Kosslick
Ask Berlinale boss Dieter Kosslick whether he likes to look back on his first five years in the job, and he's more than happy. "Why not? I'm German. We love to look back!" exclaims the ebullient 57-year-old topper.
The one-time film bureaucrat, who sharpened his diplomatic skills during 20 years in Germany's film-fund scene and the Euro industry, has broadened the fest's roots to make it an event that is relevant to the industry as a whole, without losing its appeal to movie buffs and local auds. His political connections have also ensured continuing funding for the fest at a time when the city of Berlin (though not surrounding Brandenburg state) is effectively bankrupt, following the cost of reunification.
"I think I've brought the festival closer to the industry as a whole," says Kosslick. "In the five years, we've added the Talent Campus, the World Cinema Fund and a Co-Production Market. And on the programming side, we've added a second competition to the Kinderfilmfest (14 Plus), the Perspektive Deutsches Kino section (for local newcomers), and more German movies in general. But of course, the biggest physical thing we've done is this year's move of the European Film Market to a much larger venue."
The city of Berlin has been on the front-line of political and social change throughout the past century, and Kosslick has sought to ensure the festival reflects the city's sophisticated mindset. "I like the free-minded and cosmopolitan spirit of this city," he says. "The Berlinale has always had a political impact and been interested in social issues. The festival stands for cultural exchange and the understanding of cultural diversity.
"The founding of the festival itself in 1951 had a political impact and its goal has been to support the cooperation and understanding among cultures from around the world," he adds.
"It is important that we face political issues with an international cultural event like the Berlinale. Berlin and the Berlinale fit very well together."
Kosslick, who was confirmed last summer for a further five years in the job, isn't resting on his laurels. He's well aware that even established fests have to continue to innovate, as each event relentlessly copies others in sidebar attractions and industry plug-ins. Kosslick's pet invention, the Talent Campus, has already been copied by fests like Pusan, and Berlin and Cannes have for several years shadowed each other in structural changes, such as a final day for public only. This year, Berlin is starting its own version of Cannes' Camera d'Or, a prize for first feature in three of the fest's main sections (Competition, Panorama and 14plus).
This year's Intl. Competition jury, presided over by Brit actress Charlotte Rampling, is a balanced blend of quality names and international reach, including Gotham multimedia artist Matthew Barney, vet Bollywood producer Yash Chopra, Polish-born d.p. Janusz Kaminski ("Schindler's List," "Munich") and Korean actress du jour Lee Young-ae ("Sympathy for Lady Vengeance").
Celebs in Berlin will include George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Isabelle Huppert, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sigourney Weaver, Natalie Portman, Alan Rickman, Heath Ledger, Isabella Rossellini and Vin Diesel.
Also jetting in, to receive Honorary Bears, will be veteran Polish director Andrzej Wajda and British thesp Ian McKellen.
Contact Derek Elley at
derek.elley@variety.com