Berlin Mayor Faces Pressure Over Berlinale Funding Amid Antisemitism Concerns

Mayor Kai Wegner refrains from committing to continued public funding for the Berlinale after antisemitism allegations surface at the festival.

Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner has not taken a clear stance on whether the Berlinale will continue receiving public funding, following calls from his CDU colleague Dirk Stettner to cut financial support.
Stettner criticized the Berlinale, citing alleged antisemitic incidents and stating that such behavior should not be funded by Berlin's taxpayers.
The controversy stems from a speech at the Berlinale by director Jun Li, who quoted a phrase considered antisemitic during a film premiere.
The Green Party has demanded that Wegner explicitly support the Berlinale and its future funding, emphasizing the festival's cultural significance.
Wegner has condemned antisemitism at the Berlinale but has avoided making a definitive statement regarding its financial backing.