BERLINHIMMEL

The annual Berlinale in February is an event that should not be missed in my calendar. For 10 days, Berlin’s cinema culture is in a state of emergency, as the red carpet is rolled out in front of cinemas almost everywhere and filmmakers come and go.

What makes the Berlinale so special in direct comparison to the many other film festivals is that it is the film industry’s largest public festival. This means that everyone can take part in this event, as long as they can get hold of the coveted tickets for the screenings. Audience involvement doesn’t just end at the film screening, but also in an encounter with the filmmakers in the so-called „Question & Answer“ (Q&A for short) sessions after the screening, in which the audience can ask the film team questions.
Another special feature is the cultural diversity of films during the Berlinale. It is not so much the big blockbusters from Hollywood that play the leading role here, but films from every corner of the world. To help you keep track of the mass of films, the Berlinale has various sections that can make it easier to find something of personal interest. One of these sections is the Competition, where the Golden Bear is awarded at the end of the film festival. But some of the other sections also have their own prizes, such as Generation, where the winners are awarded a Crystal Bear by a children’s or youth jury.
In addition, the European Film Market, the Co-Production Market and the Berlinale Talents take place during the Berlinale, which are contact points for (prospective) filmmakers. This is where seminars are held, directors exchange ideas and film rights are sold.

But enough of the explanations, because when it’s Berlinale time, I don’t just sit in the cinema and watch several screenings a day, I also like to write about what I’ve seen. So my BERLINHIMMEL website always goes into Berlinale mode in February and there are lots of reports with photos to browse through. I also occasionally report live from the Berlinale via X.

By the way, if you want to read my posts from the last few years, you can jump directly to the ARCHIVE.

PS: This page can also be reached directly via the Internet address www.berlinalereport.de.