At the Berlin International Film Festival on February 14, 2025, one of the honorees of the night was Tilda Swinton, who took to the stage to reflect on her remarkable journey in film. Known for her work in both independent and mainstream cinema, Swinton shared insights on her career and offered advice to aspiring artists.

After decades of success, Swinton revealed that she would be stepping away from filmmaking for a while. This is not a retirement but a decision to focus on new creative projects. “I want time to develop projects. Some are for the cinema, some are not,” she shared. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she explained that recent shifts in the industry, with its faster-paced, financially driven approach, have motivated her to take this break. “Filmmaking has become a merciless mistress,” Swinton said, lamenting how independent filmmakers now have less time to shape their work compared to earlier years.

Swinton’s next project is The Ballad of a Small Player, which she stars in alongside Colin Farrell, directed by Edward Berger. However, as she takes time off to explore other artistic pursuits, fans can look forward to updates on her future endeavors.

Swinton also received the Golden Bear Lifetime Achievement Award at the festival, a testament to her extraordinary contributions to cinema. Though stepping back for now, she reassured fans that this break will lead to new creative directions rather than an end to her career.