Berlinale 2012: a politically sensitive showcase of international films

In its ten-day run the 62nd Berlinale (February 9 to 19, 2012) sold more than 300,000 tickets and screened almost 400 films. The closing highlights of the international film festival were a day for the audience as well as the grand gala and award ceremony at the Berlinale Filmpalast which was attended by many international film stars. There were 18 films in this year’s competition for the Golden and Silver Bears. Many people were surprised when the Golden Bear went to two master directors from Italy: the brothers Paolo and Vittorio Taviani won the award with their prison docudrama “Caesar Must Die” which was chosen by the international jury under its president the British director Mike Leigh. German films, which had three competition entries, also had cause to celebrate: the Silver Bear for Best Director went to Christian Petzold. The prizes for best actors went to Congolese actress Rachel Mwanza in the child soldier drama “Rebelle” and to Danish actor Mikkel Boe Følsgaard for his role in the costume drama “A Royal Affair”.

Enlarge image (© picture alliance / dpa)

The Berlinale 2012 shone again as a socially critical festival with films focusing on the Arab Spring and the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan. Minister of State and Commissioner for Cultural and Media Affairs Bernd Neumann drew a positive balance: he said that, as a politically sensitive showcase of international films, the Berlinale had provided moving and powerful insights into the world. It was a very special Berlinale moment when the Oscar-winner Meryl Streep received the Honorary Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement. On the occasion she presented her latest film “The Iron Lady”. Hollywood star Angelina Jolie came to the Berlinale 2012 with her directorial debut about the Balkan conflict “In The Land Of Blood And Honey” which opened the new Berlinale cinema at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele. And finally, teen idol Robert Pattinson surprised his fans at the end: on the red carpet he distributed hundreds of free tickets for an additional screening of his new film “Bel Ami”.

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