The Berlin Film Festival opens this Thursday. For weeks there has been discussion about what the Berlinale can look like despite the pandemic. Is a presence festival a good idea?
Before going to the cinema these days, some people ask themselves a question that, after two years of the pandemic, they can be more than tired of: Am I going? Or am I not going?
The corona virus still makes people weigh things up. With the Berlinale, one of the largest film festivals in the world begins this Thursday (February 10). And the decision sparked controversy.
When the festival management presented their program in January, a statement by Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) made the rounds. At the time, he expected the omicron infection wave to peak in mid-February. How the Berlinale can take place has been discussed for a long time.
The festival directors have also asked themselves this question. You have developed hygiene concepts for a long time. Again and again journalists receive e-mails, which has to be taken into account. There are also some changes for the audience.
How should the Berlinale run?
“We really gave a lot of thought to how this festival could be implemented as reduced as possible, so that it still has the publicity function,” said managing director Mariette Rissenbeek of the dpa in Berlin. “The films that are shown here need this attention.”
Stricter rules should apply. Only half of the cinema seats are filled. Only people who have been vaccinated against the virus or have recovered have access. Anyone who has not yet had a booster vaccination also needs a test. You have to wear a mask in the cinema. Tickets are only available online. Gone are the days when people camped in front of the counter with their sleeping bags.
The opening evening should also be smaller than usual. Around 800 guests are expected, about half as many as in other years. The new film by French director François Ozon will be shown – «Peter von Kant», based on Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s film «The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant».
There should be no parties and receptions. Even after the opening, the Berlinale does without a big party. A “seated dinner” with juries, opening film team, politics and festival management is planned, said a spokeswoman. “Of course we want to cater for our guests on the opening night, otherwise they would have to go to restaurants.”
Is it a secret party?
When asked how they want to prevent them from celebrating secretly, Rissenbeek says: “Well, we don’t celebrate secretly as a festival. And we have also asked all our partners to handle this accordingly. That’s how they do it too. They might make dinner or lunch for a smaller number of people.” But of course they couldn’t prevent people from going to a restaurant – maybe even 20 of them.
Who comes and who doesn’t?
There will be a red carpet, but some faces will be missing. “Nick Cave won’t be able to come, that’s sad – he likes the city and the festival, but he has to work,” says Chatrian. The Berlinale wants to show a documentary about the musician. “And Sigourney Weaver and Elizabeth Banks will not be able to travel.” But the actresses Emma Thompson, Juliette Binoche, Isabelle Huppert and Charlotte Gainsbourg are there.
Chatrian says he feels traveling from the US is more complicated. Also because a twelve-hour journey means a greater risk for people. “Our policy is very clear this time: we don’t want to force anyone to come if they don’t feel well. A festival should be a pleasure, not just work.”
Guests from all over the world usually come to the Berlinale. This time, too, a number of film teams are expected who have to comply with the German entry rules, as Chatrian says. Sometimes the problem is the other way around: “Guests from other countries have to be in quarantine when they come back from Germany. That can be an issue.” In addition, the situation can change every day and airlines have reduced the flight offer.
Why is a shift complicated?
Chatrian and Rissenbeek have been directing the Berlinale for three years. Last year they had to reschedule because of the pandemic. At that time, experts had watched films online via a platform in March – people from the film industry will have this opportunity again this year, but not for media people.
Film screenings for the public were then made up for in the summer. The fact that the Berlinale is difficult to switch to another date is also due to the fact that the film world is clocked through.
“The Berlinale is an incredibly important film festival for Germany, for Europe, all over the world and of great importance for our cultural life,” says Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth (Greens). “If we had canceled we would have lost important films to Cannes and Venice, which could not have been shown in Berlin in the summer either. As a result, the cultural and political significance of the Berlinale would have suffered overall.” Roth also sees the Berlinale as an important sign of optimism, hope and encouragement.
Which films are shown?
A total of 18 films are in the running for the Golden Bear, including Andreas Dresen’s project “Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush” and the film “AEIOU – The Fast Alphabet of Love” by Nicolette Krebitz. Films by Ulrich Seidl, Claire Denis, Hong Sangsoo and Denis Côté are also in the competition.
Rissenbeek says she understands when people are worried about the infection situation because they don’t know exactly what will happen next. “At the same time you have to say that the cinemas are open. Concert halls are also open. Football matches are played. It’s not like public life has come to a standstill like it did a year ago.”
In your opinion, formats are needed for culture. They all tried to make culture possible. “And it would have been very difficult to say for the Berlinale, which is also a platform for the cinemas, of all things: “We’d rather cancel,” said Rissenbeek. “From our point of view, it would not have been the right solution.”
They would have agreed the conditions with the health authorities from the start. “If we had been told: “Ms. Rissenbeek, you can’t do a festival in a pandemic. Forget it,” then of course we wouldn’t have done it.”