Online Movie Station

Posting winners as they are announced via Twitter and facebook.  When info becomes available at official site, will confirm winners.  All winners are confirmed in official site that you can check here.

Honorary Lola goes to Werner Herzog; Audience Award Lola to Schlussmacher by Matthias Schweighöfer and Torsten Künstler.

Seems that Oh Boy will win most major awards... only one to go... and went to Oh Boy, which becomes the big winner tonight.

Winners are in BLUE.

3/22/13
A few hours ago the Deutsche Filmakademie (German Film Academy) announced the nominees for the Deutscher Filmpreis (German Film Awards) -better known as Lolas- and Cloud Atlas leads the pack with 9 nods including top award and Best Director closely followed by Jan Ole Gester's debut film Oh Boy with eight nods.

These are the nominees for all the 16 categories.

Best Film
Cloud Atlas, Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski and Tom Tykwer
*Hannah Arendt, Margarethe von Trotta BEST FILM IN SILVER
*Lore, Cate Shortland BEST FILM IN BRONZE
*Oh Boy, Jan Ole Gerster  BEST FILM IN GOLD
Quellen des Lebens, Oskar Roehler
Die Wand (The Wall), Julian Roman Pölsler

Best Director
*Jan Ole Gester for Oh Boy
Margarethe von Trotta for Hannah Arendt
Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski and Tom Tykwer for Cloud Atlas

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Martina Gedeck in Die Wand (The Wall)
Birgit Minichmayr in Gnade (Mercy)
*Barbara Sukowa in Hannah Arendt

Best Supporting Actress
Margarita Broich in Quellen des Lebens
Friederike Kempter in Oh Boy
*Christine Schorn in Das Leben ist nichts für Feiglinge

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Edin Hasanovic in Schuld sind immer die Anderen
*Tom Schilling in Oh Boy
Sabin Tambrea in Ludwig II

Best Supporting Actor
*Michael Gwisdek in Oh Boy
Robert Gwisdek in Das Wochenende (The Weekend)
Ernst Stötzner in Was Bleibt (Home for the Weekend)

Best Screenplay
Pam Katz and Margarethe von Trotta for Hannah Arendt
*Jan Ole Gerster for Oh Boy
Anna Maria Praßler for Schuld sind immer die Anderen

Best Cinematography
Adam Arkapaw for Lore
Jakub Bejnarowicz for Gnade (Mercy)
*John Troll and Frank Briebe for Cloud Atlas

Best Art Direction
Susann Bieling for Die Abenteuer des Huck Finn
*Uli Hanisch and Hugo Bateup for Cloud Atlas
Udo Kramer for Die Vermessung der Welt (Measuring the World)

Best Editing
*Alexander Berner for Cloud Atlas
Anne Fabini for More Than Honey
Anja Siemens for Oh Boy

Best Sound Design
*Christian Bischoff, Uve Haussig and Johannes Konecny for Die Wand (The Wall)
Benjamin Krbetschek and Holger Lehmann for Du hast es Versprochen (Forgotten)
Stefan Soltau, Björn Wiese and Dominik Rätz for Gnade (Mercy)
Markus Stemler, Ivan Sharrock, Frank Kruse, Matthias Lempert, Roland Winke and Lars Ginzel for Cloud Atlas

Best Film Score
*The Major Minors and Cherilyn MacNeil for Oh Boy
Max Richter for Lore
Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil for Cloud Atlas

Best Costume Design
*Kym Barrett and Pierre-Yves Gayraud for Cloud Atlas
Stefanie Bieker for Lore
Frauke Firl for Hannah Arendt
Thomas Oláh for Die Vermessung der welt (Measuring the World)

Best Make Up
Jeannette Latzelsberger, Gregor Eckstein, Elke Lebender, Stephanie Däbritz and Julia Rinkl for Quellen des lebens
*Daniel Parker and Jeremy Woodhead for Cloud Atlas
Astrid Weber for Hannah Arendt

Best Documentary
*More Than Honey, Markus Imhoof
Vergis Mein Nicht, David Sieveking
Die Wohnung (The Flat), Arnon Goldfinger

Best Children's Film
Das Haus der Krokodile (Victor and the Secret of Crocodile Mansion), Cyrill Boss and Philipp Stennert
*Kaddisch für einen Freund, Leo Khasin

To check the official list go here.  Awards ceremony will take place on April 26 in Berlin's Friedrichstadt-Palast, will be broadcast live by ZDF and will be hosted by Mirjam Weichselbraun.

There are many interesting films among the nominees, specially the family/personal dramas that seem to have interesting stories but there are a few period films and/or historical real life people  that also could be interesting. Among the documentaries The Flat has become must be seen for me. Great.

Starting today people living in Germany can vote for their favorite 2012 movie from the twelve nominated films that were announce today by organizers. Voting is open from today until April 22.

The following are the nominated films.

Türkisch für Anfänger by Bora Dagtekin
Russendisko by Olivier Ziengenbalg
Hanni & Nanni 2 by Julia von Heinz
Schutzengel by Til Schweiger
Mann tut was Mann kann by Marc Rothemund
Die Vermessung der Welt by Detlev Buck
Cloud Atlas by Tom Tykwer and Wachowski siblings
Jesus liebt mich (Jesus Loves Me) by Florian David Fitz
Die Vampirschwestern by Wolfang Groos
Schlussmacher by Matthias Schweighöfer, Torsten Künstler
Fünf Freunde 2 by Mike Marzuk
Kokowääh 2 by Til Schweiger, Torsten Künstler

To VOTE go here. With a couple of exceptions films are mainstream cinema/crowd pleasers so let's hope one of the exceptions wins.

As was announced earlier Werner Herzog will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award this year. The 2013 German Film Awards will be held April 26 in Berlin.

Winter is almost over so let's recall some of the movies I have seen during the cold season.

Infancia Clandestina (Clandestine Childhood), Benjamín Ávila, Argentina, Spain and Brazil
Known for his documentary Nietos (Identidad y Memorial) Avila debuts with his first feature film about a similar subject, the children in the troubled Argentinean days of the late 70's. As stated by Avila film story is not autobiographical even when he mixes some of his personal memories with fiction and tells story from a child point of view, which is very safe but becomes a lot less engaging for viewers as at moments becomes a melodrama about puppy love more than how to handle a double identity when you are so young. In this sense while watching story became very familiar for me and not unique as similar stories were told by films like 1988 Sidney Lumet's Running on Empty and 2000 Christian Petzold's Die innere Sicherheit (The State I Am In). The second is also Petzold's feature film debut and for a debut is a very engaging film and story, an opportunity that is lost in Avila's film perhaps because is not easy to objectively direct a film about what happened in your real life.

As we know was Argentina's submission to 2013 Oscar, an honor that perhaps was given more for the story film tells than for film's quality. Still stories like this one need to be told and people need to know them. Watch at your own risk but do not expect much from film specs and perhaps you will enjoy it more than me. Enjoy!  Trailer.


Las Malas Intenciones (The Bad Intentions), Rosario Garcia-Montero, Peru, Argentina and Germany
The debut feature film by Garcia-Montero that also has a story centered in a child and her view of everything that surrounds her in the critical and violent moments in Peru of the early 80's. This time the story is set in a wealthy family where the lonely young girl world collapses as her mother tells her she is going to have a sibling, which is the excuse to lightly explore Peru's conflicts. Not many stories have been told from this specific conflict, so there was a big opportunity for this film to excel at least for the story told, but no it did not as the little girl personal story overshadows everything else that is also told. Then you have the problem of not-so-good acting which makes film very hard to sustain watching.

Peru's submission to 2013 Oscar definitively has not the quality of films by more accomplished Peruvian directors like Claudia Llosa or Vega brothers outstanding films so suggest to watch at your own risk not expecting a great film and maybe you will enjoy it more than what I did. Sigh. Trailer.

Todos Tenemos Un Plan (Everybody Has a Plan), Ana Piterbarg, Argentina, Spain and Germany
Another debut feature film by Ana Piterbarg that unfortunately is not much amazing perhaps due to the lack of developed directorial skills as film starts very well both story wise and tech specs but around the middle film clearly lost direction after setting up some really interesting concepts that are abandoned for stretching a film too long without a clear direction to a much predictable end.

The best film has is that Viggo Mortensen performance looks great thanks to other actors really bad performances. Alright there is something else, Piterbarg style suggests that she will have a good future in filmmaking when her directorial skills improve. Enjoy.  Trailer.

Blancanieves, Pablo Berger, Spain
A very interesting take on classic Snow White tale as film is one of the most clearly Spain's values showcase that I have seen in ages, not only because is about bullfighting, has great music score (mostly Flamenco) but because is set in the 20's and has some great costumes. Also as film is black and white delights us with some very interesting use of light creating some outstanding to watch compositions. The silent film is an homage to German Expressionism which makes film very different to the "other" recent silent film and makes it a very artistic feast to the eyes. That's the good part.

On the not-great side, unfortunately some of the performances doesn't fit what you expect from a silent film nor recreates the fantastic performances in films of the German Expressionism era. For me performances are "too modern" with the occasional exceptions when the necessary silent film dramatic-exaggerated performance is present in scenes by Maribel Verdú. Still and considering modern performances is Macarena García who captured my attention and who I enjoyed most in film.

Spain's submission to 2013 Oscar was surely overshadowed by last year Best Picture Oscar winner but do not let this fool you as this is a movie that I strongly suggest you do not skip especially if you appreciate art in movies but somehow I know that due to the known tale very unconventional adaptation could please wider audiences that never imagined Snow White could be told as is told here. Enjoy!!! Trailer.

Hypnotisören (The Hypnotist), Lasse Hallström, Sweden
A great entertaining film that in my opinion represents well Nordic mainstream films as absolutely has the fantastic cold performances style, blueish/greyish look, slowish pace and a story that can easily capture your attention. But one word of advice, do NOT expect this film to be a Hollywood thriller as thankfully it is NOT.

My best reference is that if you enjoyed 2008 Tomas Alfredson's Låt den rätte komma in (Let the Right One In), 2006 Baltasar Kormákur's Mýrin (Jar City) and/or the original 2009 Niels Arden Oplev's Män som hatar kvinnor (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) then perhaps you will also enjoy this film that was Sweden submission to 2013 Oscar. Enjoy!! Trailer.

Den skaldede frisør (Love Is All You Need), Susanne Bier, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, France and Germany
Was expecting a less mainstream movie but movie is really mainstream cinema and perhaps the most crowd-pleaser/feel-good that Bier has done. Unfortunately and mainly due to casting but also because story, film makes you think about Mamma Mia! -without the songs- which somehow didn't help me to enjoy more film. Still film has some great Nordic style performances by Trine Dyrholm's as Ida and Paprika Steen as very unpleasant Benedikte; the only cast misfortune is Pierce Brosnan even when his performance is not bad, role should have been given to another good actor that hasn't star in a similar story high profile movie.

This romcom is nice to watch but please do not expect a Hollywood romcom as there is nothing American in this film, not the performances, not the storytelling style, not the humor, not the background drama, nor anything else. Film is an enjoyable entertaining moment that could please many that enjoy European cinema. Enjoy!! Trailer.

Cloclo (My Way), Florent-Emilio Siri, France and Belgium
Was more interesting in recalling the life of Claude François than watching film as a film, so you can say that my expectations were very low which was perfect as film as a film is not that good. Assume that this biopic will please many fans of the French pop singer but wonder if those not familiar with him and his brief life could enjoy film that much. Still Jérémie Renier performance is very acceptable as if not has the true looks has most of the mannerisms of Claude François, however is Benoît Magimel transformation what impressed me the most.

For those not familiar with the French singer (he was contemporary of Gilbert Bécaud, Johnny Hallyday and Frances Gall -all are in movie) perhaps knowing that he was the co creator of one of the most famous songs in the world, My Way that Paul Anka bought the rights, created new English lyrics and Frank Sinatra made it an international success. In this sense perhaps what film also has is an interesting take in how songs are translated into other languages to make local singers very popular in that language-speaking countries, sometimes overshadowing locally the success of the "original" song/singer and this story works BOTH ways here, from English to French and from French to English.

It is a very French film with a very French story that I am not sure non-French can enjoy, so my best suggestion is to watch Youtube video clips of the real Claude François before watching movie. Enjoy! Trailer.

The Paperboy, Lee Daniels, USA
With the mostly not positive reviews was expecting a film that I could not enjoy, but surprise, surprise film is truly "trashy" but highly enjoyable with one scene that I know will NOT forget, ever. This particular scene made me jump with a mix of disgust and incredibility as even when during the entire movie I really forgot I was watching Nicole Kidman in the screen, during this scene I couldn't help but seeing her doing a very sexually graphic scene (actually you see not much as almost everything is suggested) that yes, shocked me. Please do not allow me to confuse you, this is one the best Kidman's performances I have seen and one that everyone should see.

Know that film is not for everyone as is very violent, very sexually suggestive (not much is actually shown but it is suggested and makes your imagination flow into only one direction), highly homoerotic (again not much shown but suggested) and story is in one word, bizarre. But somehow Daniels take on the Pete Dexter award winner novel reminds me of Tarantino and bet you all that if Tarantino dared to tell this story, many will praise his work. Then you can't forget that Pedro Almodovar produced film which makes the Daniels-Almodovar collaboration very unconventional and yes, bizarre. Great.

I couldn't watch Daniels previous film as was too much for me, but this one strongly recommend you watch it; however prepare yourself for a sleazy/trashy very unconventional film. Enjoy!!! Trailer.

Have seen many more films but this is it for today. Cheers!

Ceremony is over, the fest is over, the winners are below, some are Must Be Seen for me while others know will be very hard-to-watch them.  Great!

Sehen im nächsten Jahr!!!

Competition

Golden Bear for Best Film: Poziţia Copilului (Child's Pose), Călin Peter Netzer, Romania

Silver Bear Jury Grand Prix: Epizoda u životu berača željeza (An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker), Danis Tanović, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France and Slovenia

Alfred Bauer Prize: Vic+Flo ont vu un ours (Vic+Flo Saw a Bear), Denis Côté, Canada

Special Mentions
Layla Fourie, Pia Marais, Germany, South Africa, France and Netherlands
Promised Land, Gus Van Sant, USA

Silver Bear for Best Director: David Gordon Green for Prince Avalanche, USA

Silver Bear for Best Actress: Paulina García in Gloria, Sebastián Lelio, Chile and Spain
Silver Bear for Best Actor: Nazif Mujic in Epizoda u životu berača željeza (An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker), Danis Tanović, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France and Slovenia

Silver Bear for Best Script: Jafar Panahi for Pardé (Closed Curtain), Jafar Panahi and Kamboziya Partovi, Iran
Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution in the categories Camera, Editing, Score, Costume Design or Set Design: Aziz Zhambakiyev for Уроки гармонии Uroki Garmonii (Harmony Lessons), Emir Baigazin, Kazakhstan and Germany

Best First Feature Award: The Rockett, Kim Mordaunt, Australia
Special Mention: A batalha de Tabatô (The Battle of Tabatô), João Viana Guinea-Bissau, Portugal

Generation

Generation Kplus

Children's Jury
Crystal Bear for Best Film: The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt, Australia
Special Mention: Satellite Boy, Catriona McKenzie, Australia
Crystal Bear for Best Short Film: The Amber Amulet, Matthew Moore, Australia
Special Mention: Ezi un lielpilseta (Hedgehogs and the City), Ēvalds Lācis, Latvia

International Jury
Grand Prix for Best Film: Mammu, es Tevi mīlu (Mother, I Love You), Jānis Nords, Latvia
Special Mention: Satellite Boy, Catriona McKenzie, Australia
Special Prize for Best Short Film: Cheong, Kim Jun-in, South Korea
Special Mention: Ezi un lielpilseta (Hedgehogs and the City), Ēvalds Lācis, Latvia

Generation 14plus

Youth Jury
Crystal Bear for Best Film: Baby Blues, Kasia Roslaniec, Poland
Special Mention: Pluto, Shin Su-won, Korea
Crystal Bear for Best Short Film: Rabbitland, Ana Nedeljković and Nikola Majdak, Serbia
Special Mention: Treffit (The Date), Jenni Toivoniemi, Finland

International Jury
Grand Prix for Best Film: Shopping, Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland, New Zealand
Special Mention: Baby Blues, Kasia Roslaniec, Poland
Special Prize Best Short Film: Första gången (The First Time), Anders Hazelius, Sweden
Special Mention: Barefoot, Danis Goulet, Canada

Short Films

Golden Bear: La Fugue (The Runaway), Jean-Bernard Marlin, France
Silver Bear Jury Prize: Die ruhe bleibt (Remains Quiet), Germany
DAAD Short Film: Aşura (Ashura), Köken Ergun, Turkey and Germany
Berlin Short Film Nominee for the European Film Awards: Misterio (Mystery), Chema García Ibarra, Spain

Collateral Awards

FIPRESCI
Competition: Poziţia Copilului (Child's Pose), Călin Peter Netzer, Romania
Panorama: Inch'Allah, Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette, Canada and France
Forum: Hélio Oiticica, Cesar Oiticica Filho, Brazil

Ecumenical Jury Awards
Competition: Gloria, Sebastián Lelio, Chile and Spain
Special Mention: Epizoda u životu berača željeza(An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker),Danis Tanović, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France and Slovenia
Panorama: The Act of Killing, Joshua Oppenheimer, Denmark, Norway and UK
Special Mention: Inch'Allah, Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette, Canada and France
Forum: Krugovi (Circles), Srdan Golubović, Serbia, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia and France
Special Mention: Senzo ni naru (Roots), Kaoru Ikeya, Japan

Label Europa Cinemas: The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen, Belgium and Netherlands (Panorama)

NETPAC Prize: Lamma shofak (When I Saw You), Annemarie Jacir, Palestine, Jordan, UAE and Greece (Forum)

Prize of the Guild of German Art House Cinemas:  Gloria, Sebastián Lelio, Chile and Spain

Confédération Internationale des Cinémas d’Art et d’Essai (C.I.C.A.E.)
Panorama: Rock the Casbah, Yariv Horowitz, Israel and France
Forum: Grzeli nateli dgeebi (In Bloom), Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß, Georgia, Germany and France

FGYO-Dialogue en Perspective: Zwei Mütter (Two Mothers), Anne Zohra Berrached, Germany (Perspektive Deutches Kino)
Special Mention: Chiralia, Santiago Gil, Germany (Pespective Deutches Kino)

Caligari Film Prize:Hélio Oiticica, Cesar Oiticica Filho, Brazil (Forum)

Teddy Awards
Feature Film: W imię… (In the Name of), Małgośka Szumowska, Poland
Jury Award: Concussion, Stacie Passon, USA
Best Documentary: Bambi, Sébastien Lifshitz, France
Best Short Film: Ta av mig (Undress Me), Victor Lindgren, Sweden, 15' (Berlinale Shorts)
Special Teddy Award for HIV Awareness: Steps for the Future, South Africa (project)

Peace Film Prize:  A World Not Ours, Mahdi Fleifel, Lebanon, UK and Denmark (Panorama)
Amnesty International Film Prize: The Rocket, Kim Mordaunt, Australia (Generation)
Cinema Fairbindet Prize: Art/Violence, Udi Aloni, Batoul Taleb and Mariam Abu Khaled, Palestine and USA

Made in Germany - Prespektive Fellowship: Jan Speckenbach for Das Klopfen der Steine (The Sounds of Stones)

Heiner Carow Prize: Naked Opera, Angela Chirstlieb, Luxembourg and Germany
Thomas Strittmatter Screenplay Award: Chris Kraus for Die Blumen von gesten (working title)

Berlinale Talent Campus
Arte International Prize: Peter Valchanov for The Lesson, Bulgaria
Dolby Sound Mark Award: Rutger Reinders from The Netherlands
VFF Talent Highlight Pitch Award: Geordie Sabbagh for Two Guys who Sold the World, Canada

Readers' Juries and Audience Awards

Panorama Audience Awards
Feature Film
First Place: The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen, Belgium and Netherlands
Second Place: Flores Raras (Reaching for the Moon), Bruno Barreto, Brazil
Third Place: Inch'Allah, Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette, Canada and France
Documentary
First Place: The Act of Killing, Joshua Oppenheimer, Denmark, Norway and UK
Second Place: Salma, Kim Longinotto, UK
Third Place: A World Not Ours, Mahdi Fleifel, Lebanon, UK and Denmark

The Berliner Morgenpost Readers' Jury: Uroki Garmonii (Harmony Lessons), Emir Baigazin, Kazahstan, Germany and France
The Tagesspiegel Readers' Jury: Vaters Garten - Die Liebe meiner Eltern (Father's Garden - The Love of My Parents), Peter Liechti, Switzerland (Forum)
The Siegessäule Readers' Jury Award: W imię… (In the Name of), Małgośka Szumowska, Poland

The official winners list published by the festival.  Enjoy!

A gay interest movie is the top Teddy winner, In the Name of, but this time I am really interested in watching film because of the director, Małgośka Szumowska, and her previous film, Elles.

But definitively the film to watch as Must Be Seen is the Jury Award winner, Concussion by Stacie Passon a film that is starting to look very promising not only for today's honor but because seems will become one of the very few lesbian interest films that crossover to mainstream cinema. Film already has a US distributor and is none other than Radius-TWC (yes, is another Weinstein company) plus Paradigm Films. Very good news.

Most remarkable, top feature films Teddy winners are by women directors'. Excellent!

Winners are in *BLUE.

1/30/13
As stated at Berlinale official site, the Teddy Award is the most outstanding queer film prize in the world with a clear vision that shows prize is socially engaged, political honor presented to films and people who communicate queer themes on a broad social platform, thereby contributing to tolerance, acceptance, solidarity and equality in society.

The theme of this year’s Teddy Award is ‘Queer icons: Let’s open up our queer family album’. This is a celebration of gay men, lesbians, bisexual men and women, transgender, closet queens and raging queers, from Valeska Gert to Divine, from Tom of Finland to James Baldwin and from Mishima to Mapplethorpe. The 27th Teddy Award will feature an homage to Jean Marais, commemorating the 100th anniversary of his birth. The theme is underlined in the series of works Golden Queers by the painter Rinaldo Hopf which will be on display from 1 to 28 February. His artwork – the Teddy design for 2013 – makes reference to the anniversary of Marais’ birth.

The Teddy award is a non-profit event and is financed exclusively through the contributions and donations of the sponsors and benefactors of the Teddy foundation, the hard work of its many volunteers and through sponsorship and ticket sales for the event itself.

Every year films from all sections of the Berlinale compete for the Teddy Awards. Award ceremony will be on February 15.

Did a spontaneous classification for each movie, but be aware that some films blur the LGBT interest to go more mainstream, meaning: films could appeal more to general audiences than to genre audiences, those films are left without a classification.

The Films

Feature Films

Competition
La Religieuse (The Nun), Guillaume Nicloux, France, Germany and Belgium (L)
Vic+Flo on vu un ours (Vic+Flo Saw a Bear), Denis Côté, Canada (L)
*W imię… (In the Name of), Małgośka Szumowska, Poland (G) BEST FEATURE FILM

Panorama
백야 Baek Ya (White Night), LeeSong Hee-il, South Korea (G)
Chemi sabnis naketsi (A Fold in My Blanket), Zaza Rusadze, Georgia (G)
*Concussion, Stacie Passon, USA (L) SPECIAL JURY AWARD
Deshora (Belated), Barbara Salasola-Day, Argentina, Colombia and Norway (G)
Interior. Leather Bar., Travis Mathews and James Franco, USA (G)
Lose Your Head, Stefan Westerwelle and Patrick Schuckmann, Germany (G)

Panorama Special
Boven is het stil (It's All so Quiet), Nanouk Leopold, Netherlands and Germany (G)
Maladies, Carter, USA
Flores Raras (Reaching for the Moon), Bruno Barreto, Brazil (L) (photo)
明天記得愛上我 Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?, Arvin Chen, Taiwan (G)

Forum
Echolot, Athanasios Karanikolas, Germany
くじらのまち Kujira no machi (The Town of Whales), Keiko Tsuruoka, Japan (L)

Perspektive Deutsches Kino
Freier Fall (Free Fall), Stephan Lacant, Germany (G)
Zwei Mütter (Two Mothers), Anne Zohra Berrached, Germany (L)

Documentary Films

Berlinale Special
Tribute to Rosa von Praunheim
Rosakinder (Pink Children), Julia von Heinz, Chris Kraus, Axel Ranisch, Robert Thalheim, Tom Tykwer, Germany

Panorama
*Bambi, Sébastien Lifshitz, France (T)  BEST DOCUMENTARY
Born This Way, Sahun Kadlec and Deb Tullmann, USA (LG)
Exposed, Beth B, USA (GT)
Fifi az khoshhali zooze mikeshad (Fifi Howls from Happiness), Mitra Farahani, USA
Gut Renovation, Su Friedrich, USA
Naked Opera, Angela Christlieb, Luxembourg and Germany (G)
Out in Ost-Berlin - Lesben und Schwule in der DDR (Out in East Berlin - Lesbians and Gays in the GRD), Jochen Hick, Germany (LGBT)
Paul Bowles: The Cage Door is Always Open, Daniel Young, Switzerland (LG)
Sing Me the Songs that Say I Love You - A Concert for Kate McGarrigle, Lian Lunson, USA

Forum
Die 727 Tage ohne Karamo (The 727 Days Without Karamo), Anja Salomoniwitz, Austria
Portrait of Jason, Shirley Clark, USA (G)

Forum Expanded
Helio Oiticica and Neville D'Almeida's Block-Experiments in Cosmococa - program in progress: CC6 Coke Head's Soup, Hélio Oiticica, Neville D'Almeida and Thomas Valentin, Brazil and USA, 1973 (Avant Garde cinema)

Short Film

Berlinale Shorts
Beshivhey Hayom (In Praise of the Day), Oren Adaf, Israel, 20' (G)
Ja kada sam bila klinac, bila sam klinka (When I was a Boy, I was a Girl), Ivana todorovic, Serbia, 30' (T)
*Ta av mig (Undress Me), Victor Lindgren, Sweden, 15' (T) BEST SHORT FILM

Panorama
Two Girls Against the Rain, Sao Sopheak, Cambodia, 11' (L)

Forum Expanded
Not Blacking Out, Just Turning The Lights Off, James Richards, UK, 17'
The Runaway Troupe of the Cartesian Theatre, Lior Shamriz, Germany and China, 18'

Generation
Dina and Noel, Sivan Levy and Natalie Melamed, Israel, 10'
Första gången (The First Time), Anders Hazelius, Sweden, 9'
O Pacote (The Package), Rafael Aidar, 18' (G)

Not sure if they will be in competition, somehow will be highly unfair as the following are excellent movies -some really cinema classics- so will list them apart assuming that they are part of the program and not in the competition.

Retrospective
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Max Reinhardt and William Dieterle, USA, 1935
First a Girl, Victor Saville, UK, 1935
Gado Bravo, António Lopes Ribeiro and Max Nosseck, Portugal, 1934
Peter, Hermann Kostelitz, Hungary and Austria, 1934
Some Like It Hot, Billy Wilder, USA, 1959
Viktor und Viktoria, Reinhold Schünzel, Germany, 1933

Berlinale Classics
Cabaret, Bob Fosse, USA, 1972

The Jury
Sophie Shu-Yi Lin, China
Pavel Cortes, Mexico
Martha Arredondo, Dominican Republic
Benoît Arnulf, France
Dilcia Barrera, USA
Gerjo Pérez Meliá, Spain
Ljosha Chaschyn, Ukraine
Johana Hakanen, Finland
Katja Briesemeister, Germany

As every year there are more Gay than Lesbian interest movies, but have to admit that the full lesbian interest films are great, especially the one from Brazil Flores Raras -with an excellent cast- but also Stacie Passon's Concussion. To learn more about this award go to the official site.

Check some trailers plus summary/images @MOC

Award Ceremony (artetv)

In the real final day of the Berlinale we prepare to start learning award winners which will take us to the awards ceremony tomorrow.  Surely will be back later with fest awards as they are announced.

Today some are praising "Harmony Lessons" by Emir Baigazin as "Hannibal by Haneke", which just sounds fantastic to me and makes me wish to see movie a bit more. Still think that story will not be easy to watch. Film has been highly praised and some consider film to be top contender for Golden Bear, so race could be between this movie and Gloria from Chile.

Competition

Elle s'en va (On my Way) by Emmanuelle Bercot
No need to say that film is must be seen for me because some of you already know that I watch everything with Catherine Deneuve. Imagine that the role written especially for Denevue will allow her to deliver another great performance; but if Emmanuelle Bercot's latest movie is as good as 2005 Backstage then my interest grows exponentially.  Film already has US distributor. Update:  Press conference starts incredibly funny with very dumb questions...

Nugu-ui Ttal-do Anin Haewon (Nobody's Daughter Haewon) by Hong Sangsoo
Alright I admit it, do not enjoy much his films but hope is always with me; first reactions to movie tend to be positive and some critics are calling film perhaps his best. Maybe will give film a try but I'm not rushing to see film.

Out of Competition

The Croods by Kirk De Micco and Chris Sanders
Had NO idea that Emma Stone's voice is in this movie and really like her voice tone plus her skills; watching movie press conference and yes, now I'm interested in watching this animated movie.

Panorama and Forum
All films have been screened, we now wait for the winners; today is the screening of Forum's Caligari Award winner, while Sunday is when Panorama's winners will have their last screening.

Generation
Today at 7:30pm local time is the award ceremony.

News

Heiner Carow Award, which is presented to a feature film, documentary or film essay, went to Angela Christlieb's documentary Naked Opera. In addition writer-director Chris Kraus was named the winner of the Thomas Strittmatter Screenplay Award for the script to his next feature Die Blumen von gesten, is the second time he wins this award, previously he won with the fantastic script of Four Minutes.

Thursday evening, the 11th edition of the Berlinale Talent Campus, came to a successful close at the HAU Hebbel am Ufer. Headed by the theme "Some Like It Hot – Filmmakers as Entertainers", the six-day Campus offered a unique opportunity for 300 filmmakers from 96 countries to exchange with one another and benefit first-hand from the best of the industry. 150 renowned film experts from all over the world shared their knowledge in nearly 100 workshops, training sessions, lectures and panel discussions, imparting an invaluable wealth of practical experience to Campus participants.

Five Berlinale Shorts entries and Pia Maria's Layla Fourie mark today the end of the Berlinale goes Kiez series in Kino Neues Off Neukölln. For 7 days highlights of the Berlinale have been shown in seven of the almost 100 art house cinemas in Berlin and Potsdam.

Photo

Emma Stone

As the festival reaches the final days with only 2 more films to be screened in competition tomorrow and the award ceremony on Saturday, Sebastián Lelio's Gloria seems to still be critics/viewers favorite, so much buzz the film has gotten that "provoked a mini-stampede among buyers". Great news for Chilean cinema; now we have to see if movie is also Jury favorite or not.

Buzz for best actor/actress seems is going to Camille Claudel 1915, meaning that Juliette Binoche is a frontrunner but is not until tomorrow that Catherine Deneuve's Elle s'en va will premiere; still if we recall festival trends, films in fest last day usually are not the ones that could win awards. Also remember that fests can surprise all with newcomers so believe that Paulina Garcia, lead in Gloria, also has good chances to win Best Actress.

Competition
These are the films screened yesterday and today.

Epizoda u životu berača željeza (An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker) by Danis Tanović
Perhaps the most interesting fact film has is that the non-professional cast are re-enacting an episode of their own lives but film story seems not like one I could enjoy.

Prince Avalanche by David Gordong Green
Alright, I'm curious about this film but will not rush to see it as American remakes usually are very different to the original no matter if telling the same story. There are some exceptions, so let's hope this is one of them.

Uroki Garmonii (Harmony Lessons) by Emir Baigazin
Story seems will be hard-to-watch due to violence but Baigazin's debut feature film stills suggest that will have breathtaking visuals and compositions with a style that makes me recall great Russian films. Will give film a try. Photo shows great use of light. First reactions to film seem to be highly positive, great.

Out of Competition

Night Train to Lisbon by Bille August
Because of director and cast (Jeremy Irons, Mélanie Laurent, Tom Courtenay, Bruno Ganz, Lena Olin, Charlotte Rampling) film is must be seen for me; still story seems could be very interesting. There are more positive than negative first impressions from viewers.

Dark Blood by George Sluizer
More curious to see River Phoenix in the big screen than to enjoy film, but surely is must be seen for me.

News

Today is the 1st Heiner-Carow Award ceremony presented to a German film screening within the Panorama program.

Also today, the award ceremony for the Honorary Golden Bear that this year goes to French documentary filmmaker and producer Claude Lanzmann.

Tomorrow we will start to learn winners of collateral awards as for example, at 6:pm local time Europa Cinemas and FIPRESCI awards will have a common award ceremony.

Special Teddy Award will be awarded to the South-African project "Steps for the Future", which in an outstanding way stands up for HIV awareness. Award will be presented tomorrow at the section Awards ceremony where we also learn this year Teddy Award winners.

Berlin's European Film Market has been very busy, but most interesting is today's news that A Thousand Times Goodnight directed by Erik Poppe has been sold to many countries. Film is based on his own experiences as a war photographer in the 1980s and amazingly the photographer is played by none other than Juliette Binoche!

Tomorrow there will be a joint meeting of women's film festivals led by The International Women's Film Festival Dortmund/Cologne and the Athena Film Festival entitled "You Cannot Be Serious" to discuss the status of women directors and to create a worldwide push towards having a more equal playing field. To learn more check info at IWFFN site.

If you wonder how cinema has changed lately the following stats will give you a brief picture. In 2013 the number of films screening in the Digital Cinema Package (DCP) format at the Berlinale exceeds 50% for the first time. Only around 8% of the films are still shown in the classic 35mm format. For me main implications are when films reach any country local theaters as not many movie houses have digital projectors, high-performance server systems and fast data lines.

In the NOT serious note, there are many parties today but none has the most funniest name as "Fuck Valentine's Day" targeted for singles, of course, invites them to "let's just get drunk and naked okay? Right on. Free dirty cupcakes, edible underwear encouraged and sappy sentiments strictly Verboten". Lol.

Photo

Mélanie Laurent

Today is Juliette Binoche day at Berlinale, so who could resist talking about what has been happening and will happen today at the fest? Not me.

These are the films that were screened yesterday and today.

Competition

Layla Fourie by Pia Marais
A German, South African, French and Dutch production that surely will be hard-to watch as "almost casually" develops into a political thriller which takes audience to paranoia, fear and mistrust of a society that is still profoundly affected by racial conflict. A single mother story.

Poziţia Copilului (Child's Pose) by Călin Peter Netzer
No need to say how much I like Romanian cinema and story in this film seems to be interesting as does something not often seen in this cinema, a portrait of the upper-class. But what calls my attention is the quasi-documentary style as not surprisingly we will see the moral malaise of Romania's bourgeoisie plus societal institutions such as the police and the judiciary. The story of a mother consumed bye self-love in her struggle to save her lost son and her own, long since riven family.

Camille Claudel 1915 by Bruno Dumont
Camille Claudel story has been told before by classic 1987 Bruno Nuytten in a film starring Isabelle Adjani and Gérard Depardieu, but basically film is Camille's bio that centers in her relationship with Auguste Rodin. Now Dumont tells us about Camille time in a South of France psychiatric clinic and his inspiration came from the correspondence between her and her famous brother. Surely not easy to watch as imagine will be very intense, but also imagine that Juliette Binoche performance will be outstanding. Real psychiatric non-actors patients in film. Must be seen for me. Not surprisingly first comments are leaning to the non-positive, as most Dumont films first reactions have been.  Update: at least one reliable critic rated film A- , now I breath more peacefully.

Pardé (Closed Curtain) by Jafar Panahi and Kamboziya Partov
From stills know film will be visually outstanding and story surely is interesting. The main problem with this kind of films is availability beyond the festival circuit, but let's hope this one breaks the mold into wider distribution.

Side Effects by Steven Soderbergh
Soderbergh has continually said that he will leave cinema, so maybe this is his last film or at least, one of the last he is going to make, which is what really moves me to see film. But in this so-called psychological thriller he investigates the machinations of pharmaceutical companies and well, could be interesting.

Out of Competition

Before Midnight by Richard Linklater
Already lost the count of the many installments this story has, but the latest (think is the third) brings us back to another "talkie" with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy characters philosophizing, arguing and flirting. Have seen previous films and surely will see this one, but I'm in no rush.

Berlinale Special

Tokyo Kazoku (Tokyo Family) by Yôji Yamada
Most interesting find as "in this film director Yoji Yamada bows down before his teacher and role model. Yamada was assistant director on Yazujirō Ozu’s Tōkyō monogatari". Yamada remakes Ozu's masterpiece but takes it to present day Japan. Must be seen for me as can't resist the idea of watching Ozu's story translated into today, when Japan society is so different.

Panorama

Many, many films but of course the first must be seen movie for me is Concussion by Stacie Passon, but French Mes séances de lutte (Love Battles) by Jacques Doillon seems could be "an atonishing pas de deux of erotically charged, dynamic encounters and repulsions...", worth giving a try.

Forum
Many movies but the ones that call my attention when reading synopsis appear to be too-disturbing for me. So, imagine what they could be as you know I'm very open minded.

Generation

Story surely is interesting as is about the point of view of the two young daughters of Sandinista activists and what happened in the Nicaraguan border in the eighties; a Costa Rica/Venezuela production by Laura Astorga Carrera, Princesas Rojas (Red Princesses).

That's for today, many more movies in fest but not really grab my attention.

News

As we know Isabella Rossellini and Rosa von Paraunheim were awarded the Berlinale Camera this year but yesterday a surprise announcement and ceremony also gave the award to Richard Linklater just before the premiere of his film Before Midnight.

But the best news from yesterday is that Arta Dobroshi received EFP's Shooting Star award which I find is extremely well deserved as she has been a remarkable actress since 2008 Dardenne Brothers' Le Silence de Lorna (Lorna's Silence). Ethan Hawke and Julie Delphy gave her the award.


Photo

Isabelle Huppert


Juliette Binoche

Today is a very busy day as soon we have BAFTA's ceremony, that is why I'm writing this post very early.

Competition

La Religieuse (The Nun)
There is nothing more "dangerous" than a remake and more when 1966 original is a classic by Jacques Rivette with outstanding performance by Anna Karina. But this new Denis Diderot novel interpretation has something that could make the remake as good as the original: Isabelle Huppert! On the not so positive side, I am not familiar with director Guillaume Nicloux work; still seems that he went "experimental" and took many risks which could make his movie very different to original. One remarkable info is that in many scenes he literally followed Diderot's words and actresses wear NO make-up. Movie is also competing for a Teddy, but due to story imagine has no chances of winning; besides, film has some lesbian interest but my imagination tells me that whatever is shown will not please genre viewers. Still, film is absolutely must be seen for me, as are all films with Isabelle Huppert. Somehow imagine in this film Huppert has a role where we will see what she is highly acclaimed for, strong dramatic disturbing performances.

Gloria
Have seen all, except one, Chilean Sebastián Lelio's movies and of course I'm looking forward to see his latest movie with a woman-centered story. But after checking today's Twitter, my desire to see film has risen as in several languages, viewers are commenting about the huge positive reaction screening had and some are saying that Paulina García deserves to win Best Actress. Don't know about the last comment as unfortunately great actresses have movies in fest but there is always room for newcomers. Of course, news dispatches from Chile are starting to pour with the great news.

Vic+Flo ont vu un ours (Vic+Flo Saw a Bear)
From Canada the latest Denis Côté film that calls my attention for the story, director's regular use of isolation, and my weakness for Romane Bohringer performances (we will see her again in Renoir, great!). Film is also competing for a Teddy and has a lesbian interest story, but surely film will not be what genre viewers like. This film has been described as a collection of eccentric characters, has bizarre directing ideas, has a mysterious atmosphere and all create an artificial world with its own completely unpredictable reality. All sounds exactly like the kind of movie I do enjoy. First reactions to movie tell me that some will like it while others will not and that's not surprising for me.

Berlinale Special

The Look of Love
One of the few UK productions in fest has a tale of a latter day King Midas, based on the real life Paul Raymond, who entered Britain's history of sleaze as the "King of Soho". Directed by Michael Winterbottom this drama is said to carefully balance comedy and tragedy and from film stills this 60's/70's drama seems to have great period recreations.

Top of the Lake
A six-part television series directed by Jane Campion and Garth Davis, an Australia/New Zealand production starring none other than Elisabeth Moss but just with Jane Campion involved becomes must be seen for me. Great discovery that had skipped my radar until now.

Panorama

Again another day with many movies but for me the most interesting are: From USA, a dizzyingly fast-paced zombie-horror-thriller (yes, horror!) Upstream Color by Shane Carruth; From Germany, for impressive performance by all female leads, Meine Schwestern (My Sisters) by Lars Kraume; and of course, Isabel Coixet's latest movie, Ayer No Termina Nunca (Yesterday Never Ends) starring Javier Cámara and Candela Peña.

Also in this section a movie with a cast I do not like, except for David Straithairn and Alan Cumming, but surely will be interesting for story and because is directed by Carter. From USA, Maladies.

Forum

There are many films screened today but Grzeli nateli dgeebi (In Bloom) surely will be the more not-easy to watch drama about two girls growing in Tbilisi, Georgia, 1992, after the Soviet era is over. Georgia/German/France production directed by Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß. Also interesting, from Argentina Viola by Matías Piñeiro and from Austria what surely could be visually stunning, Shirley - Visions of Reality by Gustav Deutsch with a series of snapshots from the life of a fictional actress named Shirley which serves to weave together thirteen paintings by Edward Hopper into a fascinating synthesis of painting and film, personal and political history.

There are many more films in the other sections but honestly none calls my attention. Stopping to watch live La Religieuse press conference. Maybe will not see too much as there is an awful English voice over translation, grrr. Festivals PLEASE have 2 streams, one with spoken language and another with translation, so we can chose what we want to hear!!! Great Isabelle is speaking in English! "Goethe did the first translation of Diderot's book, so it's natural to open film in Germany". Stopped watching because really cannot stand translation. Sigh.

News

Yesterday, Isabella Rossellini was honored with the Berlinale Camera.



Last night was the screening of Les Misérables and if you wish to see photos of the movie events you will find them in the net. But suggest to check the Star Portraits that sometimes have extraordinary photos and yes, Anne Hathaway looks great in her photo. Found following Anne photo that is very unusual and quite nice as a photography, so I'm sharing.



Of course Getty as of this moment has lots of great photos from La Religieuse photo call, but none is free, so will share free ones tomorrow.

If you like photography suggest to watch the Berlinale official site gallery Close Up! a project by C/O Berlin and the Berlinale where 14 young photographers aged 20 to 25 are invited to show what they can do and what they see. Up to today there are some outstanding photos.

Tomorrow is the Award Ceremony for European Film Promotion (EFP) Shooting Stars and here is a photo with the nominees. If you wish to learn info about nominees go to official site.



Photos

Late yesterday was watching some photos of highly unrecognizable Charlize Theron arriving to Berlin but photos are absolutely great. She is in Berlin to attend last night Cinema for Peace event and of course photos below are from the event where she is a lot more recognizable.

The opening ceremony on Thursday was very ceremonial, but had its funny moments and for me was entertaining, worth watching; but was the red carpet what made me laugh more and even surprised me with the unexpected Pussy Riot protester incident.

Day 2 Screenings

Screened the third installment in Ulrich Seidl's Paradise trilogy with the story about the daughter going to "diet" camp in Paradise: Hope. Still have to see Faith, which was more acclaimed than Love, and first press comments seem to be positive for Hope.

The first American movie Promised Land was screened and as mentioned before, with all the fuzz and buzz about Matt Damon it was not until the Berlinale that noticed that is a Gus Van Sant film and yes, I see everything the director does. American press has not been kind to this film when had limited release last December to open in Jan 4 wide; but European non-English press is a lot more kind to film.

The first of the three female directors in main competition, Malgoska Szumowska's and her film In the Name was also the first film screened in competition for a Teddy; in general seems film has been received "warm" even when is the story of a "Gay Polish priest" [sic] which is interesting as many were expecting not positive reactions because of the story theme. If you enjoyed her first film, Elles with Juliette Binoche, then this film is must be seen for you.

From Panorama perhaps the most interesting movies screened in Day 2 are the ones competing for Teddy, It's All so Quiet by Nanouk Leopold and Exposed by Beth B; but the cast of Joseph Gordon Levitt's feature film directorial debut, Don Jon's Addiction makes film interesting to watch as includes Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore.

The opening film in Generation 14plus, Jîn by Reha Erdem has a story about young 17-year-old Jîn, a guerrilla girl in Turkey's Kurdish regions that absolutely calls my attention plus from film stills and local news with scenes seems to have great visuals, as many Turkish films do. But know will not be an easy-to-watch film.

Generation Kplus opening film is a Dutch/Belgian production that seems to have an interesting story, but what seems more interesting is watching Isabella Rossellini in the role of "a singing femme fatale". The film: The Zigzag Kid by Vincent Bal.

If you ask me which movie has high chances to win this year's Teddy Award have to say that is the opening film in Perspektive Deutches Kino, Free Fall by Stephan Lacant, the gay interest film seems will be a strong drama with a "torrid" love story.

If you are interested in learning films that are longlisted for the German Film Awards (Lola's) then you have to check what is screened each day at LOLA@Berlinale. From today's screenings the most pleasant surprise is to find Cloud Atlas longlisted, as yes, I enjoyed film.

Day 3 Screenings

Non-commercial Russian cinema is one that I highly appreciate, so no surprise when I say that Boris Khlebnikov's A Long and Happy Life is must be seen for me; film is in competition for a Golden Bear and from the few scenes I've been able to see, know will have some stunning visuals.

The other in Golden Bear competition film screened today is Gold by Thomas Arsland and starring none other than Nina Hoss, an actress I follow as her performances always amaze me. A period drama set in Canada 1898 telling the story of a group of German settlers. Must be seen for me.

The third film in the main competition is the feature film debut by Fredrik Bond, a multiple award-winning and DGA honored Swedish-born director for his Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials! If one transition always call my attention is when a director goes from directing ads to feature films and yes, this transition absolutely got my attention. The film: Necessary Death Of Charlie Countryman. Bond was able to assemble a great cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Evan Rachel Wood and Shia LaBeouf. Today found a scene that promises film could be a lot more than what I imagined, check it at MOC. Must be seen for me.

Many films in the Panorama section, but none is more interesting for me than the Brazilian production Flores Raras (Reaching for the Moon) with the story of Pulitzer prize-winner New York poet Elizabeth Bishop crucial phase in her life. Absolutely must be seen for me. Film is competing for a Teddy.

Another interesting films in Panorama are the Argentina/Colombia/Norway production Deshora (Belated) by Bárbara Sarasola-Day, a film I have been following since screened at 2012 Telluride Francis Ha by Noah Baumbach, and can't deny that even when I do not like cast I'm curious about Lovelace by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman about infamous Deep Throat crossover into mainstream cinema.

In Forum we find a puzzling French film, Je ne suis pas mort (I'm Not Dead), the second film by Mehdi Ben Attia with a story that could be quite interesting and a cast that includes Judith Davis (Je te mangerais), Maria de Medeiros and Emmanuel Salinger. Surprisingly American reviews are calling this film "Fascinating Mysteries".

News

Yesterday, Made in Germany Perspepektive Fellowship winner was announced. The award is dedicated to support the work of young German directors. Jan Speckenbach wins the award to support his project Das Klopfen der Steine (The sound of stones) about the "Trümmerfrauen“ (Rubble Ladies), the cleaning women that cleared up the mess that WWII left behind.

Photos

Not many "interesting" photos so will share the one moment in the red carpet that surprised me most, The Pussy Riot protester being kicked off the carpet. Photos have to get more interesting when Juliette Binoche, Isabelle Huppert and Catherine Deneuve attend the festival.

Tonight at 7:30pm after a few words of greeting from Government officials the festival will be officially opened by Jury President Wong Kar Wai and Berlinale Director Dieter Kosslick. Ange Engelke will again host the evening and music will be provided by Ulrich Tukur & Die Rhythmus Boys with 3sat broadcasting the opening live.

Before the opening ceremony we have the Red Carpet where we will be able to see all juries members, national guests and maybe, the cast of the opening film that is none other than The Grandmaster by Won Kar Wai. You have no idea of how much I'm "dying" to see Wong Kar Wai's film that reunites him with Tony Leung, who I consider the best actor in the world. Those two are a "dream" come true for me, based on the several extraordinary films they have done together. Also in movie Ziyi Dhang who was in outstanding 2046 by Wong Kar Wai with Tony Leung in the leading role.

Hope to be able to watch both events and if find a live streaming will share here for you all, but seems that the official site will live stream today the first press conference and the red carpet. If you wish to see them go here.

Besides the opening film today we also have the screening of the first Panorama film, Zaza Rusadze's Chemi sabnis naketsi (A Fold in My Blanket), a Georgian production that from stills looks like the kind of film I highly enjoy while story seems interesting: "An oppressively atmospheric portrait of a small town community caught up in the treadmill of habit. With magical images illustrating the central character's vivid imagination, this assured work casually reveals the protagonist’s emotional world".

Tomorrow is when all sections will screen films and fest goes full force in this 10-day cinematic marathon, but today many Press Screenings (10) will happen so we will start to hear about movies soon. Not to mention that today is also the first day of the very active European Film Market.

Not planning on doing fest daily coverage but as need a break from Oscar race, probably will share some thoughts about the movies that call my attention each day.

International Jury 2013

The first activity has already happened, the jury photocall and next is the first photo from this year's fest. From left, Susanne Bier, Tim Robbins, Shirin Neshat, Wong Kar Wai, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Adreas Dresen and Ellen Kuras



As of this moment, the first 2013 great cinema party has begun.

Cheers!!!