Berlinale
Documentary 'Listening to Garzon': Spain’s most famous judge judged
‘Escuchando al Juez Garzón’ is an 87-minute documentary shot as a single interview with the high-profile human rights judge in Madrid in late 2010. Over a year later, he is going on trial for triple prosecutions on his abuses of power at his country's supreme court. International human rights activists argue that this 'Judge Dredd' case is one of Spanish science fiction
berlinale, documentary, politics, trial, corruption, franco, culture
Berlin citizen power: GreenLeaks, Stuttgart 21 and water privatisation
One of Europe's most politicised and strictly environmentally-ruled cities is home to a green-themed Wikileaks spin-off, run by an Australian documentary maker. The mood for disclosure is also celebrated in the annual film festival, which has incorporated the city's first successful referendum into its programme
'Give food a chance': culinary cinema in Berlin
At the 61st Berlin international film festival, the 'culinary cinema' series of events drew attention to the 'relationship between film, culture, cuisine and the environment' for the fifth time. Together with menus from top chefs in the Gropius Mirror restaurant, a mixture of films about nutrition and the environment reinforce the belief of festival director Dieter Kosslick: 'Food brings people together and connects them to their surroundings'
Berlin film festival 2011 winner goes to Iran: Asghar Farhadi's Nader and Simin, a Separation
In 2009 the Iranian director scooped a Silver Bear for best director for About Elly. This year's competition entry 'Jodaeiye Nader az Simin' was a clear frontrunner for the 2011 Golden Bear award, beating twenty-one other films in competition. Review
berlinale, cinema, culture, asghar farhadi, festivals, iran islamic republic of, culture calendar
Gallery
Berlin film festival 2011: Coen brothers True Grit opener not true to Coen
After the road movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) and the thriller No Country For Old Men (2007) the Coen brothers are back in the deserted vastness of the American landscape. The ten-times Oscar nominated film opened the 61st Berlin film festival on 10 February
berlinale, cinema, culture, film, film review, festivals, culture calendar
Krystof Hadek: 'foreign characters played by English-speaking actors? Disappointing'
In the last month the 27-year-old Czech actor has picked up accolades at the Berlin film festival (one of the ten 'shooting stars' in Europe) and a Czech Lion for 'best actor'. We talk fame, acting genes and language in European cinema
berlinale, cinema, brunch, film, kryštof hádek, czech republic, film festival
Berlin film festival: well, hello Leo
cafebabel.com are loyal attendees of Europe's biggest cinematic event, especially in the year it turns a dinosaur 60. Via a small team of pan-European correspondents in the capital, here's a selection of exclusives of the latest releases, a flashback through the festival's tormented history, a mystery trail on the heels of Banksy and interviewees who jump the hoops through our hearts and - literally - over our heads. Catch our Berlin babelblog and twitter page for more
- Read the special edition Berlin film festival: well, hello Leo
- Florian Lukas: no more 'best mate characters' for the 'Good Bye Lenin!' star
- Berlin film festival: 60 years of masterpieces
- Communist-themed film reviews: Kawasaki's Rose vs Portrait Of The Fighter As A Young Man
- Israeli and Arab film pick at the Berlin film festival
- Kinshasa Symphony: why is Mozart in Africa an alien concept?
Metropolis: masterpiece recovered at last
A complete version of the masterpiece of German cinema was screened with great ceremony on 13 February at the Berlin film festival; some missing sequences of Fritz Lang’s film were found two years ago in Argentina, 83 years after the film’s original release
Dear Reader via Johannesburg and Berlin: 'We’re all just geeks really'
Cherilyn MacNeil, 24, the charismatic singer and pianist of South African indie trio Dear Reader, speaks to us from the fringes of the Berlin Festival about her home country’s mix of danger and new beginnings, faith and spirituality, broken hearts and summer in Berlin
berlinale, brunch, religion, love, music, label, multiculturalism
Twenty years on: why Berlin is not Germany
The city buzzes with cultural events to commemorate the reunification of Berlin and the European continent. But how do the protagonists of the change view each other - whether they are born after 1990, are pre-1990 migrants or modern-day visitors?
berlinale, 1989, stasi, berlin, enlargement, eudebate on the ground, eudebate2009
'The Wonderous World of Laundry': forgiving free market in Berlin and Warsaw
The global credit crunch has quickly established it self to be a test of European solidarity. The government in Berlin faces a particularly difficult challenge as 2009 brings them the presidential elections and the elections for European parliament. This is also the time to fulfil the promise of opening up the German labour market to the ten new EU states, including Poland. Will pre-election fever deal with the ever-increasing unemployment on both sides of the Odra River – without compromising the strong relationship between Berlin and Warsaw?
berlinale, work, politics, unemployment, poland, european union, borders
Film review Austria: The Bone Man is rootsy, rank and riotous
The world premiere of Der Knochenmann took place at the Berlin film festival on 9 February. The bittersweet crime caper, starring the unfortunate private detective Simon Brenner, provides an in-depth insight into rural Austria and its relationship with its European neighbours east of the Danube. In the Alpine republic, Brenner is something of a folk hero. Here’s why
berlinale, vienna, cinema, culture, comedy, film, film review
The Yes Men fix the world: die, global capitalism
Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno's modern political activism doesn't only involve fighting for their beliefs. They have shot a whole movie about it. Exclusive video interview
berlinale, cine, politics, yes men, culture, film, film festival
Interview with actor Paweł Szajda: ‘I was used to a kind of dictatorship on the set’
On 13 February, the Polish film Tatarak by director Andrzej Wajda closes the Berlin Film Festival. The 27-year-old lead actor, a sort of Polish-American David Kross, tells us why he wants to return to his European roots
berlinale, andrzej wajda, poland, culture, love, film, paweł szajda
by
by
by
