Berlin Jury President Todd Haynes on Trump’s “Shocking” Return – Hollywood Reporter
Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood ReporterSubscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter”I have no doubt that there will be many people who did in fact vote for this President who will be quickly disillusioned by the promises he made,” director Haynes said from Berlin on Thursday.
By
Lily Ford
Berlin Film Festival‘s International jury president Todd Haynes was asked about Donald Trump within a matter of minutes at the Berlinale‘s first press conference on Thursday.
Haynes was joined by fellow jury members Bina Daigeler (Germany), actor Fan Bingbing (People’s Republic of China), director Rodrigo Moreno (Argentina), film critic and author Amy Nicholson (U.S.) and director, actor and screenwriter Maria Schrader (Germany).
“We’re in a state of particular crisis right now in the U.S. but also globally,” Haynes, director of May December, Carol and Dark Waters, said from the Grand Hyatt Berlin in the German capital Thursday.
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“I think everyone I know in the U.S. and friends abroad are witnessing this barrage of actions in the first three weeks of the Trump administration with tremendous concern, shock.”
“I think that’s been part of the strategy, is to create a sense of destabilization and shock among the people so that how we proceed to coalescing different forms of resistance are still in the works and still being figured out among Democrats,” he continued.The International Jury for the 75th #BerlinFilmFestival, including Jury President Todd Haynes, director Maria Schrader and actress Fan Bingbing, has arrived for the #Berlinale’s first press conference pic.twitter.com/M3vhXkhmrv
“I have no doubt that there will be many people who did in fact vote for this President who will be quickly disillusioned by the promises he made about economic stability in the U.S.” On filmmaking, Haynes added: “How the return of the Trump presidency will affect filmmaking is a real question hanging over all American filmmakers. And it’s a question that extends beyond the world of filmmaking: how do you maintain your own integrity and point of view and speak out to the issues around us… That remains to be seen.”
Haynes said: “It’s also about the financiers who are willing to take risk and willing to support strong voices. And I think that exists but it takes examples and positive outcomes to fortify those kinds of risks.”
Nicholson echoed Haynes’s sentiment. She contributed to the presser on Thursday: “I just want to say on my country, I think Americans hear all the time that we are a divided country. I feel like some people in my country agree on just wanting to feel security, security for healthcare, security for housing, that their work has value [and] their lives have dignity. I would like to see like the people of my country realize that they should unite [against] those people who are trying to divide us in America.”
The political talk continued during the press conference as Schrader was asked about the far-right support ahead of the German national elections on Feb. 23. “It’s a personal thing,” she answered. “It’s hard for, as an artist — specifically a filmmaker — to not be mediated, to react and do something.”
The 75th Berlinale takes place Feb. 13-23 with the line-up including Bong Joon-Ho’s Mickey 17, Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon and the German premiere of Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every daySign up for THR news straight to your inbox every daySubscribe for full access to The Hollywood ReporterSend us a tip using our anonymous form.
