Moritz de Hadeln bids Berlin film festival an early farewell

The Swiss head of Germany's prestigious Berlin film festival, Moritz de Hadeln (pictured) is to leave his post in 2001. The festival's board said it had decided to terminate his contract two years before it is due to expire.

The Swiss head of Germany’s prestigious Berlin film festival is to leave his post in 2001. The festival’s board said it had decided to terminate his contract two years before it is due to expire.

Moritz de Hadeln (pictured) had run the event successfully since 1979, and was contracted until 2003. However, the festival’s governing board decided to end their relationship early.

Christoph Stölzl, who is responsible for cultural policy in the Berlin municipality, informed de Hadeln of the decision, and thanked him for his commitment.

Born in England in 1940, de Hadeln was a documentary-maker, and later ran the Swiss film festivals at Nyon and Locarno, before taking over the Berlin festival. He has been criticised in recent years for inviting American directors at the expense of other countries’ filmmakers.

The Berlin board is expected to choose a replacement for de Hadeln during the summer.

swissinfo with agencies