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Actor Gael García Bernal in the Berlinale film “Another End”
Photo: Matteo Casilli / Indigo Film / Berlinale
Two German films are in the running for a Golden Bear at this year's Berlinale.
In addition to Lars Eidinger, Corinna Harfouch and Ronald Zehrfeld also star
in the drama
"Die" by director Matthias Glasner, as the artistic director of the Berlinale, Carlo Chatrian, said.
Actress Liv Lisa Fries can be seen
in
“In Love, Your Hilde” about the resistance fighter Hilde Coppi in the Second World War by Andreas Dresen.
A total of 20 films will be shown in competition at the 74th edition of the Berlinale, including the German-Austrian production
“Des Teufels Bad”
by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala with the actress and musician Anja Plaschg (Soap & Skin).
Six female directors in competition
The films in competition include two debuts and two documentary forms.
Productions from 30 countries are represented.
19 films will be shown as world premieres.
Six films were directed or co-directed by women.
Nine filmmakers have already presented their works at the Berlinale, six of them in competition.
The auteur filmmakers with festival experience include the Frenchman Bruno Dumont (
“L'empire”
), his compatriot Olivier Assayas (
“Hors du temps”
) and Hong Sangsoo from South Korea (
“Yeohaengjaui pilyo – A Traveler's Needs”
), who once again works with an actress Isabelle Huppert worked.
Other international stars who will be seen in the competition include Gael García Bernal (in
“Another End”
by Italian director Piero Messina), Rooney Mara (in the Mexican-American production
“A La Cocina”
by Alonso Ruizpalacios) and Cillian Murphy.
The Irish “Oppenheimer” star opens the Berlinale with his appearance in
“Small Things Like These”
by Belgian director Tim Mielants.
“We are particularly proud of this year’s selection, which balances long-esteemed filmmakers and strong new voices in independent cinema,” said outgoing artistic director Carlo Chatrian.
He and managing director Mariette Rissenbeek are responsible for the Berlinale for the last time.
The dual leadership had been in office since 2020, and Minister of State for Culture Clauda Roth presented the American Tricia Tuttle as her successor in December.
When presenting the program, Chatrian and Rissenbeek described the film festival as a platform for peaceful dialogue regarding the Middle East conflict.
Film festivals are “places of encounter and exchange and make an important contribution to international understanding,” they said in a joint statement.
»We believe that through the power of films and open discussions we can help promote empathy, awareness and understanding - even and especially in painful times like these.«
Compassion for all victims – in the Middle East and beyond
The Berlinale should provide space for a discussion of the war in Israel and Gaza.
For example, a panel is planned on the topic of “Filmmaking in times of international crises and future perspectives”.
There should also be a platform for exchange in a so-called tiny house.
According to the duo, this is run by a team of Israelis and Palestinians.
Rissenbeek and Chatrian emphasized that their condolences go out to all victims of the humanitarian crises in the Middle East and beyond.
"We want everyone's suffering to be noticed and our program to open up different perspectives on the complexity of the world." As a cultural institution, the Berlinale stands against discrimination - for example against the spreading anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim sentiment.
Their goal is “intercultural understanding”.
The 74th International Film Festival will take place in Berlin from February 15th to 25th.
This year, the Honorary Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement goes to Martin Scorsese.
The German filmmaker Edgar Reitz will also be honored.
Feb/dpa