The Berlin International Film Festival on Thursday announced 15 films that are part of this year’s competition and will compete for the top Golden and Silver Bear awards. The festival is taking place in a sized-down, more virtual form due to the pandemic.
The selection includes several German contributions and films from France, Romania, Hungary Mexico, South Korea and Japan, among others.
Along the German films are world premieres such as “Fabian — Going to the Dogs,” directed by Dominik Graf, “I’m your man” by Maria Schrader and “Next Door” by Daniel Bruehl.
There’s an Iranian-French production called “Ballad of a White Cow” by Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghaddam and the Korean “Introduction” by Hong Sangsoo.
Japan is presented with the “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy” by Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Hungary with “Forest — I See You Everywhere” by Bence Fliegauf.
“The disruption brought on by the events of 2020 has led filmmakers to make the most of this situation and create deeply personal films,” artistic director Carlo Chatrian said in a statement about the selection.
“This Competition is less rich in numbers but very dense in content and style.”
The film festival is taking place in a revamped form because of the pandemic. Organizers announced in December that the “Berlinale,” traditionally the first of the year’s major European film festivals, will be split into two parts because of coronavirus restrictions.
An online event for the industry, with the jury choosing the winners, is to be held March 1-5. Plans call for a “summer special” to follow June 9-20, at which the public will get a chance to see the winners and a selection of other films. The award ceremony is to take place in June.
The festival also announced last month that it is taking a new approach to the international jury this year. It will do without a jury president, and instead the entries will be judged by six directors whose films won the event’s top Golden Bear award.
Films in Competition
Albatros (Drift Away)
France
by Xavier Beauvois
with Jรฉrรฉmie Renier, Marie-Julie Maille, Victor Belmondo
World premiere
Babardealฤ cu bucluc sau porno balamuc (Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn)
Romania / Luxemburg / Croatia / Czech Republic
by Radu Jude
with Katia Pascariu, Claudia Ieremia, Olimpia Mฤlai
World premiere
Fabian oder Der Gang vor die Hunde (Fabian – Going to the Dogs)
Germany
by Dominik Graf
with Tom Schilling, Saskia Rosendahl, Albrecht Schuch
World premiere
Ghasideyeh gave sefid (Ballad of a White Cow)
Iran / France
by Behtash Sanaeeha, Maryam Moghaddam
with Maryam Moghaddam, Alireza Sanifar
World premiere
Guzen to sozo (Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy)
Japan
by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
with Kotone Furukawa, Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Fusako Urabe
World premiere
Herr Bachmann und seine Klasse (Mr Bachmann and His Class)
Germany
by Maria Speth
with Dieter Bachmann and pupils of class 6b
World premiere / Documentary form
Ich bin dein Mensch (I’m Your Man)
Germany
by Maria Schrader
with Maren Eggert, Dan Stevens, Sandra Hรผller
World premiere
Inteurodeoksyeon (Introduction)
Republic of Korea
by Hong Sangsoo
with Shin Seokho, Park Miso, Kim Minhee
World premiere
Memory Box
France / Lebanon / Canada / Qatar
by Joana Hadjithomas, Khalil Joreige
with Rim Turki, Manal Issa, Paloma Vauthier
World premiere
Nebenan (Next Door)
Germany
by Daniel Brรผhl
with Daniel Brรผhl, Peter Kurth
World premiere / Debut film
Petite Maman
France
by Cรฉline Sciamma
with Josรฉphine Sanz, Gabrielle Sanz, Nina Meurisse
World premiere
Ras vkhedavt, rodesac cas vukurebt? (What Do We See When We Look at the Sky?)
Germany / Georgia
by Alexandre Koberidze
with Ani Karseladze, Giorgi Bochorishvili, Vakhtang Fanchulidze
World premiere
Rengeteg – mindenhol laฬtlak (Forest – I See You Everywhere)
Hungary
by Bence Fliegauf
with Laura Podlovics, Istvรกn Lรฉnรกrt, Lilla Kizlinger, Zsolt Vรฉgh, Lรกszlรณ Cziffer, Juli Jakab, รgi Gubรญk
*World premiere
Termรฉszetes fรฉny (Natural Light)
Hungary / Latvia / France / Germany
by Dรฉnes Nagy
with Ferenc Szabรณ, Tamรกs Garbacz, Lรกszlรณ Bajkรณ
World premiere / Debut film
Una Pelรญcula de Policรญas (A Cop Movie)
Mexico
by Alonso Ruizpalacios
with Mรณnica Del Carmen, Raรบl Briones
World premiere / Documentary form
