Berlin Film Festival Prepares Full-Blown On-Site Edition, Shows Solidarity With Ukraine, Introduces News Series Award

variety.com:

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent After two editions which were altered due to the pandemic, the Berlin Film Festival is preparing for a full-blown in-person 2023 edition which they’ve titled “Let’s Get Together.”  The 73rd Berlin International Film Festival will take place from February 16 to 26, with the industry activities hosted as part of the European Film Market on Feb.

16–22, the Berlinale Co-Production Market on Feb. 18–22 and Berlinale Talents (Feb. 18–23), among other events. The Berlinale will also express its solidarity with Ukraine through dedicated events, such as face-to-face encounters and community film experiences. “Film festivals are places that strengthen freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and peaceful dialogue,” said directors of the Berlinale, Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian. “With the ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, and the courageous protests and liberation struggles in Iran, the 2023 Berlinale stands even more firmly for these democratic values, and remembers victims of war, destruction and oppression all over the world,” said the duo.

The festival will also introduce an award for the best series production as part of its Berlinale Series sidebar. “While films are seen more and more on different devices, the Berlinale has been one of the first film festivals in showing series on a big screen as a collective experience,” said Chatrian.