Whether in competition or out of competition: When the 72nd Berlinale starts, numerous promising films will celebrate (world) premieres in the German capital. The corona pandemic may continue to make the hustle and bustle more complicated than usual. Nevertheless, from February 10th to 20th, an illustrious group of international stars will also do the honors – either to present their works or to rate them. These filmmakers are to be expected.
The jury and the honorary bear
“The Sixth Sense” director M. Night Shyamalan (51) will definitely be there. The simple reason: this year he is the president of the seven-member jury that decides on the award. He is supported by the German director and screenwriter Anne Zohra Berrached (39).
It is also certain that the French actress Isabelle Huppert (68) can look forward to an award. This year she received the Honorary Golden Bear for her life’s work. In addition, her film “À propos de Joan” (“About Jane”) will be shown out of competition, in which she can be seen alongside Lars Eidinger (46), among others.
The competition films
The list of this year’s 18 competition films is very diverse, ranging from Germany to Indonesia and China to Cambodia. As a result, many actresses and actors who do not yet have big names in this country will make the pilgrimage to Berlin. However, US glamor will still be provided. At least when the cast of the drama “Call Jane” arrives. The work of Phyllis Nagy (59) includes Kate Mara (38), Elizabeth Banks (47) and Sigourney Weaver (72).
Most of the films in the 2022 competition are France. The potential guest list is correspondingly different: Juliette Binoche (57) and Vincent Lindon (62) are fighting for the Golden Bear with “Avec amour et acharnement” (“Both Sides of the Blade”), Charlotte Gainsbourg (50) is with “Les passagers de la nuit (“The Passengers of the Night”). Meanwhile, cult actor Udo Kier (77) can be seen in the German-French co-production “AEIOU – The Fast Alphabet of Love”.
Oscar winner out of competition
There is also a lot to do outside of the competition. For example, the US film “The Outfit”, in which Zoey Deutch (27) plays alongside Oscar winner Mark Rylance (62, “Bridge of Spies – The Negotiator”). And “Game of Thrones” fans can hope for Jaime Lannister’s arrival: Dane Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (51) is the star of the film “Against the Ice”, which will premiere at the Berlinale.