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Film Festival Legend Moritz de Hadeln Dies at 85

7/7/2026

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Story summary

Moritz de Hadeln died at 85 in Nyon hospital on Saturday.
In 1969 he and Erika founded the Nyon International Documentary Film Festival, now Visions du Réel.
He led Locarno (1972-1977) and then Berlin International Film Festival from 1980, moving Berlin to Potsdamer Platz in 2000.
He became Venice Film Festival’s first non-Italian artistic director in March 2002 and drew criticism in 2018 for defending film producer Harvey Weinstein.

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Story summary

Moritz de Hadeln died at 85 in Nyon hospital on Saturday.
In 1969 he and Erika founded the Nyon International Documentary Film Festival, now Visions du Réel.
He led Locarno (1972-1977) and then Berlin International Film Festival from 1980, moving Berlin to Potsdamer Platz in 2000.
He became Venice Film Festival’s first non-Italian artistic director in March 2002 and drew criticism in 2018 for defending film producer Harvey Weinstein.