Berlin Film Festival Kicks Off During Bitterly Cold Snowstorm With Fiery Speeches as Tilda Swinton Mocks Trump’s Plans for ‘Riviera Property’
On a snowy Thursday night, the 75th annual Berlin Film Festival launched with some heat — thanks to fiery speeches about politics — as film executives, European buyers and movie stars trekked through the slush to celebrate cinema.
The prestigious festival in Germany kicked off with Tom Tykwer’s drama “The Light,” starring Lars Eidinger and Nicolette Krebitz as a dysfunctional married couple whose lives change with the hiring of a housekeeper (played by Tala Al-Deen).
But the real fireworks arrived in the form of a tearful speech delivered by Tilda Swinton. The actress, in a glamorous sparkling black coat, talked about the perils of political dictatorships around the world as she accepted an honorary Golden Bear for career achievement.
Swinton lauded the festival as “a borderless realm and with no policy of exclusion, persecution or deportation.” She added that the “great independent state of cinema” is “innately inclusive — immune to efforts of occupation, colonization, takeover, ownership or the development of riviera property,” apparently referring to Trump’s suggestion that Gaza could be made into a resort destination.
“The inhumane is being perpetrated on our watch,” she continued. “I’m here to name it without hesitation or doubt in my mind and to lend my unwavering solidarity to all those who recognize the unacceptable complacency of our greed-addicted governments who make nice with planet-wreckers and war criminals, wherever they come from.”
Director Todd Haynes, who is serving as president of the Berlin jury, followed up by continuing the political discourse. “We stand up for the freedom of expression and diversity,” he said, pointing to the directors, artists and writers in attendance.
Even so, outside of the cast for “The Light,” there were few stars in attendance. As the snow fell rapidly, making for treacherous icy pathways to the theater, ushers shut down the entrance promptly at 7 p.m. — leaving about a dozen ticket holders trapped on the ground floor of the theater without a way to their seats. “How do I go up?” one patron griped to an unsympathetic usher. Eventually, the guests were allowed to take open seats in the balcony.
“Thank you for the warm welcome on a cold night,” said the festival new chief, Tricia Tuttle, as she took the stage. “Lots of the things in the world are scary, but I’m trying to learn German.”
Wedged between Sundance and the last phase of awards season — and taking place at the same time as the BAFTAs (held this Sunday in London) — Berlin has struggled in recent years to compete with the star-wattage and buzz of Cannes or Venice. But Tuttle has made it a priority to bring more high-profile titles and talent to Berlin.
The festival will certainly make headlines with the European premiere of Bong Joon Ho’s “Mickey 17” starring Robert Pattinson as a human voyager (and his clones). The “Twilight” star will touch down in Germany ahead of the sci-fi film’s theatrical global release from Warner Bros on March 7.
And he’s not the only heartthrob movie star in attendance. Timothee Chalamet, who has embarked on a more gonzo Oscar campaign for the Bob Dylan drama “A Complete Unknown,” is scheduled to stop by for a special screening of his latest film en route to the BAFTAs. Indeed, as the European branch of the Academy has grown, Chalamet’s last-minute trip to Berlin represents how nominees are banking frequent flier miles to court international voters in the final days of Oscar campaigning. “Euphoria” breakout Jacob Elordi will also be making an appearance to promote his new series from Justin Kurzel, “The Narrow Road to the Deep North.”
Earlier in the day, the festival kicked off on a political note as Todd Haynes, the president of this year’s jury, addressed how the world — and art — is changing under Donald Trump’s second term in the Oval Office.
“We’re in a state of particular crisis right now in the United States, but also globally,” Haynes said. “Everyone I know in the United States and friends abroad are witnessing this barrage of actions in the first three weeks of the Trump administration with tremendous concern, shock.”
In the backdrop of the festival, Germany is also facing political turmoil and mounting tensions with crucial general elections taking place on Feb. 23. The country’s right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD), which caused a controversy at last year’s Berlinale when its officials were invited — and then disinvited — from the opening ceremony, has been doubling down on anti-immigration rhetorics on the campaign trail. Earlier on Thursday in Munich, an Afghan asylum seeker plowed his car into the crowd at a trade union demonstration, injuring at least 28 people, according to the BBC.
“Since we’re here in this opening ceremony together, we of course think of the people in Munich,” ceremony host Désirée Nosbusch said during her opening remarks.
Questioned about security, Berlinale organizers said in a statement to Variety that “the Berlinale wants all visitors to feel safe so that they can fully enjoy their visit to the festival and EFM.Current risk situations are constantly monitored and assessed — also in co-operation with the security authorities.”
The statement continued: “In general, Berlinale events are subject to high security standards that have been developed on the basis of specific risk assessment. We are able to adjust the security measures accordingly at any time, even at short notice, for example by increasing security personnel and stepping up checks. We also have structural driveway protection at the Potsdamer Platz sites and at the Gropius Bau. Please understand that we cannot disclose further information on the festival’s security measures as they are part of security protocol.”
The prestigious festival in Germany kicked off with Tom Tykwer’s drama “The Light,” starring Lars Eidinger and Nicolette Krebitz as a dysfunctional married couple whose lives change with the hiring of a housekeeper (played by Tala Al-Deen).
But the real fireworks arrived in the form of a tearful speech delivered by Tilda Swinton. The actress, in a glamorous sparkling black coat, talked about the perils of political dictatorships around the world as she accepted an honorary Golden Bear for career achievement.
Swinton lauded the festival as “a borderless realm and with no policy of exclusion, persecution or deportation.” She added that the “great independent state of cinema” is “innately inclusive — immune to efforts of occupation, colonization, takeover, ownership or the development of riviera property,” apparently referring to Trump’s suggestion that Gaza could be made into a resort destination.
“The inhumane is being perpetrated on our watch,” she continued. “I’m here to name it without hesitation or doubt in my mind and to lend my unwavering solidarity to all those who recognize the unacceptable complacency of our greed-addicted governments who make nice with planet-wreckers and war criminals, wherever they come from.”
Director Todd Haynes, who is serving as president of the Berlin jury, followed up by continuing the political discourse. “We stand up for the freedom of expression and diversity,” he said, pointing to the directors, artists and writers in attendance.
Even so, outside of the cast for “The Light,” there were few stars in attendance. As the snow fell rapidly, making for treacherous icy pathways to the theater, ushers shut down the entrance promptly at 7 p.m. — leaving about a dozen ticket holders trapped on the ground floor of the theater without a way to their seats. “How do I go up?” one patron griped to an unsympathetic usher. Eventually, the guests were allowed to take open seats in the balcony.
“Thank you for the warm welcome on a cold night,” said the festival new chief, Tricia Tuttle, as she took the stage. “Lots of the things in the world are scary, but I’m trying to learn German.”
Wedged between Sundance and the last phase of awards season — and taking place at the same time as the BAFTAs (held this Sunday in London) — Berlin has struggled in recent years to compete with the star-wattage and buzz of Cannes or Venice. But Tuttle has made it a priority to bring more high-profile titles and talent to Berlin.
The festival will certainly make headlines with the European premiere of Bong Joon Ho’s “Mickey 17” starring Robert Pattinson as a human voyager (and his clones). The “Twilight” star will touch down in Germany ahead of the sci-fi film’s theatrical global release from Warner Bros on March 7.
And he’s not the only heartthrob movie star in attendance. Timothee Chalamet, who has embarked on a more gonzo Oscar campaign for the Bob Dylan drama “A Complete Unknown,” is scheduled to stop by for a special screening of his latest film en route to the BAFTAs. Indeed, as the European branch of the Academy has grown, Chalamet’s last-minute trip to Berlin represents how nominees are banking frequent flier miles to court international voters in the final days of Oscar campaigning. “Euphoria” breakout Jacob Elordi will also be making an appearance to promote his new series from Justin Kurzel, “The Narrow Road to the Deep North.”
Earlier in the day, the festival kicked off on a political note as Todd Haynes, the president of this year’s jury, addressed how the world — and art — is changing under Donald Trump’s second term in the Oval Office.
“We’re in a state of particular crisis right now in the United States, but also globally,” Haynes said. “Everyone I know in the United States and friends abroad are witnessing this barrage of actions in the first three weeks of the Trump administration with tremendous concern, shock.”
In the backdrop of the festival, Germany is also facing political turmoil and mounting tensions with crucial general elections taking place on Feb. 23. The country’s right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD), which caused a controversy at last year’s Berlinale when its officials were invited — and then disinvited — from the opening ceremony, has been doubling down on anti-immigration rhetorics on the campaign trail. Earlier on Thursday in Munich, an Afghan asylum seeker plowed his car into the crowd at a trade union demonstration, injuring at least 28 people, according to the BBC.
“Since we’re here in this opening ceremony together, we of course think of the people in Munich,” ceremony host Désirée Nosbusch said during her opening remarks.
Questioned about security, Berlinale organizers said in a statement to Variety that “the Berlinale wants all visitors to feel safe so that they can fully enjoy their visit to the festival and EFM.Current risk situations are constantly monitored and assessed — also in co-operation with the security authorities.”
The statement continued: “In general, Berlinale events are subject to high security standards that have been developed on the basis of specific risk assessment. We are able to adjust the security measures accordingly at any time, even at short notice, for example by increasing security personnel and stepping up checks. We also have structural driveway protection at the Potsdamer Platz sites and at the Gropius Bau. Please understand that we cannot disclose further information on the festival’s security measures as they are part of security protocol.”