Berlin Film Festival Will Say Goodbye to Elon Musk’s Owner X

Last Update:05 November 2024 18:57 IST

Although Berlinale’s post did not address the specific reasons for his departure from X, many think Musk’s political leanings played a role.

Berlinale encouraged its audience to follow along on alternative social media channels. (Photo Credit: X)

Berlin Film Festival, one of the prominent events of the European film world, announced that it has withdrawn from the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The move puts the Berlinale in line with other leading European festivals that have moved away from Elon Musk’s platform. The festival made its announcement on the X channel on Monday, saying, “We have decided to say goodbye to

“Stay connected with everything Berlinale on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and our website,” the statement said.

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Although Berlinale’s post did not address the specific reasons for his departure from X, many think Musk’s political leanings played a role. Known as an open supporter of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, Musk has overseen X’s shift toward right-wing ideologies since acquiring the platform in late 2022. This trend is reportedly at odds with the progressive values ​​promoted by European cultural institutions such as the Berlinale. tells The Hollywood Reporter (THR).

When approached by The Hollywood Reporter to clarify his decision, the Berlinale provided a brief statement: “After monitoring and evaluating Platform X, we came to the conclusion to focus on other social media channels.”

The media outlet also reported that Musk’s involvement in German political affairs also raised eyebrows. He frequently posts and comments aligned with the far-right AfD party and its anti-immigrant agenda, further complicating the relationship between X and European cultural entities.

This trend of high-profile exits is not new. Earlier this year, Alberto Barbera, the longtime director of the Venice Film Festival, publicly left X . Barbera said in his last X post to Deadline that he will remain on a platform where I no longer share his goals and objectives.

He did not specify the exact comments that led to Musk’s departure, but his comments reflect growing discontent among key figures in the film industry with the direction of X under its current leadership.