The jury at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival opened the festival by pushing politics aside and focusing on a tough selection of the best films, with 20 titles competing from around the world.
BERLIN — The president of the jury at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival tried to push aside political questions and instead focus on the tough selection of best films as the festival opened Thursday.
Twenty titles from around the world will compete for the top prize, the Golden Bear, and Thursday’s opening will see the world premiere of Small Things Like These, starring sensationalist Cillian Murphy.
Asked about the differing views of this year’s committee of actors, directors and screenwriters tasked with choosing the winners, Oscar-winning and president of the jury, Lupita Nyong’o, said: “It’s going to be interesting.” Told.
“It will probably be spicy,” the Kenyan-Mexican actor added with a smile at a press conference in the German capital. “The beauty of having people from different backgrounds together is that we can do a lot of different things. … We have a lot of conversations.”
Nyong’o is the Berlinale’s first black jury president and said he is honored to serve as this year’s jury president.
“This is a chance for me to learn a lot about the world of film and celebrate it,” she said, adding that she plans to “listen first.”
Still, Nyong’o and other jurors mostly dodged questions from reporters about the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Ukraine and German politics.
One question she couldn’t avoid was about the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD), which organizers did not invite to the opening ceremony last week. Five AfD politicians were scheduled to attend, as members of all political parties in the Berlin state parliament are invited to the event, which is supported by public funds.
Germany has seen large-scale protests against far-right groups in recent weeks. This comes after reports that militants had held a meeting to discuss the deportation of millions of migrants, including some with German nationality, and that members of the AfD were also taking part.
“I’m a foreigner here,” Nyong’o continued. “I’m glad I don’t have to answer that question because I don’t know the ins and outs of the political situation here.”
However, other jurors expressed more positive opinions on the matter.
German film director Christian Petzold appears to be critical of the decision to disinvite AfD politicians. “If we can’t stand five AfD people in the stands, we will lose the battle.”
Italian actor Jasmine Trinca said, “Imagine five fascists sitting in a room watching the film that the Berlinale has chosen to convey this moment, this reality.” It was suggested that there is a possibility of expanding the horizons of the house.
Asked later for details, Petzold said the fact that “hundreds and thousands of people are demonstrating against the AfD” was “much more important than this kind of discussion.” Ta.
This year’s competition entries include French-Senegalese director Mati Diop’s documentary Dahomey, which explores colonization through the restitution of stolen goods plundered by French colonial forces and returned to Benin, West Africa; I’m exploring.
Black Tea, by Mauritian-born Malian director Abdelahmane Sissako, also focuses on the African diaspora, telling the story of a young Ivorian woman who moves to China and falls in love with an older Chinese man.
Nyong’o said she was happy to see Africa represented at the festival, but added: “We’re always looking for more.”
In addition to Trinka and Petzold, this year’s Berlin jury also includes actor-director Brady Corbet, directors Ann Hui and Albert Serra, and Ukrainian writer Oksana Zabuzhko. The festival will run until February 25th.
