Berlinale 2024 – Budget Cuts to the Retrospective and Homage Programmes

The Berlinale’s planned austerity measures will affect its film history sections, which are curated by the Deutsche Kinemathek. In 2024, the Retrospective programme will be scaled back. There will be no changes to the Berlinale Classics section. The presentation of the Honorary Golden Bear will only feature one film, rather than a film series.

Rainer Rother, artistic director of the Deutsche Kinemathek and head of the Retrospective, Homage and Berlinale Classics sections issued the following statement: ‘We are fighting to preserve and secure the film history sections of the Berlinale in the long term. As curators, we take the task of inspiring a young generation with outstanding films from all eras and genres seriously. Film education is crucial for the future of cinema, and the film history sections play a central role in this. We are committed to continuing our long-standing cooperation on equal terms with the Berlinale in future and only accept these cuts as a temporary necessity.’

In its press release ‘Berlinale: Next Move 2024‘ on 11 July 2023, the Berlinale announced significant savings. For example, there will be no film series for the Honorary Golden Bear prizewinner next year.

The budget cuts also affect the Retrospective. A reduced programme of around twenty films is currently being prepared. In 2024, this selection will offer a focused look at independent productions from the Deutsche Kinemathek’s holdings, mostly in recent restorations, and thus a focus on German film history beyond the canon.

The beginnings of the Deutsche Kinemathek’s collaboration with the Berlinale date back to 1977, when it curated and organised the first Retrospective. Since 1977, it has also been responsible for the Homage film series, which honours works by outstanding figures in international cinema. Since 2013, the Deutsche Kinemathek has also curated the Berlinale Classics programme.

With more than 23,000 viewers, the film history sections of the Berlinale 2023 were extremely well received by the audience. With very high cinema occupancy, the Retrospective, Homage and Berlinale Classics continued to be successful in the editions leading up to the pandemic.

‘Our shared history and securing long-term prospects are invaluable for all cineastes. The film history sections are a unique selling point of the Berlinale that cannot simply be abandoned,’ says Annika Haupts, programme coordinator of the Retrospective at the Deutsche Kinemathek.