Berlin Film Festival Gets Underway With Messages Of Determination As Event Presses On Amid Question Marks

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The 72nd Berlin International Film Festival is officially up and running as an in-person event, pressing on determinedly despite the challenges presented by the Covid wave Germany is experiencing.A relatively normal-looking, if sparsely attended, rep carpet ended with the good and the glamorous donning their face masks as they made their way into the auditorium for the opening night screening of Francois Ozon’s Peter Von Kant.The theater was also sparse-looking, but that was inevitable after the city of Berlin decided to enforce 50% capacity limits in all venues for the festival’s duration.

Those in attendance included Peter Von Kant director Ozon and star Denis Ménochet, as well as competition jury president M. Night Shyamalan.Taking to the stage, Berlin directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian tried to strike a positive tone in their opening speeches.“The current situation has been a challenge, but when I talk to filmmakers I know how important it is that their films reach out to people and they hear the feedback – it gives us courage and encouragement to move on,” said Rissenbeek.“It was so important that people could come together, that people could experience film and culture together, so we decided to press ahead,” she continued. “We are delighted that almost all of the film teams have been able to be with us, a clear sign of the significance of being present at an event like this, filmmakers have gone to a lot of trouble to be with us this week.”“Movies helped us in the last two years a lot.

Films bring the stories we need to keep our lives going on,” added Chatrian. “Films can be watched at home alone, but they can also help us in overcoming solitude.