Entertainment
Legendary Film Festival Director Moritz De Hadeln Dies At 85
July 6, () — Moritz de Hadeln, the Swiss film festival director known as “Mr Film Festival”, has died at the age of 85.
He died on Saturday, July 4, at a hospital in Nyon, Switzerland, due to complications after a recent medical procedure.
His biographer and Zurich Film Festival CEO, Christian Jungen, confirmed the news.
De Hadeln was one of the most important figures in international film festivals. Over his career, he led major festivals in Locarno, Berlin, and Venice.
He and his wife, Erika von dem Hagen, founded the Nyon International Documentary Film Festival in 1969, which he led until 1979. From 1972 to 1977, he was also director of the Locarno Film Festival, where he helped establish the iconic outdoor screenings at the Piazza Grande.
From 1980 to 2001, he ran the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). He helped expand its global reach and introduced films from China and the Soviet Union to Western audiences.
During his tenure, the festival premiered major films including “Rain Man”, “Spirited Away”, “Sense and Sensibility”, and “Magnolia”, all of which earned Oscar nominations and major awards.
He also helped launch the European Film Market and guided the festival through major political changes in Europe.
In 2002 and 2003, he became the first non-Italian to direct the Venice Film Festival. He helped modernise the festival and oversaw the selection of acclaimed films such as “Frida”, “The Hours”, “Dirty Pretty Things”, and “21 Grams”.
Born in 1940 in Exeter, England, de Hadeln came from an artistic family and began his career as a photographer and documentary filmmaker. He later became known for shaping modern international film festivals.
His wife and long-time partner, Erika, died in 2018 at the age of 77.
