My Goethe colleagues asked our group of 2019 international Berlinale Bloggers to answer 3 questions as the 69th Berlin International Film Festival is coming to the end, here's my take-away:The times they are a-changin’ at the Berlinale. In 2020, long-time festival director Dieter Kosslick will be succeeded by a new team: Carlo Chatrian and Mariette Rissenbeek. If you could wish for something from the new leadership, what would it be? What should be different or better at the next Berlinale?
Continue reading "Times they are a-changin’ at Berlinale" »
Part of an ongoing series of mini profiles on the blog German Film @ Canada on the movers and shakers that make the Berlinale one of the most important events in the international film calendar: the filmmakers, programmers, curators, industry promoters and fans, from rookies to veterans.
Part of an ongoing series of mini profiles on the blog German Film @ Canada on the movers and shakers that make the Berlinale one of the most important events in the international film calendar: the filmmakers, programmers, curators, industry promoters and fans, from rookies to veterans.
After the Austrian chainsaw massacre (THE CHILDREN OF THE DEAD at Berlinale Forum) now a "German chainsaw massacre," alas without a Schlingensief’s political acumen or sensibility for the signs of the times. Fatih Akin is clearly getting ready for his first Hollywood gig, directing Stephen King’s FIRESTARTER. “Playing with genre film has been running through my work since Short Sharp Shock in 1998,“ says Akin.
✔ Double score on sitting in the very last row on Sunday. Before breakfast at Friedrichstadtpalast for the very atmospheric and excellently played Austrian competition entry The Ground Beneath her Feet by Marie Kreuzer; and two hours later at Berlinale Palast for Israeli-German co-production The Operative with a very good Diane Krüger and Martin Freeman in an okay spy thriller. 
Part of an ongoing series of mini profiles on the blog German Film @ Canada on the movers and shakers that make the Berlinale one of the most important events in the international film calendar: the filmmakers, programmers, curators, industry promoters and fans, from rookies to veterans.
✔ Wang done. Think of Wang Quan’an’s slow-quirky competition title as Fargo in the steppe, or Zacharias Kunuk in Mongolia. The Chinese director has a promising track record, winning the Berlinale top honour, the Golden Bear in 2007 for "Tuya's Marriage” and a Silver Bear three years later for "Tuan Yuan.” “Öndög” (dinosaur egg, we learn) has the most amazing love scene --involving a camel, a wolf and a rifle-- and more feisty feminism than any New York indie. As the herder heroine replies to her suitor: “If I need a man I’ll let you know, but not today."
Part of an ongoing series of mini profiles on the blog German Film @ Canada on the movers and shakers that make the Berlinale one of the most important events in the international film calendar: the filmmakers, programmers, curators, industry promoters and fans, from rookies to veterans.
How did it take me a decade to start #BerlinaleBingo? Well, here it is. Copy this one, or make your own & play along. I will post my progress here and on Twitter and Instagram throughout the Berlinale.
