Actress Kristen Stewart (32) is already in town. In Berlin, the International Film Festival begins this Thursday. Stewart chairs the international jury this year. In the morning (10.30 a.m.) she is supposed to have her first appearance at a press conference with the other members of the jury. In the evening (7.30 p.m.) the film festival will be officially opened.
Then the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj should also be connected via video. Hollywood star Sean Penn, who will later present his Ukraine film “Superpower” at the Berlinale, is to give an introduction on the opening night. During the festival, the Berlinale wants to look at the war in Ukraine and the situation of the people in Iran, among other things.
No more corona measures
Alongside Cannes and Venice, the Berlinale is one of the world’s major film festivals. The comedy “She Came to Me” by director Rebecca Miller will start. According to the announcement, the film tells of various characters, such as an opera composer in crisis, a tugboat captain and a psychiatrist who is obsessed with order. The actors Peter Dinklage, Marisa Tomei and Anne Hathaway are expected in Berlin.
This time the Berlinale is taking place again without pandemic restrictions, so the cinemas can be fully occupied. The opening ceremony for the 73rd Berlinale is to be broadcast on the television channel 3.sat. The guest list includes singer Joan Baez, actors like Elyas M’Barek and Matthias Schweighöfer, actresses Iris Berben and Meret Becker, Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth, Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser and Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck.
“The Berlinale is back in full force,” said Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey in advance. She thanked the management duo for their great commitment and “the extremely diverse festival program, which once again promises all film enthusiasts first-class entertainment and an exciting competition”. 19 films are in the running for the Golden Bear, and the awards will be presented on February 25th. The Berlinale ends on February 26th.
