The women’s robes were elaborate and finally there was a dense crowd on the red carpet again: everything was in normal mode after Corona. The 73rd Berlinale officially started on Thursday evening – with a festive gala on Potsdamer Platz, to which more than 1000 prominent figures from the worlds of art, culture, business and politics were invited. In addition to glitter and glamor, however, efforts were also made to live up to the reputation of being a political festival again.
And so the Berlinale management, Mariëtte Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatria, had several messages right from the start, above all declaring their solidarity for the people in Ukraine. “Our thoughts and sympathy are with the victims, the suffering population, the millions who left Ukraine and the artists who stayed to defend their country and continue to film the war,” they said .
Jury president and actress Kristen Stewart surrounded by autograph hunters. dpa/Joerg Carstensen
Actress Anne Hathaway at the opening of the Berlinale. dpa / Gerald Matzka
And immediately afterwards they called Hollywood star Sean Penn onto the gala stage, whose documentary about the Ukraine war “Superpower” will also be shown at the Berlinale. The film was initially about a comedian who became president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Penn said. But then, with the start of the war in Ukraine, the documentary changed, he said. When the main actor from the film, Volodymyr Zelenskyj, was connected live, there were standing ovations and tears of emotion, including from actress Anna Thalbach.
Selenskyj recalled the division of Berlin and that before 1989 it would have been inconceivable that a Berlinale could take place on the divided Potsdamer Platz. “It’s very symbolic to me,” he said. Today it is Russia that wants to build such a wall in Ukraine – between freedom and missiles. The Ukrainian President also raised the question of the role of culture.
Actor Peter Dinklage dpa / Gerald Matzka
Culture makes decisions – whether to stand up against something or remain silent, thereby strengthening the “voice of evil,” he said. A good film evokes emotions and therefore good cinema can also help to make the world a better place, according to the Ukrainian President. Sean Penn beamed at him from the stage, everyone clapped. The President of Ukraine had already given virtual speeches at the openings of the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals.
There were also serious words from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Minister of State Claudia Roth: “Our hearts are with the people of Ukraine, but also with the women in Iran and Afghanistan,” she called into the hall. Therefore, the critical film must be celebrated. According to Roth, the Berlinale has always been a political festival. She added: “The film needs the light, as we need it.” And it broadens the view of the world.
Berlin’s governing mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) agreed. The joy that evening was “not undiminished”, also because of the war in Ukraine, she said at the opening gala. Putin’s attack is also an attack on culture in the country.
The actors Oliver Masucci (from left), Frederick Lau and Kida Khodr Ramadandpa / Gerald Matzka
Actress Fritzi HaberlandtAFP/Stefanie Loos
Before the festive gala, there was a big show run by the stars, who brought even more glamor to the carpet: Almost everyone wore glittery robes or suits. Many autograph hunters had been waiting behind the barriers since midday, when it finally started, they pulled out their cell phones and pens. Kristen Stewart and Hollywood star Anne Hathaway gave the screeching alarm. But actors like Lars Eidinger and Matthias Schweighöfer also signed autographs.
Franziska Giffey, Governing Mayor of Berlin, comes to the opening of the Berlinale. dpa/Monika Skolimowska
Also seen on the carpet: Katharina Schüttler (in rhinestone-studded bustier), Emilia Schüle, Veronica Ferres, Iris Berben, Alexandra Maria Lara, Oliver Masucci, Frederick Lau, Meret Becker, Paula Beer, Bibiana Beglau, Benno Fürmann, and Fritzi Haberlandt Kadir Ramadan to name a few. From politics came among others Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens), Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD), Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (Greens), Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus (Greens) and SPD leader Lars Klingbeil.
There were also chats: Mariëtte Rissenbeek is looking forward to the documentary about the musician Joan Baez and the film “Sonne und Beton”, which is set in Gropiusstadt, in the coming festival days, she revealed on the red carpet. Sibel Kekilli was looking forward to Peter Dinklage, who can be seen in the opening film “She came to me”. The two know each other from the series “Game of Thrones”, in which they played a loving couple.
On the red carpet: statements of solidarity and climate stickers
And already on the carpet there were many expressions of solidarity. The actress Jasmin Tabatabai and other colleagues unrolled a white cloth with the inscription “Jin, Jivan, Azadi”. This is Kurdish and means “women, life, freedom”. The slogan characterizes the demonstrations that began after the assassination of Jina Mahsa Amini by the Iranian vice squad. But there were also these protests: activists of the last generation glued themselves to the red carpet. However, the invited gala guests were already in the Berlinale Palace at the time.
The first stars are stepping in at the Grand Hyatt Hotel
Even before the gala, the stars could be seen on Thursday. In the morning, the international jury presented itself to the press in the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Potsdamer Platz. Ex-Twilight teen star Kristen Stewart stood awkwardly among her co-workers, short hair disheveled, face pale. “I’m a little antsy,” she admitted. Regarding her role as jury president, she said: “It’s a sweet burden.” She has so many professional jury colleagues. Smiling, she continued: “It wasn’t my choice to be here. I was shocked they called me.” Stewart, 32, is the youngest-ever jury president. Together with her jury colleagues, she will see 19 competition films over the next few days and judge who will ultimately receive the Golden and Silver Bears. A total of 287 films will be shown at the Berlinale.
There were also political messages from the jury on Thursday morning: “In terms of its history, this festival in particular is confrontational and political in a positive way,” says Kristen Stewart. And was well received by the motley jury. Chinese director Johnny To underscored, “If you want to fight for freedom, you have to fight for cinema, for film.” And Golschifteh Farahani, Iranian actress and contributor to the 2009 Silver Bear winner “About Elly,” said on the situation in her home country: “Iran, this is a dictatorship. People lack the oxygen, the air to breathe in Iran.”
In the afternoon, the actors from the opening film “She came to me” also showed up. The film by director Rebecca Miller is about a composer (Peter Dinklage) in a creative crisis. A great opera is expected of him. Starring Dinklage in the film are Anne Hathaway and Marisa Tomei, among others. The actor Dinklage admitted that he too is at a crossroads in his private life. “Now I’m 53 and I’m wondering if I want to continue acting for 30 years. It’s kind of a fork in the road that I’m at.” Adding, “When you’re 50, it’s probably like this more often: you’re either waiting for inspiration or you’re looking for it.”
The Berlinale now runs until February 26th. Among others, Helen Mirren, Cate Blanchett, John Malkovich, Geraldine Chaplin, Bono and Boris Becker are expected. And he: Hollywood director Steven Spielberg will receive the Honorary Golden Bear for his life’s work on February 21.