film festivals

Dark rock-star celebrity worship film “Lurker” channels “Ripley”

Archie Madekwe and Théodore Pellerin in Alex Russell's "LurkerThe celebrity-worship culture of the Los Angeles rock scene runs up against the desperation of an insinuating outsider who will do anything to gain admission to a star's inner circle in “Lurker”, a dark but sometimes comic Sundance hit that had its international premiere at the Berlinale…Read more Dark rock-star celebrity worship film “Lurker” channels “Ripley”

Diop’s “Dahomey” about looted African art takes Berlinale gold

Senegalese-French director Mati Diop on the red carpet at Berlinale Senegalese-French director Mati Diop's film “Dahomey” about African treasures looted by French colonial forces and returned to the West African country of Benin after 130 years, won the top Golden Bear prize for best film at the 74th Berlinale festival on Saturday. “We can either…Read more Diop’s “Dahomey” about looted African art takes Berlinale gold

“La Cocina” looks at illegal immigrants through a kitchen lens

Rooney Mara as Julia and Raúl Briones as Pedro in "La Cocina" Once in a while a film comes along that is so audacious and outrageous it takes your breath away. One such was the 2014 Argentine film “Wild Tales”, a series of vignettes in one of which two male drivers fight to their deaths…Read more “La Cocina” looks at illegal immigrants through a kitchen lens

Classical music in the spotlight at Berlinale

The orphanage orchestra that plays a pop tune for the Pope in "Gloria" Classical music is often thought to have little place in today's arts and culture scene, but filmmakers at the Berlinale can't seem to get enough of it. Three films at this year's festival have classical music as central plot elements, and two…Read more Classical music in the spotlight at Berlinale

“Nothing is where it should be”: Africa looting is Berlinale theme

Songea, Tanzania residents in "The Empty Grave" tending grave of Maji-Maji Rebellion chief Mbuna, whose head was taken to Germany and never returned In director Mati Diop's powerful “Dahomey”, a competitor for the Berlinale's Golden Bear top prize, a wooden statue of the 19th-century Dahomey warrior King Ghezo, making a gesture with his right arm…Read more “Nothing is where it should be”: Africa looting is Berlinale theme

Scorsese says cinema “not dying” as he is honoured at Berlinale

Martin Scorsese said he thinks cinema is changing but not dying and, in an appearance at the Berlinale at the age of 81, said he is contemplating making a film about Jesus. “I don’t think it’s dying at all. No, I think it’s transforming,” Scorsese said when asked about the future of cinema at a…Read more Scorsese says cinema “not dying” as he is honoured at Berlinale

Cork actor Éanna Hardwicke sees Irish film going in a “great direction”

Daisy Edgar-Jones and Éanna Hardwicke in streaming hit "Normal People" Twenty-seven-year-old Irish actor Éanna Hardwicke had no films screening at the 74th Berlinale, but he was invited anyway to participate in a showcase of rising European talent, and to celebrate this banner year for Ireland's film and acting community, himself included. “It definitely feels like…Read more Cork actor Éanna Hardwicke sees Irish film going in a “great direction”

Japan’s “The Box Man”, U.S. “Sasquatch Sunset” challenge norms at Berlinale

How do you make films in one of which the main character spends most of the time inside a box that conceals all but a slit for his eyes, and has an opening so he can walk, and in the other no words are spoken and all oral communication is by grunts and hoots? The…Read more Japan’s “The Box Man”, U.S. “Sasquatch Sunset” challenge norms at Berlinale

Dumont’s “L’Empire” sci-fi satire fails on liftoff at Berlinale

Anamaria Vartolomei as Jane in Bruno Dumont's Berlinale competitor "L'Empire" The highly anticipated space sci-fi offering “L'Empire” from Bruno Dumont, one of the leading lights of French intellectual cinema, failed to achieve warp speed at the Berlinale, where it had its premiere on Sunday and is in contention for the festival's main Golden Bear prize.…Read more Dumont’s “L’Empire” sci-fi satire fails on liftoff at Berlinale