Berlin (Reuters-bln). A political appeal and snow on the Red Carpet: The Berlinale also makes this year its reputation as a political festival in wintry Berlin all the glory. During the live televised opening of the 63rd International Film Festival asked Culture Minister Bernd Neumann (CDU), the Iranian government expressly to allow the Iranian director Jafar Panahi sentenced to travel to the world premiere of his film to Berlin. "Parde (Closed Curtain)", the Panahi directed with Kamboziya Partovi goes with 18 other films competing for the Golden and Silver Bears.
About 1,600 guests were on Thursday evening gathered for the ceremony in the Berlinale Palast at Potsdamer Platz. Many celebrities from film and television, especially below the red carpet. The flashlights were among other U.S. star Jane Fonda, actress and director Isabella Rossellini, the German actor Mario Adorf, Jürgen Vogel, Heike Makatsch and Nina Hoss and several ministers, including Economics Minister and Vice Chancellor Philipp Rösler (FDP).
Jury President expects tough decision
The team of the opening film, the visually stunning martial arts epic "The Grand Master" by Chinese director Wong Kar Wai and the international jury were welcomed at the gala. Jury President is also Wong, his film is screening out of competition. The filmmaker said the competition, represents an "excellent choice." The decision will be very difficult.
Besides Wong ("In the Mood for Love", "2046"), the filmmakers Andreas Dresen, Tim Robbins, Susanne Bier, Shirin Neshat, Ellen Kuras and Athina Rachel Tsangari decide on the award of prizes. The Iranian artist and filmmaker Shirin Neshat had said in the morning at the presentation of the jury about the film industry in her home, they change all the time, because most of the filmmakers fled the country for abroad to work free of censorship. "Artists are facing in our country with many difficulties."
2011, the festival had the Iranian director Panahi, who won in 2006 with "Offside," a Silver Bear, invited as a juror. This, however, was sentenced to six years in prison and 20 years of prohibition.
Kosslick hopes for personal participation Panahi
Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick said, referring to the directors and actors of the Iranian film in this year's competition: "We hope that both come." It's great that someone who got 20 years ban imposed at all could make a movie, he added.
This year in the various Berlinale sections around 400 films. On 16 February, the prizes will be awarded, one day later, the festival ending with an open house. French director Claude Lanzmann awarded the Honorary Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement.
Also this year will be back many stars cavort on the festival, expected to be another Matt Damon, Jeremy Irons, Julie Delpy, Jew Law, Nicolas Cage, Anne Hathaway, Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche. Compete in the competition including Thomas Arslan's Western "gold" with Nina Hoss in the lead role, the new thriller by Steven Soderbergh, "Side Effects", and the third part of Ulrich Seidl's paradise trilogy, "Paradise: hope."
Sensation on the edge of the Berlinale opening, a group of feminists made with nude protests. The activists of the Ukrainian women's rights group Femen bared her upper body on the edge of the red carpet, to protest against female circumcision.
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