Guest Author - Holly Fox

This week the new German Vanity Fair hit the shelves. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have reportedly bought an apartment in Berlin. International film stars like Clint Eastwood, Cate Blanchett, and Gael García Bernal have descended upon the capital this week as part of the 57th annual Berlin International Film Festival or Berlinale. Who knew Germany could be so glamorous?

The Berlinale is glamorous and Berlin is filled with red carpets, film premieres, and stars during the festival’s two weeks. On the other hand, it’s also the people’s film festival with tickets costing only 7 euros and more visitors than any other festival with 180,000 tickets sold this year.

Held annually since 1951, the Berlinale has always had an international focus. Films from across the globe have their world or European premieres here in Berlin and audiences pack the theaters to hear otherwise unknown directors describe their works. Tickets are available in Berlin as well as online and sell out quickly. When we bought our tickets for a South Korean film called Dasepo Naughty Girls we weren’t expecting much. But on the day of the screening the film was sold out and we joined hundreds of other guests at the Zoo Palast near the Zoo train station. The director E. J-Yong addressed us, at first nervously in English, and then increasingly confident as he described his film as a mix of horror, musical, teen romance. Chances that I would see this film at the local multiplex are slim and it was surprisingly enjoyable, making the long train ride utterly negligible.

Dasepo Naughty Girls was one of 386 films on the public program and part of the Panorama division for independent and art house projects. The high profile, international films are shown in the Competition division. There are also sections for children’s films, German films, classic films, and experimental films.

Even with its focus on showcasing new and international talent, the high point of the Berlinale is of course the Competition. Around twenty films are chosen by the director of the festival and a selection committee. All films shown are premieres. A jury made up of international greats of the industry awards several Silver Bears for "Jury Grand Prix," "Best Director," "Best Actress," "Best Actor," "Outstanding Artistic Achievement," and "Best Film Music." Then the Golden Bear is awarded to the best film of the year. This year’s jury includes Mexican actor Gael García Bernal, American director Paul Schrader, American actor William Dafoe, Italian-German actor Mario Adorf, Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass, Danish editor Molly Malene Stensgaard, and Hong Kong producer Nansun Shi.

Tonight they will announce the winner of the Golden Bear. And if next year you’re deciding between warm winter vacation destinations, don’t forget freezing Berlin, for the glamour, for the stars, and for the opportunity to see world class films for 7 euros.

And the Golden Bear goes to: Tu ya de hun shi (Tuya's Marriage) by Chinese director Wang Quan'an