February Events:
Berlinale(February 2nd - 5th, 2015)
| Berlinale: The Berlin International Film Festival |
The Berlin Film Festival, known as the 'Berlinale', was founded by Alfred Bauer in 1951, and under his leadership (up until 1976) it gained recognition as one of the great European festivals. Berlinale is a great local cultural event, the largest publicly attended film festival and indeed one of the most important dates for the international film industry. The festival's primary mission is to support young, old and new talents. The Berlin International Film Festival is a source of inspiration in the global film community and the opportunities for discussion and networking are countless at this festival. With film programmes, workshops, panel discussions and joint projects with other social and cultural actors.
The competition is at the very heart of the festival, the festival and competition are intended to provide an overview of "the development of international cinematic art", and presents the best available films from across the globe with a traditional emphasis on Europe and particular focus on American film. In addition to the feature film competition, there are awards for short films. An international jury selects the winners of the Golden Bear Award for Best Film, and the Silver Bear awards for best film, best director, best actors, best musical score and other individual achievements.
The entire world of film
The public programme of the Berlin International Film Festival shows about 400 films per year, mostly international or European premieres. Films of every genre, length and format find their place in the various sections: great international cinema in the Competition, independent and art house in Panorama, films for young audiences in Generation, new discoveries and promising talents from the German film scene in Perspektive Deutsches Kino, avant garde, experimental and unfamiliar cinematography in the Forum and Forum Expanded, and an exploration of cinematic possibilities in Berlinale Shorts. The Berlinale Special, including Berlinale Special Gala, is showing new and extraordinary productions and honours great cinema personalities. The programme is rounded out by a Retrospective as well as an Homage, which focuses on the œuvre of a great personality of cinema, curated by the Deutsche Kinemathek - Museum für Film und Fernsehen. Beginning in 2013, the Retrospective expanded to include presentations of Berlinale Classics. They show current restorations of film classics as well as rediscovered films.Furthermore, Berlinale has regularly organised a programme of special presentations that open up new perspectives, provide insight into key themes, make new connections and explore realms where film intersects with other creative disciplines. Food, pleasure and the environment - these are the topics that lie at the centre of the Culinary Cinema. “Berlinale Goes Kiez” is travelling from one arthouse cinema to another within the city to present selected films from the Berlinale programme and NATIVe - A Journey into Indigenous Cinema is devoted to the cinematic story-telling of Indigenous peoples worldwide.
Sections and Special Representations
Competition
The Competition section comprises of feature-length films yet to be released outside their country of origin. Films in the Competition section compete for several prizes, including the top Golden Bear for the best film and a series of Silver Bears for acting, writing and production.21 films are world premieres presented at the venues: Friedrichstadt Palast, Berlinale Palast, Kino International, Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Zoo Palast, and the period of screening will take place from February the 5th till February 15th.
Berlinale Shorts
This section comprises of domestic and international short films, particularly those that demonstrate innovative approaches to filmmaking. Films in this category compete for the Golden Bear for the best short film, as well as a jury-nominated Silver Bear.Venues for this section include CinemaxX 1, CinemaxX 3, CinemaxX 5, Colosseum 1 and the period of screening will take place from the 6th February till the 15th February.
Panorama
This section comprises of new independent and arthouse films that deal with "controversial subjects or unconventional aesthetic styles". Films in this category are intended to provoke discussion, and have historically involved themes such as gay, lesbian and transgender issues.The venues will include Colosseum 1, Kino International, CineStar 3, Cubix 7, Cubix 8, Zoo Palast with the period of screening taking place between February 6th and February 15th.
Forum
The 45th Berlinale Forum will show a total of 43 films in its main programme, of which all comprises experimental and documentary films from around the world with a particular emphasis on screening works by younger filmmakers. There are no format or genre restrictions, and films in the Forum do not compete for awards. 31 of the films are world premieres and 10 international premieres, screened at the venues:Delphi Filmpalast, CineStar, Kino Arsenal, Cubix, Akademie der Künste, Zoo Palast, Colosseum from February 6th to February 15th.Generation
This section comprises of a mixture of short and feature-length films aimed at children and youths. Films in the Generation section compete in two sub-categories: Generation Kplus (aimed at those aged four and above) and Generation 14plus (aimed at those aged fourteen and above). The awards in the section are determined by three separate juries: the Children's Jury, the Youth Jury and an international jury of experts - whose decisions are made independent of each other. The venues for this section include the Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Cubix, CinemaXx, Zoo Palast, Filmtheater am Friedrichshain,Perspektive Deutsches Kino
This section will comprise of a wide variety of German films, with an emphasis on highlighting current trends in German cinema. There are few entry requirements, enabling emerging filmmakers to display their work to domestic and international audiences. All the movies in this section are World premiers screened at the venues Cinemaxx, Colosseum, Deutsche Kinemathek, HomeBase Lounge, CineStar.Berlinale Special
The Festival shows new and extraordinary productions and honors great cinema personalities by showing their films. Some of these films are first releases held at the venues Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Zoo Palast, Friedrichstadt PalaceRetrospective
The Retrospective Sectiom of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival promises to be an opulent colour spectacle. It will celebrate the 100th anniversary of a colour film process that has become a legend far beyond Hollywood: Color by Technicolor. The Retrospective will present around 30 magnificent Technicolor films, some of which have been elaborately restored. They were made in the early years between the dawn of Technicolor and 1953 - and include six British films. Comprising of classic films previously shown at the Berlinale, with films collated from the Competition, Forum, Panorama and Generation categories. Venues - Cinemax, Zeughauskino, Deutsche KinemathekHomeage
The Homage of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival will be dedicated to German filmmaker Wim Wenders, who will also be awarded an Honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement. The award ceremony on February 12th, 2015 at 10.00 pm in the Berlinale Palast will include a screening of Der Amerikanische Freund (The American Friend, 1977) at the venue Berlinale Palast.Culinary Cinema
This section presents a selection of films from all categories on culinary and ecological issues.12 current features, documentaries and short films that deal with food will be release. The films are selected according to their thematic and cinematic qualities. Venues: Gropius Mirror Restaurant, MGB-Kino (E), Eiszeit Kino Saal 1 (E), Eiszeit Kino Saal 2 (E),
Period of Screening: The period of screening starts the 9th of February and ends the 13 th of February.
Berlinale Goes Kiez:
On each of these evenings, one Berlin arthouse cinema turns into an additional Festival venue and presents two selected films from the Berlinale programme. Just like they do at the regular Festival, the film teams usually introduce their works in person at the neighbourhood cinemas and are available to answer questions and discuss their films with audiences after the screening. This year's attending cinema patrons include Senta Berger, Volker Bruch, Henry Hübchen, Hans-Christian Schmid, Miriam Stein and Michael Verhoeven.
17 films will be released at the following venues: Sputnik Kino, Kreuzberg; Toni & Tonino, Weißensee; Kino Berlin, Lankwitz; Kino Union, Friedrichshagen; Odeon, Schöneberg; Neues Off, Neukölln; Eiszeit Kino, Kreuzberg. The period of screening starts on February 7th and ends on the 13th.
NATIVE
A journey into Indigenous Cinema shows a limited selection of Indigenous films from all categories. It is a program only accessed by invitation. In 2015, the focus is on Indigenous cinema from Latin America with 18 fictional and documentary films made between 1986 and 2014.18 fictional and documentary films will be released.Venues:
Once again a number of side events will supplement the screenings of NATIVe films. At Berlinale Open House, happening in the Audi Berlinale Lounge on Marlene-Dietrich-Platz, NATIVe guests will participate in two story-telling slams - sharing their stories with the audience, who will also be encouraged to spontaneously contribute to the event. Furthermore, a moderated discussion on how oral tradition finds its way to the big screen will be held together with the Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut Preußischer Kulturbersitz. The period of screening begins on the 4th of February and ends on the 15th of February.