Berlin Critics’ Week
Argue Against, Argue Again – The Limits and Potentials of Debate Culture
2/9/2026, 7 PM

In light of the current upheavals in the cultural sector, Berlin Critics' Week is putting the idea of a culture of debate and the importance of debate for inevitable social negotiations up for discussion – in the film industry and beyond. And we want to ask: what does criticism have to do with debate? After all, Berlin Critics' Week was founded on the belief that debate is necessary and productive, and could be enjoyable and empathetic.

Their attitudes towards debate will be discussed by philosopher Heidi Salaverría, who deals with the connection between debate and salsa dancing, among other things, and Hengameh Yaghoobifarah – known for her sharp-tongued texts and emphatic public positions. The discussion will be moderated by journalist Amina Aziz.

Afterwards, we will bring together discussion-hungry film and art experts and hardened rhetoric professionals to shed light on conflicting perspectives on the concept of criticism itself – in the profession, in art, as a means of communication and as a philosophical stance. Actor, artist and debate format developer Martin Muth will stage and moderate the debate as a playful exchange with the audience.

This year's theme of Berlin Critics’ Week will be continued at other venues with a film programme and a panel discussion on current controversies in film culture.

Welcome:
Tricia Tuttle (festival director Berlin International Film Festival / Berlinale)
Heinz Emigholz (film director, member of the Akademie der Künste)

Guests:
Amina Aziz (freelance journalist), Martin Muth (debate format developer, moderator, artist), Heidi Salaverría (philosopher, professor of art theory and artistic practice), Hengameh Yaghoobifarah (writer, editor), Canan Turan (independent film researcher, script consultant, curator), Cem Kaya (filmmaker), Susanna Wirthgen (finalist in the 2025 German-language debating championships – competitive debating, political scientist, economist), Dario Werner (German runner-up in competitive debating), Stephan Wortmann (pianist musician/debate performance), Frédéric Jaeger (filmmaker)