Veteran European film executive Tanja Meissner has been named the new director of Berlinale Pro*, a newly-created position that will include running the Berlin film festival’s European Film Market.
New Berlin film festival director Tricia Tuttle announced Meissner’s appointment on Friday, May 10, describing the Berlinale Pro* position as “a reshaped role [encompassing] the directorship of the European Film Market (EFM) while also taking a strategic lead in developing the Berlinale Pro consortium, together with the Heads of the Berlinale Co-Production Market, Berlinale Talents and World Cinema Fund.” Meissner will report directly to Tuttle.
Meissner takes over at the EFM from Dennis Ruh, who confirmed late last year that the Berlinale would not be renewing his contract.
Meissner brings more than 25 years of experience to the job, and a deep understanding of the business of European independent cinema. Her CV includes long stints in French outfits Memento Films International — where...
New Berlin film festival director Tricia Tuttle announced Meissner’s appointment on Friday, May 10, describing the Berlinale Pro* position as “a reshaped role [encompassing] the directorship of the European Film Market (EFM) while also taking a strategic lead in developing the Berlinale Pro consortium, together with the Heads of the Berlinale Co-Production Market, Berlinale Talents and World Cinema Fund.” Meissner will report directly to Tuttle.
Meissner takes over at the EFM from Dennis Ruh, who confirmed late last year that the Berlinale would not be renewing his contract.
Meissner brings more than 25 years of experience to the job, and a deep understanding of the business of European independent cinema. Her CV includes long stints in French outfits Memento Films International — where...
- 5/10/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tanja Meissner, a seasoned film executive with a long track record in international sales, has been appointed as the director of Berlinale Pro and the European Film Market (EFM).
Meissner replaces Dennis Ruh, who stepped down after this year’s edition of the EFM. The role has been reshaped and Meissner will be part of Berlinale festival director Tricia Tuttle’s executive team. It encompasses the directorship of the EFM and Meissner will also take a strategic lead in developing the Berlinale Pro consortium, together with the heads of the Berlinale co-production market, Berlinale Talents and World Cinema Fund, who will report directly to her.
A German-French dual citizen, Meissner has some 25 years of experience across the production, distribution and exhibition sectors. Her experience as a sales agent includes stints at Celluloid Dreams and Memento Films. Meissner will take up her role on May 13 and attend the Cannes Film Festival with the Berlinale team.
Meissner replaces Dennis Ruh, who stepped down after this year’s edition of the EFM. The role has been reshaped and Meissner will be part of Berlinale festival director Tricia Tuttle’s executive team. It encompasses the directorship of the EFM and Meissner will also take a strategic lead in developing the Berlinale Pro consortium, together with the heads of the Berlinale co-production market, Berlinale Talents and World Cinema Fund, who will report directly to her.
A German-French dual citizen, Meissner has some 25 years of experience across the production, distribution and exhibition sectors. Her experience as a sales agent includes stints at Celluloid Dreams and Memento Films. Meissner will take up her role on May 13 and attend the Cannes Film Festival with the Berlinale team.
- 5/10/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The Berlinale’s new festival director Tricia Tuttle has spoken for the first time about the controversy surrounding the festival’s awards ceremony on February 24.
Tuttle appeared before members of the German Bundestag’s Culture and Media Committee on Wednesday afternoon (April 10) to discuss pro-Gaza speeches and other incidents at this year’s Berlinale.
Tuttle said: “As an international festival, it is really important that we continue to represent and be open and welcoming to everyone in the world.
“We are trying to maintain spaces where Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers can speak in a way that they can feel safe.
Tuttle appeared before members of the German Bundestag’s Culture and Media Committee on Wednesday afternoon (April 10) to discuss pro-Gaza speeches and other incidents at this year’s Berlinale.
Tuttle said: “As an international festival, it is really important that we continue to represent and be open and welcoming to everyone in the world.
“We are trying to maintain spaces where Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers can speak in a way that they can feel safe.
- 4/12/2024
- ScreenDaily
Time of Maturity.How does one determine the success of a film festival? There is no single definition of success, but rather a range of competing interests. An event as large as the Berlin International Film Festival, or Berlinale—with a roughly €29 million budget, over 200 films in its program, public attendance in the hundreds of thousands, and a substantial “commercial component” in the form of the European Film Market (EFM), held simultaneously—is unfairly required to satisfy multiple, often contradictory needs.The majority of attendees are simply hoping that their €15 public admission will be a rewarding cinematic experience, rather than a waste of time and money. Filmmakers and talent are seeking to show their art at an event that ideally provides remuneration in the form of prestige, exposure, artist fees, an avid audience, and industry professionals who may shepherd their films to viewers in other countries. Distributors with a wide...
- 3/25/2024
- MUBI
Favoriten.Speaking at the press conference to inaugurate the 74th Berlinale, actor and competition jury president Lupita Nyong'o said that she had heard one remark repeated since she had arrived in the German capital: “how political the Berlinale is.” She was not alone in being “curious to learn what that meant.”When we expect the Berlinale to be political, what indeed do we expect? Dependent on nation-states and multinational corporations for funding, major film festivals like the Berlinale are only politically outspoken, today, when it is convenient or uncontroversial. Given that the Berlinale is typically perceived as more political than Cannes and Venice, the hypocrisy of that reputation combined with the sad reality of the institution’s commitments under late capitalism can be—for cinephiles who are dedicated both to radical film and radical politics—a bitter pill to swallow. At the height of the festival, the United Nations estimated...
- 3/25/2024
- MUBI
The Berlin Film Festival’s parent org the Kbb, which oversees state-backed cultural events in the German capital, has posted job ads for four key executive roles ahead of the arrival of the event’s new director Tricia Tuttle in April.
They include a new Chief of Staff role which is described as a key management level position within the Berlinale leadership team.
The appointee will give close support to Tuttle, who will be Berlinale’s sole director after the ditching of the dual directorship structure tried out with departed Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian and MD Mariette Rissenbeek.
As per the ad, the Chief of Staff’s duties will include “proactive and effective selection, prioritization and control of all communication from the festival management to ensure a smooth exchange of information.”
Getting the Berlinale’s communication strategy on track will be a priority for the new management team, after a difficult 74th edition.
They include a new Chief of Staff role which is described as a key management level position within the Berlinale leadership team.
The appointee will give close support to Tuttle, who will be Berlinale’s sole director after the ditching of the dual directorship structure tried out with departed Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian and MD Mariette Rissenbeek.
As per the ad, the Chief of Staff’s duties will include “proactive and effective selection, prioritization and control of all communication from the festival management to ensure a smooth exchange of information.”
Getting the Berlinale’s communication strategy on track will be a priority for the new management team, after a difficult 74th edition.
- 3/25/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
The Berlinale has started advertising for a new-look executive team to work with incoming festival director Tricia Tuttle.
Director, Berlinale Pro will oversee the European Film Market, and work to develops the strategic framework for the Berlinale Pro consortium together with the heads of the Berlinale initiatives Co-Production Market, Berlinale Talents and World Cinema Fund.
According to the job advertisement published in both English and German, the festival is looking for “an inspiring and motivating leader with excellent communication skills” and for someone who should be “a manager with extensive experience and a positive, appreciative approach”.
The successful candidate’s...
Director, Berlinale Pro will oversee the European Film Market, and work to develops the strategic framework for the Berlinale Pro consortium together with the heads of the Berlinale initiatives Co-Production Market, Berlinale Talents and World Cinema Fund.
According to the job advertisement published in both English and German, the festival is looking for “an inspiring and motivating leader with excellent communication skills” and for someone who should be “a manager with extensive experience and a positive, appreciative approach”.
The successful candidate’s...
- 3/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
The Berlinale’s contentious closing ceremony on February 24 was the subject of a special session of the supervisory board of the Kulturveranstaltungen des Bundes in Berlin organisation on March 11, according to Germany’s dpa news agency.
The Kbb oversees the administration of the festival and is chaired by Claudia Roth, state minister for culture and media,
Following the meeting on March 11, the 12-person board issued its official response: “The Berlinale must remain a place that is free from hatred, incitement, antisemitism, racism, Islamophobia and all forms of misanthropy,” it stated, going on to emphasise, “the personal opinions of individual award...
The Kbb oversees the administration of the festival and is chaired by Claudia Roth, state minister for culture and media,
Following the meeting on March 11, the 12-person board issued its official response: “The Berlinale must remain a place that is free from hatred, incitement, antisemitism, racism, Islamophobia and all forms of misanthropy,” it stated, going on to emphasise, “the personal opinions of individual award...
- 3/12/2024
- ScreenDaily
The Berlin Film Festival could face major changes aimed at preventing a repeat of this year’s award ceremony, where several winners criticized Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza and expressed support for an immediate ceasefire.
The statements, which included Ben Russell, co-director of Encounters best film winner Direct Action, using the word “genocide” to describe Israeli military action in the region and Israeli filmmaker Yuval Abraham, co-director of best documentary winner No Other Land, referring to conditions for Palestinians as “apartheid,” set off a political firestorm within Germany. Prominent politicians, both left- and right-wing, branded the statements “antisemitic” and called for “consequences.”
On Monday night, the advisory council for Federal Cultural Events in Berlin (Kbb), the group that oversees several government-backed cultural institutions, including the Berlinale, criticized the festival and, by association, outgoing Berlinale directors Mariëtte Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian for not doing more to distance the festival from such Israel-critical commentary.
The statements, which included Ben Russell, co-director of Encounters best film winner Direct Action, using the word “genocide” to describe Israeli military action in the region and Israeli filmmaker Yuval Abraham, co-director of best documentary winner No Other Land, referring to conditions for Palestinians as “apartheid,” set off a political firestorm within Germany. Prominent politicians, both left- and right-wing, branded the statements “antisemitic” and called for “consequences.”
On Monday night, the advisory council for Federal Cultural Events in Berlin (Kbb), the group that oversees several government-backed cultural institutions, including the Berlinale, criticized the festival and, by association, outgoing Berlinale directors Mariëtte Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian for not doing more to distance the festival from such Israel-critical commentary.
- 3/12/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Berlin Film Festival 2025 Dates
Next year’s Berlin Film Festival will run from February 13 to 23. The edition will be Tricia Tuttle’s first as festival head. Tuttle takes over from Executive Director Mariette Rissenbeek and Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian, who stepped down after the last edition. Rissenbeek and Chatrian have been jointly running the festival since 2019 under a dual management structure put in place following the departure of Berlinale long-time director Dieter Kosslick after 18 years at the helm. Tuttle was previously director of the London Film Festival.
Cannes Film Festival Selection Presser
The Cannes Film Festival will announce its official selection on April 11. Presiding over this year’s official competition is Barbie filmmaker Greta Gerwig. Quebecois filmmaker Xavier Dolan will lead the Un Certain Regard Jury. High-profile films currently tipped for the Croisette include George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which Cannes chief Thierry Frémaux has said he...
Next year’s Berlin Film Festival will run from February 13 to 23. The edition will be Tricia Tuttle’s first as festival head. Tuttle takes over from Executive Director Mariette Rissenbeek and Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian, who stepped down after the last edition. Rissenbeek and Chatrian have been jointly running the festival since 2019 under a dual management structure put in place following the departure of Berlinale long-time director Dieter Kosslick after 18 years at the helm. Tuttle was previously director of the London Film Festival.
Cannes Film Festival Selection Presser
The Cannes Film Festival will announce its official selection on April 11. Presiding over this year’s official competition is Barbie filmmaker Greta Gerwig. Quebecois filmmaker Xavier Dolan will lead the Un Certain Regard Jury. High-profile films currently tipped for the Croisette include George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which Cannes chief Thierry Frémaux has said he...
- 3/5/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
The 75th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival will run February 13-23, 2025.
It will mark the first edition of the festival under new director Tricia Tuttle who takes the helm from Carlo Chatrian and Mariette Rissenbeek next month (April 1).
The Baftas, which has clashed with the film festival almost every year since 2004, has not yet announced the date for its 2025 awards ceremony.
This year’s Berlinale sold 324,000 tickets - up from last year’s 320,000 total but still not in line with the last pre-pandemic edition in 2020 where 330,000 tickets were sold.
Dates for the European Film Market (EFM), which runs during the festival,...
It will mark the first edition of the festival under new director Tricia Tuttle who takes the helm from Carlo Chatrian and Mariette Rissenbeek next month (April 1).
The Baftas, which has clashed with the film festival almost every year since 2004, has not yet announced the date for its 2025 awards ceremony.
This year’s Berlinale sold 324,000 tickets - up from last year’s 320,000 total but still not in line with the last pre-pandemic edition in 2020 where 330,000 tickets were sold.
Dates for the European Film Market (EFM), which runs during the festival,...
- 3/5/2024
- ScreenDaily
The 2024 edition of the Berlinale continues to generate heated debate around Israel’s war in Gaza, with out-going Berlin festival artistic director Carlo Chatrian defending the Feb. 24 closing awards show speeches against mounting criticism from German politicians and media.
“This year’s festival was a place for dialogue and exchange for ten days; yet once the films stopped rolling, another form of communication has been taken over by politicians and the media, one which weaponizes and instrumentalizes antisemitism for political means,” Chatrian said in a letter posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Friday.
The artistic chief argued statements made on stage at Saturday’s closing awards gala were protected under German freedom of speech laws.
“No matter our individual political convictions or beliefs, we should all keep in mind that freedom of speech is an essential part of what defines a democracy. The award ceremony on Saturday, February 24 has been...
“This year’s festival was a place for dialogue and exchange for ten days; yet once the films stopped rolling, another form of communication has been taken over by politicians and the media, one which weaponizes and instrumentalizes antisemitism for political means,” Chatrian said in a letter posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Friday.
The artistic chief argued statements made on stage at Saturday’s closing awards gala were protected under German freedom of speech laws.
“No matter our individual political convictions or beliefs, we should all keep in mind that freedom of speech is an essential part of what defines a democracy. The award ceremony on Saturday, February 24 has been...
- 3/1/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Outgoing Berlinale artistic director Carlo Chatrian has spoken out about the political discourse surrounding the festival’s closing ceremony this year.
As the Berlinale handed out prizes on Saturday night, several winning filmmakers took the opportunity in their acceptance speeches to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Instagram of the Berlinale’s Panorama section was also hacked to display messages that the festival said were antisemitic.
This led to backlash from both German politicians and festival organizers, with the Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, writing on X: “What happened yesterday at the Berlinale was an unacceptable relativization. There is no place for antisemitism in Berlin, and that also applies to the arts.” Some who delivered said speeches, including Israeli “No Other Land” filmmaker Yuval Abraham, said that they have been receiving death threats since the ceremony.
In a letter posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Chatrian wrote that...
As the Berlinale handed out prizes on Saturday night, several winning filmmakers took the opportunity in their acceptance speeches to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Instagram of the Berlinale’s Panorama section was also hacked to display messages that the festival said were antisemitic.
This led to backlash from both German politicians and festival organizers, with the Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, writing on X: “What happened yesterday at the Berlinale was an unacceptable relativization. There is no place for antisemitism in Berlin, and that also applies to the arts.” Some who delivered said speeches, including Israeli “No Other Land” filmmaker Yuval Abraham, said that they have been receiving death threats since the ceremony.
In a letter posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Chatrian wrote that...
- 3/1/2024
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Outgoing Berlinale co-director Carlo Chatrian said criticism of pro-Gaza, anti-war speeches made at this year’s awards ceremony “weaponises antisemitism… for political means”.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Chatrian, who has stepped down from his role after five years, said: “This year’s festival was a place for dialogue and exchange for ten days; yet once the films stopped rolling, another form of communication has been taken over by politicians and the media, one which weaponises and instrumentalises antisemitism for political means.”
The post was co-signed by head of programming Mark Peranson.
They added: “The award ceremony on Saturday, February...
In a lengthy Instagram post, Chatrian, who has stepped down from his role after five years, said: “This year’s festival was a place for dialogue and exchange for ten days; yet once the films stopped rolling, another form of communication has been taken over by politicians and the media, one which weaponises and instrumentalises antisemitism for political means.”
The post was co-signed by head of programming Mark Peranson.
They added: “The award ceremony on Saturday, February...
- 3/1/2024
- ScreenDaily
Outgoing Berlinale head Carlo Chatrian has distanced himself from the criticism made of the fest’s closing ceremony speeches earlier this week.
On Wednesday, Israeli filmmaker Yuval Abraham, who last week picked up the best documentary award at the Berlin Film Festival, said he received death threats and had to cancel his flight home after German officials and Israeli media described his acceptance speech as “anti-Semitic.” He said “a right-wing Israeli mob came to my family’s home yesterday to search for me, threatening close family members who fled to another town in the middle of the night.”
In a new letter today posted on X, Chatrian, who has just presided over his final Berlinale, said the awards ceremony over the weekend “has been targeted in such a violent way that some people now see their lives threatened.”
“This is unacceptable,” wrote Chatrian. You can read the full letter below.
On Wednesday, Israeli filmmaker Yuval Abraham, who last week picked up the best documentary award at the Berlin Film Festival, said he received death threats and had to cancel his flight home after German officials and Israeli media described his acceptance speech as “anti-Semitic.” He said “a right-wing Israeli mob came to my family’s home yesterday to search for me, threatening close family members who fled to another town in the middle of the night.”
In a new letter today posted on X, Chatrian, who has just presided over his final Berlinale, said the awards ceremony over the weekend “has been targeted in such a violent way that some people now see their lives threatened.”
“This is unacceptable,” wrote Chatrian. You can read the full letter below.
- 3/1/2024
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
As one funder said it will have to consider whether it can support the 2025 edition of the Berlinale as part of the ongoing fall-out following controversial statements made at this year’s closing-night gala, festival co-director Mariette Rissenbeek has clarified the festival’s own response to the remarks.
Mariette Rissenbeek, co-director of the Berlinale, underlined to Screen today, the festival did not consider the comments made on the Berlinale stage to have been antisemitic.
“Ahead of and during our festival, we made it very clear what is the Berlinale’s view of the war in the Middle East and that...
Mariette Rissenbeek, co-director of the Berlinale, underlined to Screen today, the festival did not consider the comments made on the Berlinale stage to have been antisemitic.
“Ahead of and during our festival, we made it very clear what is the Berlinale’s view of the war in the Middle East and that...
- 2/28/2024
- ScreenDaily
As one funder said it will have to consider whether it can support the 2025 edition of the Berlinale as part of the ongoing fall-out following controversial statements made at this year’s closing-night gala, festival co-director Mariette Rissenbeek has clarified the festival’s own response to the remarks.
Marion Bless, managing director of the German Lottery Foundation Berlin, which granted over €1m to the festival for the first time this year, told Berlin daily newspaper Der Tagesspiegel’s Checkpoint newsletter: “Whenever funding is granted, it is important to us that our free and democratic basic order is respected.”
“Because of...
Marion Bless, managing director of the German Lottery Foundation Berlin, which granted over €1m to the festival for the first time this year, told Berlin daily newspaper Der Tagesspiegel’s Checkpoint newsletter: “Whenever funding is granted, it is important to us that our free and democratic basic order is respected.”
“Because of...
- 2/28/2024
- ScreenDaily
Berlin has disgraced itself as both a festival and a host city. The trouble started months before the festival began, as it was announced last summer that Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian — who helped steer the world’s largest festival through the pandemic, and worked to maintain a measure of glitz and glamor while also displaying a curatorial precision that’s unheard of for an event of this size — would not be invited to return for the 2025 edition as part of a cost-cutting measure instituted by the German government.
That news anticipated a festival that would repeatedly fail to reconcile the realities of art and politics — or to even acknowledge its responsibility to try — at a time when pretending as if those two forces can be siloed away from each other feels delusional on its face (bonus irony: The Berlinale was first proposed by an American officer who felt an international...
That news anticipated a festival that would repeatedly fail to reconcile the realities of art and politics — or to even acknowledge its responsibility to try — at a time when pretending as if those two forces can be siloed away from each other feels delusional on its face (bonus irony: The Berlinale was first proposed by an American officer who felt an international...
- 2/26/2024
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
The Berlinale has filed criminal charges against unknown persons who over the weekend hacked the film festival’s social media channel and posted a Gaza Ceasefire message with the festival’s logo and branding.
The festival criticized the posts as “anti-Semitic” in regards to the ongoing Israeli and Palestinian conflict in Gaza. The festival quickly deleted the posts, which appeared on Sunday, January 25, and have launched an investigation into the hacking.
“On Sunday, February 25, the Instagram channel of the Berlinale Panorama section was briefly hacked and anti-Semitic image-text posts about the Middle East war with the Berlinale logo were posted on the channel,” the festival statement reads. “These statements do not originate from the festival and do not represent the festival’s stance. The posts were deleted immediately and an investigation was launched into how this incident could have occurred. The Berlinale condemns this criminal act in the strongest possible...
The festival criticized the posts as “anti-Semitic” in regards to the ongoing Israeli and Palestinian conflict in Gaza. The festival quickly deleted the posts, which appeared on Sunday, January 25, and have launched an investigation into the hacking.
“On Sunday, February 25, the Instagram channel of the Berlinale Panorama section was briefly hacked and anti-Semitic image-text posts about the Middle East war with the Berlinale logo were posted on the channel,” the festival statement reads. “These statements do not originate from the festival and do not represent the festival’s stance. The posts were deleted immediately and an investigation was launched into how this incident could have occurred. The Berlinale condemns this criminal act in the strongest possible...
- 2/26/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Berlin Film Festival organizers say they have brought criminal charges against unnamed hackers of its Instagram page for briefly posting statements seen as antisemitic on Sunday.
The Berlinale in a statement said the Instagram channel for its Panorama sidebar was briefly hacked on Sunday and “anti-semitic image-text posts about the Middle East war with the Berlinale logo were posted on the channel.”
The fest organizers said the statements did not come from the Berlinale or represent the festival’s stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. “The Berlinale condemns this criminal act in the strongest possible terms and has deleted the posts and launched an investigation. In addition, the Berlinale has filed criminal charges against unknown persons. The Lka (the state criminal office) has begun an investigation,” the festival added.
The Berlinale’s definition of what might be considered antisemitism differs from the the German criminal code. The hacking incident would be judged illegal,...
The Berlinale in a statement said the Instagram channel for its Panorama sidebar was briefly hacked on Sunday and “anti-semitic image-text posts about the Middle East war with the Berlinale logo were posted on the channel.”
The fest organizers said the statements did not come from the Berlinale or represent the festival’s stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. “The Berlinale condemns this criminal act in the strongest possible terms and has deleted the posts and launched an investigation. In addition, the Berlinale has filed criminal charges against unknown persons. The Lka (the state criminal office) has begun an investigation,” the festival added.
The Berlinale’s definition of what might be considered antisemitism differs from the the German criminal code. The hacking incident would be judged illegal,...
- 2/26/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Berlinale has been criticised by local politicians from the Berlin house of representatives for anti-war statements made by award-winners and jury members at the closing night gala on Saturday February 24.
Joe Chialo, senator for cultural affairs, said on X [formerly Twitter]: “Culture should offer a space for diverse political opinions, but this year’s award ceremony of the Berlinale was marked by self-righteous anti-Israeli propaganda that has no place on the stages of Berlin.”
Speaking to local broadcaster Rbb, Melanie Kühnemann-Grunow, spokesperson on media policy for the Social Democrats (Spd), said, “The Berlinale has suffered damage - whether this...
Joe Chialo, senator for cultural affairs, said on X [formerly Twitter]: “Culture should offer a space for diverse political opinions, but this year’s award ceremony of the Berlinale was marked by self-righteous anti-Israeli propaganda that has no place on the stages of Berlin.”
Speaking to local broadcaster Rbb, Melanie Kühnemann-Grunow, spokesperson on media policy for the Social Democrats (Spd), said, “The Berlinale has suffered damage - whether this...
- 2/26/2024
- ScreenDaily
Winners have been announced at the 74th Berlin Film Festival, with Dahomey by French-Senegalese filmmaker Mati Diop scooping the coveted Golden Bear for best film. Scroll down for the full list of winners, which were revealed Saturday evening at the Berlinale Palast.
The doc borrows its name from the former West African kingdom of Dahomey, located in the south of today’s Republic of Benin. It was founded in the 17th century by King Houegbadja. Under his reign and that of his descendants — a three-century dynasty — the kingdom was a considerable regional power, with a highly structured local economy, a centralized administration, a system of taxes, and a powerful army, including the famous Amazon women (Agodjié).
Diop’s doc opens in November 2021 as twenty-six royal treasures from the former Kingdom are about to leave Paris to return to their country of origin. Along with thousands of others, these artifacts were...
The doc borrows its name from the former West African kingdom of Dahomey, located in the south of today’s Republic of Benin. It was founded in the 17th century by King Houegbadja. Under his reign and that of his descendants — a three-century dynasty — the kingdom was a considerable regional power, with a highly structured local economy, a centralized administration, a system of taxes, and a powerful army, including the famous Amazon women (Agodjié).
Diop’s doc opens in November 2021 as twenty-six royal treasures from the former Kingdom are about to leave Paris to return to their country of origin. Along with thousands of others, these artifacts were...
- 2/24/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Dahomey, a documentary from French-Senegalese filmmaker Mati Diop, has won the Golden Bear for best film at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival.
The multifaceted docu-fictional essay explores the return, in November 2021, of plundered royal treasures of the African Kingdom of Dahomey from Paris to the present-day Republic of Benin, examining the complicated response of those in Benin, whose culture has developed for more than a century without these artifacts.
While taking the stage to accept her award, Diop made a direct political statement, calling out, “I stand with Palestine!”
Jury president, the Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave and Black Panther actor Lupita Nyong’o, announced the Golden Bear winner from the stage of the Berlinale Palast Saturday night. Nyong’o is the first Black and first African to chair the Berlinale jury.
Dahomey is only the second African film to win the top prize at Berlin, following Mark Dornford-May’s...
The multifaceted docu-fictional essay explores the return, in November 2021, of plundered royal treasures of the African Kingdom of Dahomey from Paris to the present-day Republic of Benin, examining the complicated response of those in Benin, whose culture has developed for more than a century without these artifacts.
While taking the stage to accept her award, Diop made a direct political statement, calling out, “I stand with Palestine!”
Jury president, the Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave and Black Panther actor Lupita Nyong’o, announced the Golden Bear winner from the stage of the Berlinale Palast Saturday night. Nyong’o is the first Black and first African to chair the Berlinale jury.
Dahomey is only the second African film to win the top prize at Berlin, following Mark Dornford-May’s...
- 2/24/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Martin Scorsese was at the Berlinale this week for the first time in a decade. His presence to collect an honorary Golden Bear was a reminder of the festival’s glories of yesteryear.
In decades past, Scorsese touched down in Berlin with major works such as Raging Bull (1981), Cape Fear (1992); Gangs of New York (2003 ), Shine a Light (2008) and Shutter Island (2010). It feels a long time since the event — traditionally one of the world’s great cinema showcases — has attracted such movies. In recent years the studio splashes have dried up.
So have memorable movies from A-list arthouse filmmakers. Scorsese this week sang the praises of the event for the encouragement it had given him as an emerging filmmaker. Citing Brian de Palma’s Silver Bear win for his second film Greetings in 1969, Scorsese said the prize had marked a turning point for unknown, independent American directors such as himself, de Palma,...
In decades past, Scorsese touched down in Berlin with major works such as Raging Bull (1981), Cape Fear (1992); Gangs of New York (2003 ), Shine a Light (2008) and Shutter Island (2010). It feels a long time since the event — traditionally one of the world’s great cinema showcases — has attracted such movies. In recent years the studio splashes have dried up.
So have memorable movies from A-list arthouse filmmakers. Scorsese this week sang the praises of the event for the encouragement it had given him as an emerging filmmaker. Citing Brian de Palma’s Silver Bear win for his second film Greetings in 1969, Scorsese said the prize had marked a turning point for unknown, independent American directors such as himself, de Palma,...
- 2/23/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow and Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The 74th Berlin International Film Festival announced the winners of the fest at the awards ceremony held at the Berlinale Palast on February 24.
20 films competed for the awards in this year’s competition with Lupita Nyong’o heading the International Jury alongside Ann Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Jasmine Trinca and Oksana Zabuzhko. The Encounters Jury, Lisandro Alonso, Denis Côté and Tizza Covi choose the winners for Best Film, Best Director and the Special Jury Award.
The Golden Bear for Best Film was awarded to Dahomey by Mati Diop. Emily Watson won The Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance for her role in Small Things Like These, while Sebastian Stan received The Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance in A Different Man. Nelson Carlo De Los Santos Arias was honored with The Silver Bear for Best Director for his film Pepe, and the Silver Bear Jury Prize went to Bruno Dumont for Empire.
20 films competed for the awards in this year’s competition with Lupita Nyong’o heading the International Jury alongside Ann Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Jasmine Trinca and Oksana Zabuzhko. The Encounters Jury, Lisandro Alonso, Denis Côté and Tizza Covi choose the winners for Best Film, Best Director and the Special Jury Award.
The Golden Bear for Best Film was awarded to Dahomey by Mati Diop. Emily Watson won The Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance for her role in Small Things Like These, while Sebastian Stan received The Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance in A Different Man. Nelson Carlo De Los Santos Arias was honored with The Silver Bear for Best Director for his film Pepe, and the Silver Bear Jury Prize went to Bruno Dumont for Empire.
- 2/22/2024
- by Robert Lang
- Deadline Film + TV
The European Film Market (EFM) has crossed the 12,000-visitor attendance barrier for the first time, setting a new record for the event.
Over 12,000 visitors from 143 countries attended the 2024 market, up from around 11,500 at the 2023 edition; and ahead of the pre-pandemic record of 11,423. Final figures will be confirmed in the coming days.
The number of exhibiting companies was also up slightly, to 614 from last year’s 612 – staying well ahead of the pre-pandemic mark of 564. The 614 figure includes those exhibiting at both the Gropius Bau and Marriott Hotel sites.
The number of buyers was down slightly, from last year’s record of...
Over 12,000 visitors from 143 countries attended the 2024 market, up from around 11,500 at the 2023 edition; and ahead of the pre-pandemic record of 11,423. Final figures will be confirmed in the coming days.
The number of exhibiting companies was also up slightly, to 614 from last year’s 612 – staying well ahead of the pre-pandemic mark of 564. The 614 figure includes those exhibiting at both the Gropius Bau and Marriott Hotel sites.
The number of buyers was down slightly, from last year’s record of...
- 2/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
Ace filmmaker Martin Scorsese is regarded as one of the major filmmakers of the New Hollywood era putting out some exceptional movies out there for the audience. Scorsese’s style of direction includes extensive use of slow motion and freeze frames, graphic depictions of extreme violence and more, which has mostly managed to impress the critics and the audience over the years.
The audience has always appreciated Martin Scorsese’s successful collaborations with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Their recent movie, Killers of the Flower Moon, has garnered attention for its direction, screenplay, musical score, and performances of the actors. Martin Scorsese recently shared his views on modern-day cinema.
Suggested“I hope Leonardo DiCaprio never sees this”: America Ferrera Doesn’t Want Leo to Know One Secret About Their First Meeting Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone and Robert De Niro | Killers of the Flower Moon Martin Scorsese...
The audience has always appreciated Martin Scorsese’s successful collaborations with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Their recent movie, Killers of the Flower Moon, has garnered attention for its direction, screenplay, musical score, and performances of the actors. Martin Scorsese recently shared his views on modern-day cinema.
Suggested“I hope Leonardo DiCaprio never sees this”: America Ferrera Doesn’t Want Leo to Know One Secret About Their First Meeting Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone and Robert De Niro | Killers of the Flower Moon Martin Scorsese...
- 2/21/2024
- by Avneet Ahluwalia
- FandomWire
One of the ways in which the Berlinale is addressing the large, complex issue of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza is by channelling it into a small, safe space called The Tiny House.
The Tiny House project is a cabin-like structure, set up near the festival’s hub in Potsdamer Platz for three days from February 17-19. Festival attendees and interested members of the public can come in and discuss their feelings around the issue, with the support of two moderators, Shai Hoffmann and Ahmad Dakhnous.
Hoffman, a German Jew with Israeli roots, is the architect of the project. With his German-Palestinian colleague Jouanna Hassoun,...
The Tiny House project is a cabin-like structure, set up near the festival’s hub in Potsdamer Platz for three days from February 17-19. Festival attendees and interested members of the public can come in and discuss their feelings around the issue, with the support of two moderators, Shai Hoffmann and Ahmad Dakhnous.
Hoffman, a German Jew with Israeli roots, is the architect of the project. With his German-Palestinian colleague Jouanna Hassoun,...
- 2/19/2024
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Martin Scorsese is returning to the Berlin Film Festival tomorrow for the first time in a decade. The cinema legend, currently on the awards circuit with latest epic Killers Of The Flower Moon, will be feted with the Berlinale’s highest honor, its lifetime achievement Golden Bear.
Ahead of the ceremony, the indefatigable Scorsese (81) found time to speak to us. In answer to ‘Deadline’s Five Burning Questions’, the filmmaker discussed a new project he has playing at the festival, some of the career collaborations he is most proud of, the importance of film festivals, his expectations for the future of cinema, and what might be next for him.
Scorsese has been to the Berlinale a number of times before, including with Raging Bull, Gangs of New York and Shutter Island, all of which screened out of competition, and with Berlinale competition entry Cape Fear in 1992. His Rolling Stones...
Ahead of the ceremony, the indefatigable Scorsese (81) found time to speak to us. In answer to ‘Deadline’s Five Burning Questions’, the filmmaker discussed a new project he has playing at the festival, some of the career collaborations he is most proud of, the importance of film festivals, his expectations for the future of cinema, and what might be next for him.
Scorsese has been to the Berlinale a number of times before, including with Raging Bull, Gangs of New York and Shutter Island, all of which screened out of competition, and with Berlinale competition entry Cape Fear in 1992. His Rolling Stones...
- 2/19/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
A youthful crowd of industry professionals filed into a bustling room at the Gropius Bau Saturday afternoon for the inaugural AfroBerlin symposium here at the Berlin Film Festival.
Among the speakers were outgoing Berlinale co-head Mariette Rissenbeek, Neom’s Wayne Borg, and Yolonda Ncokotwana, Head of Industry Development National Film & Video Foundation South Africa. The event also saw the first public discussion featuring the Schwarze Filmschaffende, the Black German Filmmakers Association.
The association first made waves following the conclusion of last year’s Berlinale after they published a lengthy open letter that criticized the festival for programming three films that it said “depict, amplify, or peddle anti-Black sentiments.” The group was also central to this year’s campaign against the festival’s controversial opening ceremony invitations to members of the far-right AfD political party. Despite its recent visibility, the group actually dates back to 2015.
“I started acting school in Vienna in a very white space.
Among the speakers were outgoing Berlinale co-head Mariette Rissenbeek, Neom’s Wayne Borg, and Yolonda Ncokotwana, Head of Industry Development National Film & Video Foundation South Africa. The event also saw the first public discussion featuring the Schwarze Filmschaffende, the Black German Filmmakers Association.
The association first made waves following the conclusion of last year’s Berlinale after they published a lengthy open letter that criticized the festival for programming three films that it said “depict, amplify, or peddle anti-Black sentiments.” The group was also central to this year’s campaign against the festival’s controversial opening ceremony invitations to members of the far-right AfD political party. Despite its recent visibility, the group actually dates back to 2015.
“I started acting school in Vienna in a very white space.
- 2/18/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
The first-ever edition of AfroBerlin put Africa in the spotlight at the Berlin Film Festival and in one key session asked how festivals, streamers, and the wider industry can — and should — support films and filmmakers from the continent.
AfroBerlin took over the conference center next to the European Film Market with standing room only for some sessions at the event, which was organized by Prudence Kolong’s consultancy biz Yanibes and the EFM.
Jacqueline Nsiah, a member of the Festival’s Selection Committee, spoke in a slot about empowering local filmmakers. She started her work for the Festival last summer and has bolstered its connections with the African film community. African films including Abderrahmane Sissako’s Black Tea, Mati Diop’s Dahomey, and Nelson Carlos De Los Santos Aria’s Pepe are in competition, and Mamadou Dia’s Demba is in the Encounters strand. “I think it’s not bad,...
AfroBerlin took over the conference center next to the European Film Market with standing room only for some sessions at the event, which was organized by Prudence Kolong’s consultancy biz Yanibes and the EFM.
Jacqueline Nsiah, a member of the Festival’s Selection Committee, spoke in a slot about empowering local filmmakers. She started her work for the Festival last summer and has bolstered its connections with the African film community. African films including Abderrahmane Sissako’s Black Tea, Mati Diop’s Dahomey, and Nelson Carlos De Los Santos Aria’s Pepe are in competition, and Mamadou Dia’s Demba is in the Encounters strand. “I think it’s not bad,...
- 2/18/2024
- by Stewart Clarke
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: L.A. filmmaker Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal has won the first edition of Stage 32 and Catalyst Studios’ Empowering Women Script Competition for her social impact film Backlog.
The drama is inspired by the real-life U.S. Senate Hearing to end the national backlog of millions of untested rape kits.
It follows a young college sexual assault victim who becomes a key witness. After years of reclaiming her life following a brutal attack that was never brought before the courts due to an untested rape kit, she musters her strength to be a voice of hope for women globally.
Rosenthal will receive a $5,000 option and be eligible for up to $3 Million in financing for the film from Catalyst Studios.
She will also be mentored by outgoing Berlinale Managing Director Mariette Rissenbeek, who will be taking on some development and production projects following her departure from the festival at the end of this year’s edition.
The drama is inspired by the real-life U.S. Senate Hearing to end the national backlog of millions of untested rape kits.
It follows a young college sexual assault victim who becomes a key witness. After years of reclaiming her life following a brutal attack that was never brought before the courts due to an untested rape kit, she musters her strength to be a voice of hope for women globally.
Rosenthal will receive a $5,000 option and be eligible for up to $3 Million in financing for the film from Catalyst Studios.
She will also be mentored by outgoing Berlinale Managing Director Mariette Rissenbeek, who will be taking on some development and production projects following her departure from the festival at the end of this year’s edition.
- 2/17/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Filmmaker Andreas Dresen and actress Liv Lisa Fries took part morning in the press conference for new drama From Hilde, With Love, which debuts this weekend in Competition at the Berlin Film Festival.
Dresen’s affecting and resonant film, set in Berlin during the Second World War, charts the little known story of Hilde and Hans Coppi, a young couple who courageously become members of an anti-Nazi group known as The Red Orchestra (Die Rote Kapelle). The two spend a summer together until they get caught by the Gestapo and Hilde is imprisoned, eight months pregnant.
Dresen’s film received a warm response from journalists this morning at the press conference, with many noting they had been moved to tears by the feature.
The German director told the media he was initially attracted by the “humanity” of the story and the character of Hilde Coppi, who he described as “such a decent and brave woman.
Dresen’s affecting and resonant film, set in Berlin during the Second World War, charts the little known story of Hilde and Hans Coppi, a young couple who courageously become members of an anti-Nazi group known as The Red Orchestra (Die Rote Kapelle). The two spend a summer together until they get caught by the Gestapo and Hilde is imprisoned, eight months pregnant.
Dresen’s film received a warm response from journalists this morning at the press conference, with many noting they had been moved to tears by the feature.
The German director told the media he was initially attracted by the “humanity” of the story and the character of Hilde Coppi, who he described as “such a decent and brave woman.
- 2/17/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Festival season 2024 is well underway, Insiders, as our team decamps to Berlin. That and plenty more news to report from around the world to follow. Jesse Whittock with you. Sign up for the Insider newsletter here.
Berlin Kicks Off
Protests on the red carpet: The build-up to the 74th Berlin Film Festival has been highly politicized and Thursday evening’s opening ceremony was no different. The ceremony began with a red carpet awash with political statements. The festival held what it described as a ‘Filmmakers for Democracy, Diversity, and Peaceful Togetherness’ demonstration featuring between 50 and 60 filmmakers. Meanwhile, a series of attendees used their time in front of media pens to display their own political messages. The most eye-catching included American filmmaker Eliza Hittman, last at Berlin with her Silver Bear-winning Never Rarely Sometimes Always, who had ‘ceasefire now’ stitched to the back of her dress. The message was a reference...
Berlin Kicks Off
Protests on the red carpet: The build-up to the 74th Berlin Film Festival has been highly politicized and Thursday evening’s opening ceremony was no different. The ceremony began with a red carpet awash with political statements. The festival held what it described as a ‘Filmmakers for Democracy, Diversity, and Peaceful Togetherness’ demonstration featuring between 50 and 60 filmmakers. Meanwhile, a series of attendees used their time in front of media pens to display their own political messages. The most eye-catching included American filmmaker Eliza Hittman, last at Berlin with her Silver Bear-winning Never Rarely Sometimes Always, who had ‘ceasefire now’ stitched to the back of her dress. The message was a reference...
- 2/16/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
After a week of protests, petitions, and even a call to boycott the Berlin International Film Festival, organizers had to be fearing the worst when the 74th Berlinale kicked off Thursday night.
But the only demonstration on the red carpet was a peaceful one. Several filmmakers gathered together next to Berlinale Directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian and, holding up their cell phones, with LEDs shining, called for “democracy, diversity and peaceful togetherness.”
It was worlds away from the PR disaster that could have been expected just a week ago when the news came out that the Berlinale had invited elected members of the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) to its opening ceremony. The invitations were standard protocol and AfD members had been invited to the festival for years. But this year was different. For weeks, hundreds of thousands of Germans have been marching in anti-AfD demonstrations across the country,...
But the only demonstration on the red carpet was a peaceful one. Several filmmakers gathered together next to Berlinale Directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian and, holding up their cell phones, with LEDs shining, called for “democracy, diversity and peaceful togetherness.”
It was worlds away from the PR disaster that could have been expected just a week ago when the news came out that the Berlinale had invited elected members of the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) to its opening ceremony. The invitations were standard protocol and AfD members had been invited to the festival for years. But this year was different. For weeks, hundreds of thousands of Germans have been marching in anti-AfD demonstrations across the country,...
- 2/15/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Berlin International Film Festival faced up to several ongoing political controversies in a speech-heavy opening ceremony for the 74th edition tonight (February 15).
Following controversy around the invitation then disinvitation of AfD policitians to the ceremony; plus the crisis in Gaza; and ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, hosts Hadnet Tesfai and Jo Schuck confronted the political aspect of the festival in their opening remarks.
“Saying ‘this is how we did it in the last 200 years’ is not enough,” said Schuck, in a possible reference to criticism of the festival for inviting AfD politicians due to it being protocol in previous years.
Following controversy around the invitation then disinvitation of AfD policitians to the ceremony; plus the crisis in Gaza; and ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, hosts Hadnet Tesfai and Jo Schuck confronted the political aspect of the festival in their opening remarks.
“Saying ‘this is how we did it in the last 200 years’ is not enough,” said Schuck, in a possible reference to criticism of the festival for inviting AfD politicians due to it being protocol in previous years.
- 2/15/2024
- ScreenDaily
The Berlin Film Festival officially kicked off Thursday evening with an eventful opening ceremony at the Berlinale Palast theater in the German capital.
After a divisive build-up to the fest, the opening ceremony was, in contrast, a relatively conventional affair. High-profile attendees included veteran German filmmakers Wim Wenders and Fatih Akin, Phantom Thread actress Vicky Krieps, and international jury president Lupita Nyong’o alongside her fellow jury members Brady Corbet, Ann Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Jasmine Trinca and Oksana Zabuzhko.
The evening’s opening film was Small Things Like These, starring Cillian Murphy, who was in attendance with producer Matt Damon and co-star Emily Watson. Directed by Tim Mielants (Peaky Blinders), Small Things Like These is the first Irish film to open the Berlinale.
Related: ‘Small Things Like These’ Review: Cillian Murphy Plays A Father In Torment In ’80s-Set Irish Trauma Tale
Before the pic opened, the crowd inside the...
After a divisive build-up to the fest, the opening ceremony was, in contrast, a relatively conventional affair. High-profile attendees included veteran German filmmakers Wim Wenders and Fatih Akin, Phantom Thread actress Vicky Krieps, and international jury president Lupita Nyong’o alongside her fellow jury members Brady Corbet, Ann Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Jasmine Trinca and Oksana Zabuzhko.
The evening’s opening film was Small Things Like These, starring Cillian Murphy, who was in attendance with producer Matt Damon and co-star Emily Watson. Directed by Tim Mielants (Peaky Blinders), Small Things Like These is the first Irish film to open the Berlinale.
Related: ‘Small Things Like These’ Review: Cillian Murphy Plays A Father In Torment In ’80s-Set Irish Trauma Tale
Before the pic opened, the crowd inside the...
- 2/15/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Feisty, topical and nakedly political speeches dominated the opening ceremony on Thursday at the Berlinale.
They followed a red carpet that mixed demonstrations and high style over a more than two-hour stretch.
Festival co-chief Mariëtte Rissenbeek felt it necessary to address head on the festival’s recent controversy over invitations to five far-right (AfD) members of the German parliament. The invitations were subsequently canceled, but the backlash has scarcely subsided.
“The Berlinale has a lot of space for dialog. Between people and for art, but it has no space for hatred. Hatred is not on our guest list. It won’t be invited,” Rissenbeek said.
“Many people in the Berlinale team, many of our friends or acquaintances are affected by the intentions of the right wing AfD their intention to deport people with a migrant background from the country. They want to throw them out. And that is something that...
They followed a red carpet that mixed demonstrations and high style over a more than two-hour stretch.
Festival co-chief Mariëtte Rissenbeek felt it necessary to address head on the festival’s recent controversy over invitations to five far-right (AfD) members of the German parliament. The invitations were subsequently canceled, but the backlash has scarcely subsided.
“The Berlinale has a lot of space for dialog. Between people and for art, but it has no space for hatred. Hatred is not on our guest list. It won’t be invited,” Rissenbeek said.
“Many people in the Berlinale team, many of our friends or acquaintances are affected by the intentions of the right wing AfD their intention to deport people with a migrant background from the country. They want to throw them out. And that is something that...
- 2/15/2024
- by Patrick Frater and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The build-up to the 74th Berlin Film Festival has been highly politicized, and the international jury press conference Thursday morning was no different.
Lupita Nyong’o presides over the International Competition jury, whose members include American actor and filmmaker Brady Corbet, Hong Kong filmmaker Ann Hui, German director Christian Petzold, Spanish filmmaker Albert Serra, Italian actress Jasmine Trinca and Ukrainian novelist and poet Oksana Zabuzhko.
This wasn’t like most jury press conferences, however, with members drawn into multiple — occasionally testy — discussions about their own political stances on events in Ukraine, Gaza and Germany.
Russia’s war in Ukraine was a central topic, with multiple journalists asking Serra about a 2018 interview in which he supposedly expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin. Serra was asked whether he had changed his mind on Putin since the war:
“I don’t know,” said the director. “This is a political question. Everyone is upset with Russia right now.
Lupita Nyong’o presides over the International Competition jury, whose members include American actor and filmmaker Brady Corbet, Hong Kong filmmaker Ann Hui, German director Christian Petzold, Spanish filmmaker Albert Serra, Italian actress Jasmine Trinca and Ukrainian novelist and poet Oksana Zabuzhko.
This wasn’t like most jury press conferences, however, with members drawn into multiple — occasionally testy — discussions about their own political stances on events in Ukraine, Gaza and Germany.
Russia’s war in Ukraine was a central topic, with multiple journalists asking Serra about a 2018 interview in which he supposedly expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin. Serra was asked whether he had changed his mind on Putin since the war:
“I don’t know,” said the director. “This is a political question. Everyone is upset with Russia right now.
- 2/15/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman and Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
A week ago, the Berlin Film Festival was bracing for the worst.
Alongside possible pro-Palestinian protests of the sort that took place at Sundance last month, it looked like a much larger demonstration, by German film industry and local activists, might completely shut down the red carpet. There was growing anger over the Berlinale’s decision to invite members of Germany’s far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) to tonight’s opening gala. More than 200 film professionals, most of them from within the German industry, issued an open letter calling the decision “incompatible” with the festival’s official commitment to being a place of “empathy, awareness, and understanding.”
The Berlinale, which is state-funded, regularly invites 100 members of the Berlin state parliament to attend opening night. The parliament picks the guests, making sure to include members from all elected parties. Since 2017, that’s included the AfD.
“They always get invited, and...
Alongside possible pro-Palestinian protests of the sort that took place at Sundance last month, it looked like a much larger demonstration, by German film industry and local activists, might completely shut down the red carpet. There was growing anger over the Berlinale’s decision to invite members of Germany’s far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) to tonight’s opening gala. More than 200 film professionals, most of them from within the German industry, issued an open letter calling the decision “incompatible” with the festival’s official commitment to being a place of “empathy, awareness, and understanding.”
The Berlinale, which is state-funded, regularly invites 100 members of the Berlin state parliament to attend opening night. The parliament picks the guests, making sure to include members from all elected parties. Since 2017, that’s included the AfD.
“They always get invited, and...
- 2/15/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Best Friend Forever has picked up international rights to Milano, the debut feature from Belgian director Christina Vandekerckhove, and is kicking off sales at the EFM.
The film is about a 12 year-old boy who is able to hear, yet only expresses himself in sign language. As his single father tries to make ends meet he often leaves his son alone with his neighbour. But everything changes when his mother suddenly returns.
Now in post-production, Milano is produced by Jan De Clercq and Annemie Degryse ‘s Lumiere which will also release the film in Benelux. The film stars Flemish star Matteo Simoni,...
The film is about a 12 year-old boy who is able to hear, yet only expresses himself in sign language. As his single father tries to make ends meet he often leaves his son alone with his neighbour. But everything changes when his mother suddenly returns.
Now in post-production, Milano is produced by Jan De Clercq and Annemie Degryse ‘s Lumiere which will also release the film in Benelux. The film stars Flemish star Matteo Simoni,...
- 2/15/2024
- ScreenDaily
It’s the end of an era for the Berlin International Film Festival, as Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian and his co-head Mariette Rissenbeek — a pair of fearless cineastes and programmers who came onboard together in the summer of 2019, and helped steer the world’s largest film festival through the crisis of the pandemic years — are being unceremoniously shoved out to sea after the 2024 edition as a part of cost-cutting measures instituted by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Claudia Roth.
It’s too soon to say how the Berlinale will shrink and suffer in the absence of the leadership that has allowed the festival to remain such a vital arena for world cinema at a time of industry-wide constriction, but even a quick overview of this year’s program suggests that Chatrian and Rissenbeek will be going out with a bang.
As usual, the Berlinale will play...
It’s too soon to say how the Berlinale will shrink and suffer in the absence of the leadership that has allowed the festival to remain such a vital arena for world cinema at a time of industry-wide constriction, but even a quick overview of this year’s program suggests that Chatrian and Rissenbeek will be going out with a bang.
As usual, the Berlinale will play...
- 2/14/2024
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Exclusive: The Berlin Film Festival gets underway Thursday but organizers and staff will be doing so bruised after an uncomfortable buildup to the event.
The festival sparked controversy 10 days ago after we revealed it had invited members of the far-right AfD (Alternative For Germany) party to the opening ceremony. The AfD, which is polling second in the country, is the source of much soul-searching in Germany due to its hardline agenda, which has been characterized as anti-Islam, anti-immigration, German nationalist and Eurosceptic.
By the end of the week, organizers had rowed back on the lightning-rod decision, but not before inflicting some hefty PR self-harm and opening internal divisions among staff.
On Tuesday, further fault lines were exposed when 28 festival workers published an open letter criticizing the festival for not going far enough in its condemnation of hostilities in Gaza and for not providing sufficient opportunities for debate on the subject at this year’s festival.
The festival sparked controversy 10 days ago after we revealed it had invited members of the far-right AfD (Alternative For Germany) party to the opening ceremony. The AfD, which is polling second in the country, is the source of much soul-searching in Germany due to its hardline agenda, which has been characterized as anti-Islam, anti-immigration, German nationalist and Eurosceptic.
By the end of the week, organizers had rowed back on the lightning-rod decision, but not before inflicting some hefty PR self-harm and opening internal divisions among staff.
On Tuesday, further fault lines were exposed when 28 festival workers published an open letter criticizing the festival for not going far enough in its condemnation of hostilities in Gaza and for not providing sufficient opportunities for debate on the subject at this year’s festival.
- 2/14/2024
- by Zac Ntim and Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
A group of contractors working at this year’s Berlinale have criticised the festival’s lack of response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and called for “an immediate ceasefire”.
The open letter was published on Instagram last night (February 12) by an account called ‘Berlinale Workers Voice’ in response to a statement by festival co-heads Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian about the conflict.
The original festival statement said: “Our sympathy goes out to all the victims of the humanitarian crises in the Middle East and elsewhere… We want everyone’s suffering to be recognised and for our programme to be...
The open letter was published on Instagram last night (February 12) by an account called ‘Berlinale Workers Voice’ in response to a statement by festival co-heads Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian about the conflict.
The original festival statement said: “Our sympathy goes out to all the victims of the humanitarian crises in the Middle East and elsewhere… We want everyone’s suffering to be recognised and for our programme to be...
- 2/13/2024
- ScreenDaily
A group of Berlin Film Festival workers and contractors have published an open letter calling out the Berlinale for its official stance on the war in Gaza.
The letter, signed by around 30 workers, including programmers and moderators for the festival’s sidebar sections Panorama, Forum and Generation, as well as the European Film Market, Berlinale Talents and Berlinale Goes Kiez, said they “want to hold the festival and ourselves to a higher standard.” They are calling for the Berlinale to take a clearer stance against the war in Gaza.
“We join a global solidarity movement to demand an immediate ceasefire and call for the release of all hostages,” it reads.
The letter, published online two days before the start of the 74th Berlinale on Thursday, Feb. 15, called on the Berlinale to go further than its official statement, on Jan.19, in which co-directors Mariëtte Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian said their sympathy...
The letter, signed by around 30 workers, including programmers and moderators for the festival’s sidebar sections Panorama, Forum and Generation, as well as the European Film Market, Berlinale Talents and Berlinale Goes Kiez, said they “want to hold the festival and ourselves to a higher standard.” They are calling for the Berlinale to take a clearer stance against the war in Gaza.
“We join a global solidarity movement to demand an immediate ceasefire and call for the release of all hostages,” it reads.
The letter, published online two days before the start of the 74th Berlinale on Thursday, Feb. 15, called on the Berlinale to go further than its official statement, on Jan.19, in which co-directors Mariëtte Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian said their sympathy...
- 2/13/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A group of Berlinale workers have published an open letter to the festival, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and asking that leadership take a “stronger institutional stance” on what the statement calls “the current assault on Palestinian life.”
The letter, which was published on Instagram Monday night with a link to a Google Form for others to sign, was in response to the Berlinale’s Jan. 19 statement on the Israel-Hamas war. “Our sympathy goes out to all the victims of the humanitarian crises in the Middle East and elsewhere,” co-heads Mariëtte Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian said, adding that “we take a firm stand against all forms of discrimination and are committed to intercultural understanding.”
The letter begins, “We are painfully aware of the unbearable dynamics of institutional inertia in the cultural sector in Germany, and we recognize the current limits imposed on speech. We want to hold the festival and ourselves to a higher standard.
The letter, which was published on Instagram Monday night with a link to a Google Form for others to sign, was in response to the Berlinale’s Jan. 19 statement on the Israel-Hamas war. “Our sympathy goes out to all the victims of the humanitarian crises in the Middle East and elsewhere,” co-heads Mariëtte Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian said, adding that “we take a firm stand against all forms of discrimination and are committed to intercultural understanding.”
The letter begins, “We are painfully aware of the unbearable dynamics of institutional inertia in the cultural sector in Germany, and we recognize the current limits imposed on speech. We want to hold the festival and ourselves to a higher standard.
- 2/13/2024
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
A group of Berlin Film Festival workers have released a statement calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, the “release of all hostages,” and “stronger institutional leadership,” including from the Berlinale, in response to what they describe as the “current assault on Palestinian life.”
The open letter, published last night on social media and shared with industry as a google doc, comes just two days before the Berlinale gets underway. It is currently signed by 28 contractors, including programmers for Panorama, Generation, EFM, Forum, Berlinale Talents and Berlinale Goes Kiez. In particular, the group takes issue with a previous festival statement on the crisis.
“As Berlinale contractors, who admire the festival’s vocal, principled track record defending humanitarian values, we feel the need to offer a position that builds on the festival’s statement concerning the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza (19 January 2024),” the statement begins.
“We are painfully aware of the...
The open letter, published last night on social media and shared with industry as a google doc, comes just two days before the Berlinale gets underway. It is currently signed by 28 contractors, including programmers for Panorama, Generation, EFM, Forum, Berlinale Talents and Berlinale Goes Kiez. In particular, the group takes issue with a previous festival statement on the crisis.
“As Berlinale contractors, who admire the festival’s vocal, principled track record defending humanitarian values, we feel the need to offer a position that builds on the festival’s statement concerning the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza (19 January 2024),” the statement begins.
“We are painfully aware of the...
- 2/13/2024
- by Zac Ntim and Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Arclight Films has announced that Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley star in Renny Harlin’s survival thriller Deep Water, which is in post. Arclight continues worldwide sales at EFM this week.
The first feature greenlit by the stand-alone label Simmons/Hamilton Productions wrapped at the end of last year in New Zealand and Spain.
The lead cast includes Molly Wright (Lionsgate’s upcoming The Best Christmas Pageant Ever), Angus Sampson (FX’s Fargo), Kelly Gale (Lionsgate’s Plane), Li Wenhan from Chinese-Korean K-Pop group Uniq, and Chinese actress Nashi (Creation Of The Gods I: Kingdom Of Storms).
Harlin, whose credits include Die Hard 2,...
The first feature greenlit by the stand-alone label Simmons/Hamilton Productions wrapped at the end of last year in New Zealand and Spain.
The lead cast includes Molly Wright (Lionsgate’s upcoming The Best Christmas Pageant Ever), Angus Sampson (FX’s Fargo), Kelly Gale (Lionsgate’s Plane), Li Wenhan from Chinese-Korean K-Pop group Uniq, and Chinese actress Nashi (Creation Of The Gods I: Kingdom Of Storms).
Harlin, whose credits include Die Hard 2,...
- 2/13/2024
- ScreenDaily
Screen’s February 2024 edition looks ahead to the upcoming Berlin film festival, with a guide into the line-up, a preview of the European Film Market, and an in-depth interview with the festival’s outgoing co-heads, Carlo Chatrian and Mariette Rissenbeek.
The issue also looks at how Searchlight Pictures’ UK team helped bring the likes of Rye Lane and All Of Us Strangers to fruition.
Click here to read the digital edition
Read Screen’s other digital editions...
The issue also looks at how Searchlight Pictures’ UK team helped bring the likes of Rye Lane and All Of Us Strangers to fruition.
Click here to read the digital edition
Read Screen’s other digital editions...
- 2/13/2024
- ScreenDaily
Dennis Ruh, the director of the European Film Market (EFM), is predicting a ‘very busy’ event as the film industry gears up for its first major post-strike market.
Ruh anticipates plenty of commercial English-language projects being presented at EFM, which runs from February 15-21, and that there will be a big contingent coming from the US.
“EFM is the first big market after the [writers and actors’] strikes, which means that many companies are coming with new projects that were held back,” said Ruh.
Ruh’s comments come amid a flurry of pre-efm package announcements from companies including A24, which is handling Celine Song...
Ruh anticipates plenty of commercial English-language projects being presented at EFM, which runs from February 15-21, and that there will be a big contingent coming from the US.
“EFM is the first big market after the [writers and actors’] strikes, which means that many companies are coming with new projects that were held back,” said Ruh.
Ruh’s comments come amid a flurry of pre-efm package announcements from companies including A24, which is handling Celine Song...
- 2/12/2024
- ScreenDaily
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