The number of films screened in DCP (Digital Cinema Package) formats has risen significantly since last year’s Festival - especially at the European Film Market. The Berlinale 2012 presented a total of 659 screenings in DCP formats, as well as 627 in 35mm film and some 1,100 in diverse video formats.    For festivals worldwide – and the Berlinale in particular with its enormous programme - this development poses substantial technical, logistical and financial challenges. ...

Premiere of the Newly Restored Version of Eisenstein’s October with Edmund Meisel’s Original ScoreOn February 10, 2012, the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival will present the premiere of the reconstructed version of October (Oktjabr, USSR 1928, directed by Sergei M. Eisenstein) at the Friedrichstadt-Palast. Conducted by Frank Strobel, the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra will perform the original score as composed by Edmund Meisel. The screening is a Berlinale Special presentation and p...

As part of the Festival’s official programme, the Berlinale Special 2012 will be presenting recent works by contemporary filmmakers, film portraits of outstanding personalities, extraordinary formats and restored cinema masterpieces. In addition to the six films already announced (see press releases from Dec. 19, 2011, and Jan. 9, 2012), twelve more titles have been confirmed for this year’s Berlinale Special programme.In 2012 talks will be hosted following the screenings of a number of Berl...

by Alex Deleon With some 400 films to choose from one might say that everybody sees a different festival over a ten day period. Of the official competition films two were early walkouts. Ralph Fiennes' "Coriolanus"  and the Bela Tarr entry  "A Torinoi Lo" (The Turin Horse) -- arguably the most bleak, depressing , and boring film ever made. It's all about two miserable people livinng in a miserable life in a miserable hut somewhere in the middle of nowhere and tr...

In a flash Day 5 (of ten) has already arrived and the fest is already half over, although it seems like it just began. Like it or not what really makes a festival like Berlin second only to Cannes --besides the 400 or so films from around the world shown --is the St***ar power it generates, and festival director Dieter Kosslick makes no bones about this. He goes all out to invite as many big name stars as possible and even claims that the worst nightmare of his ten year posting as festival dire...

by Alex Deleon In a flash Day 5 (of ten) has already arrived and the fest is already half over, although it seems like it just began. Like it or not what really makes a  festival like Berlin second only to Cannes --besides the 400 or so films from around the world shown --is the St***ar power it generates, and festival director Dieter Kosslick makes no bones about this. He goes all out to invite as many big name stars as possible and even claims that the worst nightmare of his ten year ...

Under Kosslick's direction the Berlin International Film Festival has become the largest international film festival adding virtually each year new program components, which have been frequently emulated by other film festivals. As distinct from the Cannes Film Festival which admits only professionals and Venice which has limited screenings for the public, the Berlin International Film Festival has been open to the general public since its founding in 1951 as a political showcase. With close to...

Under Kosslick's direction the Berlin International Film Festival has become the largest international film festival adding virtually each year new program components, which have been frequently emulated by other film festivals. As distinct from the Cannes Film Festival which admits only professionals and Venice which has limited screenings for the public, the Berlin International Film Festival has been open to the general public since its founding in 1951 as a political showcase.  With...

Scorcese's SHUTTER ISLAND is a P.U. production from Paramount --- a film to commit suicide over after use. But Ben Kingley and Max Van Sydow have at last found their ecological niches in cinema history -- as -- uncompromising ultimate GHOULS! I would have ankled this piece of unmitigated water torture after thirty minutes, but I was wedged into a balcony seat at the Friedrichstadt Palast theater and couldn't extrude my body without disturbing the whole balcony, and was therefore condemned to su...

by Alex Deleon for www.filmfestivals.com   Scorcese's SHUTTER ISLAND is a P.U. production from Paramount --- a film to commit suicide over after use. But Ben Kingley and Max Van Sydow have at last found their ecological niches in cinema history -- as -- uncompromising ultimate GHOULS!  Watch the Trailer on this site   I would have ankled this piece of unmitigated water torture after thirty minutes, but I was wedged into a balcony seat at the Fri...