The Berlin Film Festival officially kicked off this evening with an eventful opening ceremony at the German capital’s Berlinale Palast.
After the festival’s divisive preparations, the opening ceremony was, by contrast, a relatively traditional affair. Among the prominent attendees were veteran German directors Wim Wenders and Fatih Akin. The imaginary thread Actress Vicky Krebs, international jury president Lupita Nyong’o, alongside fellow jury members Brady Corbett, Anne Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Jasmine Trinca and Oksana Zabuzko.
It was the opening film of the evening Little things like this, starring Cillian Murphy, who was in attendance with producer Matt Damon and star Emily Watson. Directed by Tim Millants (Peaky Blinders). Little things like this It is the first Irish film to open the Berlinale Film Festival. Before the picture opened, the audience was welcomed inside the Palast Theater by hosts Hadnet Tesfaye and Joe Schock, who began their introductions with a series of remarks addressing what they later described as “the elephant in the room:” politics.
“When thousands are dying, and there has been so much violence in the Middle East since October 7th, what do we want a film festival to do? What do we want it to do?” Tesfaye asked in her opening remarks. “Of course, this has an impact on us as human beings. And of course it has an impact on institutions such as the Berlinale. So, we can’t pretend that this is none of our business. Because it 100% is.”
Tesfaye’s monologue was met with a standing ovation from the audience inside the theater. Soon after, the hosts were joined on stage by Carlo Chatrian and Mariette Riesenbeek, co-chairs of the Berlinale, who stirred up excitement about this year’s festival competition before also turning their attention to politics in recent weeks.
“The Berlinale has a lot of room for dialogue between people and art. But there is no room for hatred. Hate is not on our guest list and will not be,” Riesenbeck said, in a direct reference to the festival’s decision to disinvite members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party to this year’s opening ceremony. “You invited us.”
“We oppose all forms of discrimination, whether it is anti-Semitism or Islamophobia,” Riesenbeck continued. “Many people on the Berlinale team are influenced by the right-wing Alternative for Germany party and their intentions to deport people with a migrant background from the country. They want to expel them, and this is something we cannot and will not tolerate as a festival.”
Riesenbeck’s condemnation of the AfD was echoed by German Culture Minister Claudia Roth, who followed the co-chairs on stage with a speech in which she said German democracy was currently under “attack” from far-right actors.
“They want to divide and destroy our republic. Our peaceful democracy. “They want to hate and hate,” Roth said. But in the face of this racism and hatred, we affirm the beauty of difference, respect and courage. Empathy and humanity is our response to confronting their hatred and racism.”
The political energy inside the palace matched the performances on the festival’s red carpet earlier in the evening. The carpet parade stopped briefly early as the festival hosted what it described as a demonstration of “Filmmakers for Democracy, Diversity and Peaceful Togetherness.” The festival organized the event, which it said included between 50 and 60 directors, including names such as Jonathan Berlin, Merit Becker, Louisa Gavron, Biga Faraidouni, and Roshanak Khodabakhsh. The filmmakers raised flashlights from their phones as the words “Defend.” “Democracy” appeared on a large screen behind the red carpet. The participants then began to chant, “Democracy, my motivation.” The demonstration was mostly met with cheers from the surrounding crowds. After a few moments, the demonstration ended and the carpet procession continued.
Later, during the carpet, a number of attendees used their time in front of the media pens to present their own political messages. American director Eliza Hittman was last in Berlin, winning the Silver Bear Never Rarely Sometimes AlwaysThe words “Ceasefire Now” were sewn on the back of her dress. The message was a reference to the current global popular campaign calling for political action to end the current Israeli military campaign in Gaza.
Amid domestic political tensions, German actress Feline Rogan took to the carpet wearing a “FCK AfD” necklace while model Babis Loveday joined her carrying a large banner reading “No to racism, no to AfD.”
Outside the festival’s boundaries, Huck, a progressive group of artists, organized a counter-protest. The group gathered in front of the procession, holding a banner that read: “No seats for fascists anywhere.” Neither in culture nor in the Senate,” he said, in another reference to the Alternative for Germany party.
“The presence of representatives of right-wing parties such as the AfD at cultural and public events contributes to the normalization and downplaying of anti-democratic tendencies,” the group said in an accompanying statement. “These growing forces not only pose a threat to the lives of all those who do not fit their worldview, but also threaten the diversity and multiplicity of our cultural landscape. breakthrough! It shows solidarity with those who have spoken and aims to amplify their voices.
After similar interventions from local bureaucrats inside the palace, the hosts introduced Nyong’o and the festival’s jury, who also appeared to be in a contemplative mood.
“I learned that I am the first black president (of the jury),” Nyong’o said, addressing the Berlinale crowd.
“Even though I’m more than my race, I’m very proud, humbled and honored to be breaking that barrier. And in this time where there’s so much division and with progress comes regression, I’m really proud to be a symbol of progress.”
Nyong’o received a standing ovation from the Berlin audience, and the hosts closed out the evening’s proceedings, opening the festival and providing the opening address Little things like this. Image modified by Enda Walsh (hunger, Disco pigs) from Claire Keegan’s Booker Prize-winning novella, tells the story of a devoted family man who discovers that the local convent is actually a cruel institution taking in so-called “fallen girls and women.” This revelation forces him to confront some difficult truths about the monastery, his hometown, and his own life.
The Berlin Film Festival takes place from February 15 to 25.