Within the next two weeks (starting from today!), brace yourselves for some serious film festival action! Berlin is simply spoilt for choice when it comes to internationally renowned, esteemed, and much-loved film festivals, from the mainstream Berlinale that takes over our city every February, to the somewhat smaller, yet equally exciting, film festivals - such as those on this fortnight's line-up! And with the weather dramatically dipping into "yes, this is definitely winter now!" territory, this is the perfect time to retreat from the cold into a comfortable cinema seat, popcorn at hand.
There are three film festivals taking place in the next 13 days, by pure coincidence, I imagine. The type of film varies, from shorts to full-length features, as does the genre, from emerging British talents showcasing their recent work to famous directors being paid homage through special retrospective screenings and discussions. The variety is remarkable, so whatever you had planned for the next week or so, cancel it!
THE 27th INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL BERLIN (15 - 20 Nov)
500 films, 50 programmes, 6 competitions, international guests and festivals, close-ups and wide-angle views, ShortFriday, project presentations, concerts, parties ...
First up, and opening with a special screening and party tonight (Tues 15th Nov), is the 27th International Short Film Festival Berlin. This is perhaps the heavyweight of the festival line-up, in terms of age and esteem. Founded in 1982, this festival has become one of the most important short film festivals in Europe, and with 500 films screened each year and a diverse and extensive programme, it's easy to see why! There's just too many films to recommend, so take a look at the Programme and see what stands out. Anything in the Competition Section is certainly worth a look, especially as some of the awards are decided by the audience.
PREMIÈRE BRASIL 2011: FILMS OF THE RIO DE JANEIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (16 - 27 Nov)
Next on this week's film fest is the Première Brasil festival, featuring the top ten of the best new films from Brazil, along with a special feature for and starring Héctor Babenco ('The Kiss of the Spider Woman'), selected by the curator of the festival, Ilda Santiago. Heating up the week is the Opening Night on Wed 16th Nov, which will be attended by the curator and directors themselves, as well as include the screening of Toniko Melo's 'VIPs'. The films in the festival are all characterized by an acute sense of a society in flux, for people in search of an identity. The opening film is a prime example: 'VIPs' is about a young man who moves seamlessly from one identity to another, from drug courier to worldly businessman. Friday night's screenings of two Héctor Babenco films will be followed by a discussion between the festival curator, Ilda Santiago, and the director himself - this will certainly be one of the festival's highlights!
FUTURE SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL: BERLIN PREMIERE & AFTER PARTY (20:00 Fri 25th Nov)
Next Friday 25th November, Berlin will host the Premiere of the Future Shorts Film Festival - the first ever global pop-up festival showcasing the most exciting short films from around the world. This is a unique event that features 6 award-winning (OSCAR, BAFTA, SUNDANCE, BERLINALE) short films from around the world. Taking place on one-night only, a limited, intimate audience will attend the drinks reception at 20:00 (in-kind drinks sponsorship by the cool folks at Held Vodka and LemonAid), followed by the film screening itself at 21:00, and then an after party, featuring the much sought-after Berlin-based DJ, Juli N. More. The event is taking place at the Agora Collective in Neukölln, a 5-storey detached building that's really coming into its own as an exciting and creative arts and events space. Tickets are limited, so it's recommended to get them online beforehand. Future Shorts festival goers can also invite 2 mates to join them later at the after party!
Book Tickets Online: http://gidsy.com/activities/5081/future-shorts-premiere-after-party
| |  |
