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Politics Take Center Stage at the Berlinale as Social Media Backlash Looms
The Berlinale has always worn its politics proudly. Conceived in 1950 by American film officer Oscar Martay as a cultural bulwark in a divided city, the festival was designed as a “showcase of the free world,” a celebration of artistic freedom meant to stand in sharp contrast to life just beyond the Iron Curtain. Over the decades, Berlin has largely embraced that heritage — backing Iranian protesters during the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and offering a platform to Ukrainian filmmakers in exile.