By Alyssa Boddicker
Today marks the beginning of the 66th Annual Berlin Film Festival, also known as Berlinale, Europe’s first film festive of 2016 in showing 23 films over then next 9 days (11-21 February). There are two self-explanatory film categories at this festival, compete and non-compete. Films chosen to be shown range from international movies in Bosnia and Germany, to period pieces from the 1920’s and 1950’s.
As the largest publicly attended film festival in the world, Berlinale brings together to consumer and the artists in a film festival setting that makes everyone feel a part of the process.
For those within the competitive category, the stakes are much higher. All on a quest for the main prize, The Golden Bear, Berlinale’s highest award. Much like other film festivals, the winner is chosen through an international jury, with some extra excitement added this year because Meryl Streep will be residing over the jury. Can you say her type of jury duty?
Films To Look Forward To
Hail, Caesar!: The newest film written and directed by the Coen Brothers, Hail, Caesar! is definitely a film to be talked about during this year’s Berlin Film Festival. Placed in the non-compete category, Hail, Caesar! tells the tale of a Hollywood fixer (Josh Brolin) working for the film studio Capitol Pictures in the early 1950’s when one of its stars Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) goes missing. What follows is a hilarious quest to rescue the superstar, all the while producing hit films. Did we also mention this movie has Channing Tatum singing and dancing? What more could you ask for?
War On Everyone: A comedy about police corruption, Alexander Skarsgård and Michael Peña star as two New Mexico cops who accidentally blackmail the wrong criminal and massive yet hilarious problems ensue. Directed by John Michael McDonagh whose stepped out of his Ireland territory from The Guard and Calvary, War On Everyone tackles the debauchery when two crooked cops get in too deep. There is also an unspecified role for Divergent star Theo James, which is sure to get some love from the ladies in the theaters.
Genius: A directorial debut from the well loved stage director Michael Grandage, Genius tells the tale of Max Perkins, played by Colin Firth, a famous 1920’s editor and his friendship and mentorship of writer Thomas Wolfe, played by Jude Law. The screenplay is reason enough to look forward this film, coming from John Logan who’s works include 12 Years a Slave, Gladiator, and Skyfall. If you aren’t sold yet, Genius also boasts a cast of Guy Pearce as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Dominic West as Ernest Hemingway, as well as Nicole Kidman and Laura Linney. We are looking forward to see the crowd reactions to this majorly talent-packed biopic.
The festival will be kicked off tonight, 11 February, with the world premiere of the Coen Brother’s new film Hail, Caesar! starring George Clooney, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Ralph Fiennes and more as members of Hollywood studio Capitol Pictures in the early 1950’s.