The 74th International Film Festival (Berlinale) begins tonight in Berlin, where 20 films compete for the main prize, the Golden Bear.
The festival will open the film “Small Things Like These” directed by Tim Mielants and Peaky Blinders with the actor Cillian Murphy, otherwise a favorite for the prestigious Oscar for his role in the film “Oppenheimer”. The Irish film will compete for the Golden Bear, as well as new films by Olivier Assayas, Bruno Dumont and Mati Diop.
Also on the list are “A Traveler’s Needs” starring Isabelle Hipper and “La Cocina” by Mexican director Alonso Ruizpalacious starring Rooney Mara.
“My favorite Cake” by Iranian directors Marijam Moghadam and Behtapa Saneha, who were banned by the Iranian authorities from traveling to Berlin, will be shown at the festival in the competition section. The famous director Martin Scorsese will receive an honorary Golden Bear.
The awards will be given on February 24, the day before the closing of the festival, by a jury chaired by the Mexican actress of Kenyan origin Lupita Nyong’o.
The festival will also screen films produced by Netflix, such as “Spaceman,” in which Adam Sandler plays an astronaut sent to the far reaches of the solar system to collect mysterious ancient dust.
Netflix’s “Supersex”, the story of the Italian porn actor Rocco Siffredi, will also be shown.
Last year, the Golden Bear was awarded to the French documentary film “Sur l´Adamant” (On board Adamant), the story of a psychiatric day hospital on a ship on the Seine in Paris.
This year’s 74th film festival will be held against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East and protests against the extreme right in Germany.
The Berlin International Film Festival was founded in 1951, and since 1978 it has been held regularly every year in February. It is considered the most visited film festival in the world, with 274,000 tickets sold annually.
The festival awards the Golden Bear for the best film, the Grand Prix jury, as well as the Silver Bears for the best director, actor, actress, screenplay and soundtrack.
