Berlinale Jury President Todd Haynes on Trump’s return: ‘We’re in a particular crisis right now’

The 75th Berlinale’s International Jury convened this morning to talk about their new roles and inevitably, the main topic of conversation gravitated towards politics.

No surprises there, as the Berlin Film Festival prides itself on being a political festival, and considering the looming elections in Germany and the top topic issue of Trump’s return to the White House and how it may affect the cultural landscape of the US, the jury were asked a series of questions about the current political climate.

“We’re in a state of particular crisis right now in the US but also globally,” said director, screenwriter and producer Todd Haynes (Far From Heaven, Carol, May December), who heads this year’s jury. “Everyone I know in the US and friends abroad are witnessing this barrage of actions in the first three weeks of the Trump administration with tremendous concern and shock.”

He continued: “I think that’s been part of the strategy - to create a sense of destabilization and shock among the people. How we proceed to coalescing different forms of resistance are still in the works and still being figured out among Democrats.”

“I have no doubt that there will be many people who did in fact vote for this President who will be quickly disillusioned by the promises he made about economic stability in the US,” added the celebrated director.

Regarding the impact the Trump presidency will have on culture and the filmmaking community, Haynes said: “How the return of the Trump presidency will affect filmmaking is a real question hanging over all American filmmakers. I think it’s a question that extends beyond the world of filmmaking. How do you maintain and protect your own integrity and point of view and speak out to the issues around us? That remains to be seen.”

Haynes did offer a solution, however: “It’s about the financiers who are willing to take risk and willing to support strong voices.”

Haynes was joined by fellow jury members German costume designer Bina Daigeler (The Room Next Door, Tár), Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, Argentinian director Rodrigo Moreno (The Delinquents), American film critic and author Amy Nicholson, and German director Maria Schrader (I’m Your Man, She Said).

Schrader was asked about the German national elections coming up and the far-right gaining more ground.

“I am affected by this like everyone else,” she said. “It’s hard for an artist, specifically a filmmaker, to not react and do something. It affects my work and elevates the stakes for the stories that need to be told right now.”

Schrader also stressed the fact that festivals like the Berlinale are spaces for questions to be asked, even if “we don’t need to come up with blunt answers.”

“The more binary and extreme our thinking and discussion becomes, the more there is escalation,” said Schrader.

Her calls to celebrate the imaginary world and championing people coming to develop and see differences through cinema were echoed by Haynes, who stated that the Berlinale has “always had a strength of conviction.”

On a lighter note, new festival head Tricia Tuttle ended the press conference by sharing that her first word she said in German was “gemütlich”, meaning cheerful and referring to a warm, cosy atmosphere.

She said that this sense of warmth is felt in the inclusivity of the festival, which is not a bubble.

“This is not a bubble – we invite the outside world. Conversations are complex and we shouldn’t be scared of conversations and the fact that the world is a troubled place.”

The 75th edition of the Berlinale officially opens tonight with the premiere of Tom Tykwer’s new film, Das Licht (The Light). Stay tuned to Euronews Culture for our review of this year’s opening film.

The Berlinale takes place from 13-23 February. The winners will be announced at the Berlinale Palast on 22 February.