Brand-new series from Denmark, Britain, Israel, Australia, New Zealand and the US will round off the Berlinale Special programme at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele. This year’s selection once again provides a good look at the creativity and variety of forms evident in series production.
“As we were reviewing this year’s submissions, we once again noticed how their makers embraced experimentation. They use the series format for expeditions into new narrative and visual forms in every genre, without losing sight of the realities of society”, says Festival director Dieter Kosslick.
For her adaptation of John le Carré’s spy thriller The Night Manager, Susanne Bier used the current conflicts in the Middle East to set the background for a suspenseful game of cat and mouse.
The Australian / New Zealand series Cleverman takes as its subject the fear of those who are different. It is a disturbing look into a near future in which so-called “hairy people” are marginalised and seek refuge in supervised zones.
Although the series here concentrate on interpersonal relationships, the short form raises questions relevant to the wider society. With a format far afield from classic storytelling, the results are atmospheric microcosms of everyday life that touch succinctly on important topics.
The Danish series Splitting Up Together is a foray into a variety of lifestyles and a very original take on relationships today.
The critically acclaimed The Writer from Israel tells the story of an Arab Israeli writer struggling with an identity crisis which affects his and his whole family’s sense of belonging and nationality.
In the BBC series Love, Nina we explore 1980s London through the eyes of a young woman. It’s a subtle look back at a society clinging doggedly to its traditional class divisions.
And Jimmy McGill once again lives up to his reputation. In the second season of Better Call Saul he perfects his idiosyncratic interpretation of the law, bringing him even more in sync with the simpatico, albeit shady character from Breaking Bad.
With Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Michael McKean, Rhea Seehorn, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, Ed Begley Jr.
In addition, two episodes of the Netflix series Cooked will be shown as part of the Culinary Cinema programme. The series, produced by Alex Gibney, is based on Michael Pollan’s eponymous bestseller.
Along with drama series presented in the Berlinale Special programme, the industry platforms of the festival host the “Drama Series Days” on February 15 and 16, 2016 - a joint initiative of the European Film Market, the Berlinale Co-Production Market, and Berlinale Talents. The “Drama Series Days” are presented jointly with the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW at the European Film Market. The platform welcomes creators, buyers, sales agents, producers, commissioning editors and financial backers of high-quality drama to discuss, present and promote new serial content and projects in development. For more information please visit www.efm-berlinale.de.
A 50% discount for Berlinale Talents events is available for pupils, students, persons in federal volunteer service, handicapped people, unemployed people, "Berlin pass" holders and welfare recipients at the central ticket sales.
Groups of at least 5 people who register by telephone under 0800 724 03 22 (for international calls: 0049 30 259 22 85 73), from February 1 daily from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm: € 2.50 per ticket. Booked tickets can be picked up at the Generation ticket counter at Berlinale Service Center (Eichhornstraße 3, Potsdamer Platz) from February 10 to 19 daily from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm and on February 20 from 11.00 am to 2.00 pm.
For members of the Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art e.V. with member ID reduced tickets are available on special rates - Single ticket: € 6.00, Multi-show ticket: € 24.00 (6 shows). Reduced tickets are valid only for events at Kino Arsenal 1 and 2, Akademie der Künste (Hanseatenweg) and Delphi Filmpalast.
A 50% discount for same-day tickets is available for pupils, students, persons in federal volunteer service, handicapped people, unemployed people, "Berlin pass" holders and welfare recipients at cinema box offices.
Last Minute Tickets at Berlinale Palast ½ hour before show-time available at a 50% discount.
Thanks for the info Sandy.
For sure some interesting stuff to see.
Anybody there ....near the Red Carpet again ?
Unfortunately not ... yet ... if at all. I fight a nasty cold (as I strangely did the past 3 years right on time for Berlinale) no fever but my sinuses and my right ear are affected and I feel like I`m drunk all the time. This might get me sidelined for the planned flight to Berlin on sunday. I`m still hoping though and fighting . If I can make it, I`m planned to stay till friday morning.
Watching opening ceremony and already laughing my head off. Anke Engelke is hilarious as always. I`m laughing so hard my stomach and cheeks already hurt.
My very best wishes for a SPEEDY RECOVERY to join this unique event again.
You always managed ....just in time. GOOD LUCK !!!
of your Festival-pics/personal impressions ?
Could this be some kind of seasonal allergy, because it recurs every year around the same time? Anyway, good luck for a speedy recovery and enjoy your trip to the Berlinale .
As for the opening ceremony, I'm not as lucky as you girls because I have work to do. However, I hope I will have time to catch it up on weekend .
How did you guys get to these festivals? Is it easy to get tickets? Hotel accommodation? Are you working for these folks or you just happen to take a vacation nearby?
As much as I have posted about these international film festivals, I have never attended a major one (all the ones Tony attended). I did, however, attended a few local film festivals, and volunteered for a few too (these don't make much of anyone's list, duh!). I don't know if local short-films are just plain boring or they don't have a budget. Some has a good running script, but most takes a while to digest in. A few years back, I was in theater to watch a bunch of short-clip film festivals (they made my head dizzy). It's like been bombarded in 2 hours with 4 or 5 short-clip films.
Hope you guys had better experience. Cheers!
Thanks for the wishes Helga!
Yitian, thanks for your wishes!
I have no idea why I always get a cold/flu before Berlinale. Maybe I have to get rid of some bad karma each time I go there.
Hey Sandy, no need to apologize! This is your site and only our playground!
As for me, it became some kind of habit to go to Berlinale, since The Grandmaster was the opening film 3 years ago and I had the chance to meet some of our folks here in person. I kinda like the city and of course the atmosphere around the red carpets. See, there are usually 3 red carpets each day. And even I`m (ahem ) not very familiar with western cinema and each time have to google the name of all those actors, I really enjoy going there. Berlin itself, well as a single travelling woman I feel safe, as well as Hong Kong. I booked my hotel last september.
As for the tickets, I remember trying to get tickets for the 4 of us to see The Grandmaster 3 years ago, trying to work on 2 computers simultaniusly and having Helga on my mobile - the two of us almost near a heart attack untill I finally got the tickets. For such movies it`s tough. Otherwise I had no problems to get a ticket for the movies I wanted to see. We`ll see how it will work today when I`ll try to get a ticket for a movie I`d like to see. Sale starts in 15 minutes.
I`ve never seen a short film, not sure if I want to. As for this time there is 1 movie on my "like-to-see" list and it`s Trivisia starring Lam Ka Tung, Richie Yen, Jordan Chan. No red carpet for this movie unfortunately. These are faces and voices I`m familiar with.
I might see other movies, have no idea yet.
Berlinale is he world's biggest PUBLIC Filmfestival.
When a little group of us travelled to Berlinale 2013...for watching "The Grandmaster" ( we reported here)...we simply managed flights and accomodation by ourselfs.
I'm happy I learned to know 3 European Film Festivals at least ..... a few yeas ago.
I personally visited BERLINALE one time and it's little sister VIENNALE (Vienna/Austria).....and smaller Asian Film Festival in Northern Italy : UdineFEFF a few times.
Helga, I guess I follow Elyas M`Barek`s advice and keep a hand desinfectant in my pocket. I guess I won`t be shaking many hands, though.
So far so god. Since at least you Helga seem to be interested, maybe I open a "Berlinale 2016" thread tomorrow, hopefully.
following your" Berlinale 2016" thread !
Hopefully, I'll be so lucky one day, to be able to attend a big film festival . At the mean time, watching videos and reading kind postings by fans are my ways of get to know things.
Heike, good luck for being able to watch everything your heart desires, and enjoy . If your health allows, I would love to see your various topics on the current Berlinale . Thanks in advance .
Good to hear Tin-Yau & Safran's recount of their Berlinale experience. I never tried these online ticket thing. Maybe that's what's needed to get a ticket. Who knew!
I find that the best way to get to local film festivals - is simply by volunteering. They usually welcome all kind of odd people to join. It's not that demanding on time. But the hot tickets (good films, opening gala, etc), are kind of out-of-reach. Lucky if you get a bleacher seat.
Minister of State and Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media Prof. Monika Grütters, the Mayor of Berlin Michael Müller, Jury President Meryl Streep and Festival Director Dieter Kosslick will open the 66th Berlin International Film Festival at the Berlinale Palast at 7.30 pm on February 11. During the Opening Gala, the International Jury will be introduced. In addition to Meryl Streep (actress, USA), its members are Lars Eidinger (actor, Germany), Nick James (film critic, author, programmer, United Kingdom), Brigitte Lacombe (photographer, France), Clive Owen (actor, United Kingdom), Alba Rohrwacher (actress, Italy) and Małgorzata Szumowska (director, Poland). Anke Engelke will host the evening. The event will be broadcasted live on television by ZDF/3sat and via www.berlinale.de.
Following the Opening Gala, Hail, Caesar! by Joel and Ethan Coen will have its international premiere. The directors have brought together an array of stars in the ensemble of their new film, and many of them have announced their arrival: Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Tilda Swinton und Channing Tatum.
The members of the International Jury and the Best First Feature Award Jury, actor Enrico Lo Verso, Italy, part Swiss part French director Ursula Meier and director and producer Michel Franco, Mexico, are all expected on the Red Carpet. A number of prominent German politicians and ambassadors have also announced their attendance.
Other international and national guests are also anticipated: Maren Ade, Feo Aladag, Karim Aïnouz, Michael Ballhaus, Ben Barenholtz, Marie Bäumer, Meret Becker, Iris Berben, Edward Berger, Senta Berger, Christian Berkel, Tim Bevan, Sebastian Blomberg, Prof. Hark Bohm, Jürgen Böttcher, Matthias Brandt, Dietrich Brüggemann, Daniel Brühl, Daniel Burman, Cecilia Cheung, Anton Corbijn, Denis Côté, August Diehl, Doris Dörrie, Christopher Doyle, Andreas Dresen, Katja Eichinger, Olafur Eliasson, Eric Fellner, Florian David Fitz, Maria Furtwängler, Benno Fürmann, Florian Gallenberger, Toni Garrn, Martina Gedeck, Herbert Grönemeyer, Jella Haase, Karoline Herfurth, Oliver Hirschbiegel, Sherry Hormann, Nina Hoss, Sandra Hüller, Julia Jentsch, Sibel Kekilli, Burghardt Klaußner, Wolfgang Kohlhaase, Thomas Kretschmann, David Kross, Frederick Lau, Jan Josef Liefers, Heike Makatsch, Elyas M’Barek, Prof. Jeanine Meerapfel, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Anna Maria Mühe, Jannis Niewöhner, Christiane Paul, Christian Petzold, Rosa von Praunheim, Katja Riemann, Max Riemelt, Oskar Roehler, Andrea Sawatzki, James Schamus, Clemens Schick, Tom Schilling, Sebastian Schipper, Volker Schlöndorff, Hans-Christian Schmid, Jessica Schwarz, Alexander Skarsgård, Hans Steinbichler, Jasmin Tabatabai, Yan Tang, Tom Tykwer, Andres Veiel, Ai Weiwei, Wim Wenders, Natalia Wörner, Ronald Zehrfeld, as well as many others.