By Geir Moulson
BERLIN (AP) --The first of the year's major European film festivals got underway in Berlin on Thursday with a strong contingent of movies from female directors, which jury president Juliette Binoche greeted as "a good step forward."
The 69th Berlin International Film Festival was starting with Danish director Lone Scherfig's "The Kindness of Strangers," which follows an ensemble of characters through a New York City winter. It is the first of 17 contenders for the event's top Golden Bear award, whose winner will be announced Feb. 16.
The honors will be awarded by a six-member jury under French actress Binoche, who noted that there are seven films by women directors this year.
"I think that's a good step forward, and 10 years ago it was not like that," Binoche told reporters. "So I think we're opening hearts, minds and eventually bodies."
British producer, director and actress Trudie Styler, a fellow juror, said that having 41 percent of competition films directed by women was "a stepping-forward moment."
Competitors this year include Agnieszka Holland's "Mr. Jones," following a Welsh journalist's experience of the 1930s famine in Ukraine, and Isabel Coixet's "Elisa & Marcela," a love story between two women in Spain over a century ago that is a Netflix project.
There are new productions from previous Golden Bear winners Fatih Akin — "The Golden Glove," based on the story of a 1970s German serial killer — and Wang Quan'an, with "Ondog."
This year's "Berlinale" is also the end of an era. It is the last under Dieter Kosslick, the event's director for 18 years.
He will be succeeded next year by a double-headed team of Carlo Chatrian and Mariette Rissenbeek. Locarno film festival chief Chatrian will become artistic director and Rissenbeek, a German movie industry official, will be managing director.
The Berlin festival, held in gray February weather in the German capital, doesn't match the glamor of its cousins in Cannes and Venice. But Kosslick has always prided himself on the fact that it is open to a wider audience, with some 400 films screening in various sections.
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More