The Berlin International Film Festival 
From 7th until 17th of February 

The 69th Edition of the Berlinale opens its doors on Thursday 7th of February. Considered as one of the Big European Three by the american press (with Cannes and Venice Film Festivals), the Berlin International Film Festival is experiencing changes this year. His representative Dieter Kosslick, is preparing to draw reverence while at the same time the competition gives space to female directors (Hi the Academy Award !) to gradually reach parity.

It is also a Danish, Lone Scherfig who opened the competition with the world premiere of The Kindness of Strangers, a drama with Tahar Rahim which takes place in New York. Another revolution this year : the arrival of the Netflix platform in the official competition with Elisa Y Marcela a film directed by Isabel Coixet about two women who married in March 1910.

On the French side, François Ozon introduces By the Grace of God, which talks about sexual abuses within the Church and André Téchiné presentes L’adieu à la nuit, out of competition with Catherine Deneuve.

While the president of the jury, Juliette Binoche (Silver Bear Award of the Best Actress for The English Patient, 1997), also defends in parallel the film of Saffy Nebbou, Who You Think I am, the jury is composed of Sandra Hüller (Silver Bear Award of Best Actress for Requiem, 2006) and Sebastian Lelio (Award Winner of the Silver Bear for A Fantastic Woman, 2017). During this competition they will choose between 17 films and among them Ondog from the chinese director, Wang Quan’an (The Golden Bear Award for Tuya’s Marriage, 2006) or Mr. Jones of Agnieszka Holland.

Finally, while Agnes Varda will present a new autobiographical documentary : Varda by Agnès, the British actress, Charlotte Rampling (Night porter, Under the sand …) will received the Honorary Golden Bear Award.