In this week’s episode of The Screen Podcast, the team reflects on what has been going on at the 2026 Berlinale - from politics to parties, and the highlights from the programme and market so far. 

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Screen’s contributing editor Wendy Mitchell is joined by deputy editor Louise Tutt and senior UK and international reporter Ben Dalton to discuss the political row unfolding over the festival’s stance on the war in Gaza and claims of censorship.

“It feels unfortunate that it has fallen on Tricia Tuttle as the festival director, who is only halfway through her second year in the role,” said Dalton.

”[She] issued what many considered on Saturday to be a very considered statement, trying to protect the interests of the festival but also to represent it as a place of discussion and of politics and of [free] speech,….where people can do that should they wish.”

Elsewhere, the team talk about the buzzy titles emerging out of the festival, their future success and why so few deals are being done on the ground.

“The US sellers came in and were doing meetings on Monday, which drew everybody in early,” said Tutt.

She added many US buyers had left by the weekend. “They go to market screenings of the other competition films, so they’ve seen everything. And now they’re just waiting for the reviewers’ verdict on these.”

The Screen Podcast is produced and edited by Ellie Calnan, with Wendy Mitchell serving as editorial director. New episodes every Thursday.

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