The 76th Berlin Film Festival has announced the selections for its main Competition and the debut-film-focused Perspectives sidebar. The lineup features a total of 22 films in the main Competition, aiming to blend new works from international and German directors with productions starring well-known actors.
Scheduled to run from February 12 to 22, this edition marks the second year under artistic director Tricia Tuttle.
Festival Overview
The festival is set to open with Afghan director Shahrbanoo Sadat’s romantic comedy "No Good Men." German director Wim Wenders will serve as the jury president for the 76th Berlinale.
Festival Director Tricia Tuttle has articulated the festival's role in championing both established and emerging voices in cinema, fostering discovery, and addressing challenges within independent filmmaking. Tuttle has also expressed an aim to align the Berlinale more closely with the Cannes Film Festival.
Main Competition Lineup
The 22-title Competition lineup includes a range of international and German productions. Notable films announced for the main Competition include:
- "Rosebush Pruning" by Karim Aïnouz, starring Riley Keough, Callum Turner, Elle Fanning, Pamela Anderson, and Jamie Bell.
- "Josephine" by Beth de Araújo, featuring Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan, which follows parents after their daughter witnesses a crime.
- "At the Sea" by Kornél Mundruczó, with Amy Adams portraying a former dancer confronting trauma.
- "Gelbe Briefe" ("Yellow Letters") by İlker Çatak, exploring state oppression on a married couple from Ankara.
- "Dao" by Alain Gomis, set between France and Guinea Bissau, focusing on themes of family and heritage.
- "Etwas ganz Besonderes" ("Home Stories") by Eva Trobisch, depicting a German family.
- "Rose" by Markus Schleinzer, starring Sandra Hüller.
- "Wolfram" by Warwick Thornton, a period Western.
- "My Wife Cries" by Angela Schanelec.
- "Soumsoum, the Night of the Stars" by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun.
Germany has a significant presence in the competition with new features from Eva Trobisch and Angela Schanelec.
Additional Sections and Highlights
Beyond the main Competition, the festival will feature selections in the Panorama and Special Gala sections, as well as the Perspectives sidebar.
The Perspectives sidebar, which focuses on debut films, has announced 13 initial selections. Highlights include "Animol," the directorial debut of UK actor Ashley Walters, and Israeli director Assaf Machnes’ Berlin-set film "Where To?".
Expected attendance from prominent individuals is also anticipated for films in the Panorama and Special Gala sections. These include Charli XCX’s "Brat" mockumentary, "The Blood Countess" starring Isabelle Huppert, and "The Weight" featuring Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe.