The revamped Berlin International Film Festival continues to take shape, with new festival director Tricia Tuttle on Thursday unveiling a new four-member selection committee and expanding the festival’s network of advisors and delegates.
The new selection committee consists of industry veterans, including festival programmer and producer Mathilde Henrot; film critic and programmer Jessica Kiang; festival and cultural consultant Jacqueline Nsiah; and Elad Samorzik, the former artistic director of the Jerusalem Film Festival.
They join Michael Stütz and Jacqueline Lyanga, appointed in June as the new co-directors of film programming ahead of the 75th anniversary Berlinale next year. This committee will work alongside Tuttle to pick films for the Competition, Berlinale Special, and the new Perspectives section.
To broaden its expertise, the Berlinale has also brought on board several advisors, including Jin Park for genre films; Rowan Woods for television and series programming; Ana David, Kate Taylor, Rabih El-Khoury, and Toby Ashraf for general preselection; and Jenni Zylka for German cinema programming, with a special focus on German new talent and film schools. Ashraf brings specialist experience in German and LGBTQIA+ programming. El-Khoury brings years of experience curating Arab cinema.
Tuttle has also appointed international delegates to scout for films and act as ambassadors in various regions, including Latin America, South Asia, the United States, and East Asia.
Tuttle, the former head of the London Film Festival, took over from Berlinale co-directors Carlo Chatrian and Mariëtte Rissenbeek and will kick off her reign with next year’s event, which runs Feb. 13-23.