The film festival starts today in Berlin. Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave”) is leading the international jury this year and will make her first appearance at a press conference with the other jury members this morning (10:25 a.m.). The Berlinale is scheduled to open in the evening (7:30 p.m.) with the Irish-Belgian drama “Small Things Like These” by director Tim Mielants. Lead actor Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) and producer Matt Damon, among others, are expected in the capital.
These celebrities are on the guest list
Also on the guest list are the actresses Saoirse Ronan (“Lady Bird”), Iris Berben and Liv Lisa Fries, actor Lars Eidinger, ex-professional footballer Philipp Lahm, Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth (Greens) and Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU). . The opening ceremony will be broadcast on the television station 3sat.
Along with Cannes and Venice, the Berlinale is one of the world’s largest film festivals. Shortly before the start of the 74th edition, a debate broke out about the invitation and disinvitation of AfD politicians to the opening gala. As usual, party representatives were invited to the opening and wanted to come. After much criticism, the festival leadership disinvited her again.
Wegner: Berlinale is more than a film festival
This time, 20 films are in the running for the Golden Bear. The awards will then be presented on February 24th. According to a statement, Wegner said in advance that the Berlinale is more than a film festival. “It is a tribute to the creativity, diversity and magic of film, which transforms Berlin into a vibrant center for art and culture.”
The management duo Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian led the festival through difficult years and also gave it a political influence, said Wegner. “The Berlinale stands for cosmopolitanism, freedom, democracy, diversity and cohesion.” For Rissenbeek and Chatrian, it will be the last festival edition in their roles – the American Tricia Tuttle will take over from April.
