In an exclusive conversation with The Sunday Guardian, German Ambassador to India, Dr. Philipp Ackermann, reflected on the political essence of Berlinale, his admiration for Indian architecture, and the longstanding artistic ties between India and Germany.
Ambassador Ackermann described Berlinale as more than just a film festival, emphasizing its role as a global platform for political and cultural discourse. He acknowledged the festival’s controversies but highlighted Germany’s strong commitment to free expression.
Shifting focus to Indian architecture, he praised the works of Balkrishna Doshi and Le Corbusier, calling them groundbreaking examples of India’s progressive design vision. He noted that India’s approach to modernist architecture was ahead of its time, contrasting it with European business mindsets of the 1960s.
Discussing Indo-German artistic collaborations, he highlighted Germany’s contributions to early Indian cinema and ongoing cultural exchange programs like the Art-in-Residence initiative. He stressed the need for greater accessibility for Indian filmmakers to shoot in Germany and called for a two-way exchange of artists and scholars between both nations.
With Germany’s active participation in Indian literary and cultural events and the visit of legendary filmmaker Wim Wenders, the ambassador expressed optimism about the future of Indo-German cultural partnerships. “Art, architecture, and cinema transcend borders,” he concluded, reaffirming Germany’s commitment to deepening artistic ties with India.
Read the full interview here
