

Berlin presents distinctive challenges for hosting a major international film festival due to its position as a national capital, unlike competitors such as Cannes, Venice, Toronto, and Sundance located away from political centers. The Berlinale distinguishes itself by serving both industry professionals and the general public, making it the world's largest public-facing festival. However, this openness creates complications: local film critics scrutinize quality and prestige, political journalists dominate press conferences seeking definitive statements from filmmakers, and attending politicians feel compelled to take positions on festival events. Additionally, the festival occurs during Berlin's grey winter months, contributing to a challenging atmosphere. These factors combine to create an exceptionally difficult environment for festival leadership.

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