starpacked berlin film fest promises laughs in dark times
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

As organisers unveiled the line-up

Star-packed Berlin film fest promises laughs in dark times

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice Star-packed Berlin film fest promises laughs in dark times

Penelope Cruz
Berlin - AFP

 Penelope Cruz, Hugh Jackman, Catherine Deneuve, Richard Gere and Robert Pattinson are among the high-wattage stars due on the red carpet at February's Berlin film festival, organisers said Tuesday as they unveiled the line-up.

The 67th Berlinale is the first major cinema showcase in Europe each year and presents nearly 400 productions from around the world. 

The 11-day event will kick off in the German capital February 9 with the world premiere of the French biopic "Django" about Gypsy-jazz great Django Reinhardt and his family's persecution in Nazi-occupied Paris.

Eighteen films will vie for the Golden Bear top prize, which last year went to harrowing Italian refugee documentary "Fire at Sea" from a jury led by Meryl Streep.

This year Dutch director Paul Verhoeven ("Basic Instinct", "Elle") will lead the seven-member jury including US actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson and Mexican actor and director Diego Luna ("Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"). 

Berlinale chief Dieter Kosslick told reporters that the event, known as the most politically minded of Europe's top festivals, would shine a light on what he called dark times in the West.

"The programme we have put together features films that deal with themes of courage and confidence and do it with a whole lot of humour," he said. 

"You never know what is going to be happening in the world when you start assembling the line-up but it's as if the filmmakers were able to look into the future and see current developments. But despite all the turmoil in the world, it's an upbeat programme."

- Veterans and popcorn fare -

In keeping with its long post-war tradition, the festival will mix arthouse cinema from European veterans including Poland's Agnieszka Holland ("Europa Europa"), Britain's Sally Potter, Germany's Volker Schloendorff, previous Golden Bear winner Calin Peter Netzer of Romania and Aki Kaurismaki of Finland with popcorn fare.

The latest Wolverine instalment of the X-Men superhero series "Logan" starring Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Richard E. Grant will have its world premiere in Berlin and "T2: Trainspotting", the sequel to the drug-fuelled Scottish cult classic will get a gala screening.

Potter ("Orlando"), one of four women directors in competition, has pulled together a cast including Patricia Clarkson, Bruno Ganz, Kristin Scott Thomas and Timothy Spall for the comedy "The Party" set in a house in present-day London.

Gere stars with Steve Coogan, Laura Linney, Rebecca Hall and Chloe Sevigny in the thriller "The Dinner" by US director Oren Moverman ("Love & Mercy"), an adaptation of the Dutch novel by Herman Koch.

Cruz joins Mandy Patinkin ("Homeland") in the Spanish production "The Queen of Spain" set in the 1950s under Franco, screening in the Berlinale Special sidebar section.

French production "The Midwife" by Martin Provost stars Deneuve as the mysterious former mistress of the title character's father.

And Pattinson is due in Berlin for a screening of James Gray's "The Lost City of Z" an adaptation of a bestseller by David Grann of the New Yorker.

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

starpacked berlin film fest promises laughs in dark times starpacked berlin film fest promises laughs in dark times

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

starpacked berlin film fest promises laughs in dark times starpacked berlin film fest promises laughs in dark times

 



GMT 09:54 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

'Friendly and kind' N. Korean skaters

GMT 07:16 2018 Thursday ,18 January

Macron's tapestry gesture risks rousing

GMT 23:45 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Europe in the pink of health, feels Bjorn

GMT 16:03 2017 Friday ,05 May

Ban on Omani foods

GMT 03:07 2017 Saturday ,30 September

Facebook helps UAE resident reunite with brother

GMT 00:05 2017 Wednesday ,15 November

Deadly heat from climate change may hit slums hardest

GMT 10:18 2016 Thursday ,27 October

Sharjah Book Fair’s Professional Programme attracts

GMT 13:56 2012 Sunday ,21 October

King Mohammed VI Gulf tour

GMT 19:28 2017 Sunday ,12 March

Carlos the Jackal faces trial again in France

GMT 05:55 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

US tax reforms send UBS profits plunging

GMT 06:01 2018 Saturday ,20 January

How to take a bullet, by 'Den of Thieves' star 50 Cent

GMT 23:50 2018 Thursday ,18 January

1.5 C climate goal 'very unlikely' but doable

GMT 08:42 2018 Wednesday ,17 January

Was preparing new version of 'Zombie'

GMT 13:06 2018 Tuesday ,16 January

The London Fashion Agency relaunches as LFA

GMT 14:17 2017 Friday ,03 February

Facing Trump trade threats, Mexico eyes new partners

GMT 10:33 2017 Thursday ,28 December

Putin files nomination for 2018 re-election bid

GMT 08:01 2017 Tuesday ,21 November

China's Tencent overtakes Facebook

GMT 10:15 2017 Tuesday ,21 November

US-Saudi warplanes hit Sanaa

GMT 07:42 2010 Wednesday ,15 September

Global regulators agree on tougher Basel III bank rules
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice