After a week of protests, petitions, and even a call to boycott the Berlin International Film Festival, organizers had to be fearing the worst when the 74th Berlinale kicked off Thursday night.
But the only demonstration on the red carpet was a peaceful one. Several filmmakers gathered together next to Berlinale Directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian and, holding up their cell phones, with LEDs shining, called for “democracy, diversity and peaceful togetherness.”
It was worlds away from the PR disaster that could have been expected just a week ago when the news came out that the Berlinale had invited elected members of the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) to its opening ceremony. The invitations were standard protocol and AfD members had been invited to the festival for years. But this year was different. For weeks, hundreds of thousands of Germans have been marching in anti-AfD demonstrations across the country,...
But the only demonstration on the red carpet was a peaceful one. Several filmmakers gathered together next to Berlinale Directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian and, holding up their cell phones, with LEDs shining, called for “democracy, diversity and peaceful togetherness.”
It was worlds away from the PR disaster that could have been expected just a week ago when the news came out that the Berlinale had invited elected members of the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) to its opening ceremony. The invitations were standard protocol and AfD members had been invited to the festival for years. But this year was different. For weeks, hundreds of thousands of Germans have been marching in anti-AfD demonstrations across the country,...
- 2/15/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Berlin International Film Festival faced up to several ongoing political controversies in a speech-heavy opening ceremony for the 74th edition tonight (February 15).
Following controversy around the invitation then disinvitation of AfD policitians to the ceremony; plus the crisis in Gaza; and ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, hosts Hadnet Tesfai and Jo Schuck confronted the political aspect of the festival in their opening remarks.
“Saying ‘this is how we did it in the last 200 years’ is not enough,” said Schuck, in a possible reference to criticism of the festival for inviting AfD politicians due to it being protocol in previous years.
Following controversy around the invitation then disinvitation of AfD policitians to the ceremony; plus the crisis in Gaza; and ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, hosts Hadnet Tesfai and Jo Schuck confronted the political aspect of the festival in their opening remarks.
“Saying ‘this is how we did it in the last 200 years’ is not enough,” said Schuck, in a possible reference to criticism of the festival for inviting AfD politicians due to it being protocol in previous years.
- 2/15/2024
- ScreenDaily
The Berlin Film Festival officially kicked off Thursday evening with an eventful opening ceremony at the Berlinale Palast theater in the German capital.
After a divisive build-up to the fest, the opening ceremony was, in contrast, a relatively conventional affair. High-profile attendees included veteran German filmmakers Wim Wenders and Fatih Akin, Phantom Thread actress Vicky Krieps, and international jury president Lupita Nyong’o alongside her fellow jury members Brady Corbet, Ann Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Jasmine Trinca and Oksana Zabuzhko.
The evening’s opening film was Small Things Like These, starring Cillian Murphy, who was in attendance with producer Matt Damon and co-star Emily Watson. Directed by Tim Mielants (Peaky Blinders), Small Things Like These is the first Irish film to open the Berlinale.
Related: ‘Small Things Like These’ Review: Cillian Murphy Plays A Father In Torment In ’80s-Set Irish Trauma Tale
Before the pic opened, the crowd inside the...
After a divisive build-up to the fest, the opening ceremony was, in contrast, a relatively conventional affair. High-profile attendees included veteran German filmmakers Wim Wenders and Fatih Akin, Phantom Thread actress Vicky Krieps, and international jury president Lupita Nyong’o alongside her fellow jury members Brady Corbet, Ann Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Jasmine Trinca and Oksana Zabuzhko.
The evening’s opening film was Small Things Like These, starring Cillian Murphy, who was in attendance with producer Matt Damon and co-star Emily Watson. Directed by Tim Mielants (Peaky Blinders), Small Things Like These is the first Irish film to open the Berlinale.
Related: ‘Small Things Like These’ Review: Cillian Murphy Plays A Father In Torment In ’80s-Set Irish Trauma Tale
Before the pic opened, the crowd inside the...
- 2/15/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Prince Harry is scheduled to speak at the annual WellChild charity event in London on Sept. 7, 2023, one day before the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death. But, the royal rumor mill claims Prince William and Kate Middleton believe Harry’s appearance and subsequent speech at the event could “distract” from the couple’s official royal engagements honoring the late monarch. However, a royal commentator weighs in on the chatter.
Could Prince Harry upstage Kate Middleton and Prince William?
Prince Harry is scheduled to give a speech honoring the recipients of WellChild’s annual awards ceremony. He has been a patron of the organization for 15 years and will reportedly not be joined by his wife, Meghan Markle, who has been a guest at past events.
Royal commentator Kinsley Schofield shared her thoughts regarding Harry’s U.K. return and its potential impact on the anniversary of Prince William and Kate Middleton to GBNews.
Could Prince Harry upstage Kate Middleton and Prince William?
Prince Harry is scheduled to give a speech honoring the recipients of WellChild’s annual awards ceremony. He has been a patron of the organization for 15 years and will reportedly not be joined by his wife, Meghan Markle, who has been a guest at past events.
Royal commentator Kinsley Schofield shared her thoughts regarding Harry’s U.K. return and its potential impact on the anniversary of Prince William and Kate Middleton to GBNews.
- 9/7/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Spielberg “to keep working”, discusses cinema history, Jewish heritage.
Steven Spielberg has delivered a powerful, emotional speech upon receiving the Berlinale honorary Golden Bear, in which he said he is “not finished” as a filmmaker and wants “to keep working, learning, discovering and scaring the shit out of myself, and sometimes the shit out of you.”
The legendary US director gave the address last night (February 22) in Berlin when accepting the lifetime achievement awards, ahead of a screening of his latest film The Fabelmans.
Scroll down to read the full text of Spielberg’s speech
Receiving standing ovations when he entered the room,...
Steven Spielberg has delivered a powerful, emotional speech upon receiving the Berlinale honorary Golden Bear, in which he said he is “not finished” as a filmmaker and wants “to keep working, learning, discovering and scaring the shit out of myself, and sometimes the shit out of you.”
The legendary US director gave the address last night (February 22) in Berlin when accepting the lifetime achievement awards, ahead of a screening of his latest film The Fabelmans.
Scroll down to read the full text of Spielberg’s speech
Receiving standing ovations when he entered the room,...
- 2/22/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Paramount today revealed Dusseldorf in Germany will be the host city for the 2022 MTV European Music Awards. German host Hadnet Tesfai (pictured above) was on hand to make the announcement.
The awards will take place at the Psd Bank Dome on Nov. 13. It is the sixth time the event will have been hosted in Germany since 1994.
The EMAs will be broadcast live on MTV across 170 countries. Last year’s event was held in Hungary and hosted by Saweetie, with performances from Ed Sheeran, Maluma and Imagine Dragons, among others.
The host, nominees and performers for this year’s event will be announced in the coming months.
“There is no other event like the ‘MTV EMAs’ which connects audiences in every corner of the world to their favorite artists,” said Raffaele Annecchino, president and CEO of international networks, studios, and streaming at Paramount. “We can’t wait to head back to...
The awards will take place at the Psd Bank Dome on Nov. 13. It is the sixth time the event will have been hosted in Germany since 1994.
The EMAs will be broadcast live on MTV across 170 countries. Last year’s event was held in Hungary and hosted by Saweetie, with performances from Ed Sheeran, Maluma and Imagine Dragons, among others.
The host, nominees and performers for this year’s event will be announced in the coming months.
“There is no other event like the ‘MTV EMAs’ which connects audiences in every corner of the world to their favorite artists,” said Raffaele Annecchino, president and CEO of international networks, studios, and streaming at Paramount. “We can’t wait to head back to...
- 5/24/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Festival apologises to filmmakers and audience.
The 72nd Berlinale got underway after an inauspicious start on Thursday evening (10) as “technical problems” during the opening night screening of Francois Ozon’s Peter von Kant caused the film to cut out after about 30 minutes.
During a scene in which the eponymous character is shooting a film himself, the screen at the Berlinale Palast venue suddenly went blank.
The audience was left in the dark for roughly 10 minutes, before the film restarted at a different point. It played for another couple of minutes before cutting out again, to groans from the crowd.
Audience...
The 72nd Berlinale got underway after an inauspicious start on Thursday evening (10) as “technical problems” during the opening night screening of Francois Ozon’s Peter von Kant caused the film to cut out after about 30 minutes.
During a scene in which the eponymous character is shooting a film himself, the screen at the Berlinale Palast venue suddenly went blank.
The audience was left in the dark for roughly 10 minutes, before the film restarted at a different point. It played for another couple of minutes before cutting out again, to groans from the crowd.
Audience...
- 2/10/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
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