✔ Can Con. Check check check. Auspicious to see Toronto theatre & film actors Catherine Fitch and Lisa Codrington in fine supporting roles (as damaged women in a self help group on forgiveness) in the otherwise uneven opening night film THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS by Lone Scherfig, a Canadian co-production. A critic next to me slept through it, so half a stamp as well for “napped during screening” by association.At my first Forum screening, the Schlingensief-esque Austrian chainsaw massacre THE CHILDREN OF THE DEAD, I ran into Toronto programmer Jesse Cumming, who is at Berlinale to moderate Q&As.
✔ For dinner, while Andie MacDowell was in fine selfie and signing mood on the opening night red carpet (check mark for celebrity sighting), I met Toronto-Berlin designer Sheraz Khan at the food trucks, enjoying Fraeulein Kimchi’s tofu bulgogi and catching up. Extra point for starting the Berlinale with something other than a quick Bratwurst.
✔ More importantly for good German films under "celebrity red carpet sightings", this shot of three good actors, from back to front: Sibel Kekilli (HEAD-ON), Nora Waldstätten (PERSONAL SHOPPER), Ronald Zehrfeld (PHOENIX). 
✔ Red scarf. “Mr. Berlinale" Dieter Kosslick did not disappoint on the red carpet, as a radio team was collecting “70 Thanks to Dieter” (for his 70th birthday and last Berlinale).
