New films by Celine Sciamma, Hong Sangsoo, Xavier Beauvois, Radu Jude, and the directorial debut of German actor Daniel Brühl were unveiled as part of the 15 competition titles at the 2021 Berlin Film Festival today.
READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2021
The festival’s 71st edition will take place in two stages. The Industry platforms European Film Market, Berlinale Co-Production Market, Berlinale Talents, and the World Cinema Fund will be online March 1-5. And in June (9-20, a physical summer public event will occur, pandemic permitting.
READ MORE: 52 Films Directed By Women To Watch In 2021
Daniel Brühl’s “Nebenan” features himself and “Phantom Thread” actress Vicky Krieps. Filmmaker Celine Sciamma’s latest film, “Petite Maman,” starring Joséphine Sanz, Gabrielle Sanz, Nina Meurisse—and completed much faster than anyone expected given it only shot late last year— sees the French filmmaker return to her pet themes of kids and rites of passage, shot through with magic realism. Partly shot in Berlin, Hong Sangsoo’s “Inteurodeoksyeon” (Introduction) follows a young man who tries to find his way in the face of his parents’ wishes and impositions and stars Shin Seokho, Park Miso, Kim Minhee.
READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2020
Other titles of note include HBO’s Tina Turner doc ”Tina,” Maria Schrader.’s “I’m Your Man” with Dan Stevens and Sandra Hüller, actress Natalie Morales‘ directorial debut “Language Lessons,” co-starring herself and Mark Duplass, and festival titles like the Michelle Pfeiffer-starring “French Exit.”
READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2020 You Didn’t See
Here’s the full line-up unveiled so far.
Competition Titles
“Albatros” (Drift Away)
France
by Xavier Beauvois
with Jérémie Renier, Marie-Julie Maille, Victor Belmondo
Set in northern France, the film, which explores philosophical and existential questions, follows a police officer on a journey of self-discovery.
“Babardeală cu buclucsau porno balamuc” (Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn)
Romania/Luxemburg/Croatia/Czech Republic
by Radu Jude
with Katia Pascariu, Claudia Ieremia, Olimpia Mălai
An irreverent, yet political film that takes a look at contemporary Romania seen through the filters of a revenge porn story.
“Fabian oder Der Gang vor die Hunde” (Fabian – Going to the Dogs)
Germany
by Dominik Graf
with Tom Schilling, Saskia Rosendahl, Albrecht Schuch
Based on the well-known novel “Fabian: The Story of a Moralist,” by Erich Kästner, the coming-of-age film is a moral journey through time and space set during the end of the Weimar Republic in the 1920s.
“Ghasideyeh gave sefid” (Ballad of a White Cow)
Iran/France
by Behtash Sanaeeha, Maryam Moghaddam
with Maryam Moghaddam, Alireza Sanifar
Exploring themes of guilt and atonement, the film follows a woman whose husband has been unjustly executed in contemporary Iran.
“Guzen to sozo” (Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy)
Japan
by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
with Kotone Furukawa, Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Fusako Urabe
A bittersweet tribute to women where the writing flows organically with the characters.
“Herr Bachmann und seine Klasse” (Mr Bachmann and His Class)
Germany
by Maria Speth
with Dieter Bachmann and pupils of class 6b
Filmed and edited over the last decade, this documentary is a tribute to a great teacher and looks at the classroom as a microcosm of society.
“Ich bin dein Mensch” (I’m Your Man)
Germany
by Maria Schrader
with Maren Eggert, Dan Stevens, Sandra Hüller
This sci-fi film flips the traditional romantic comedy and features a Prince Charming who is not chosen by a woman, but designed to her taste.
“Inteurodeoksyeon” (Introduction)
Republic of Korea
by Hong Sangsoo
with Shin Seokho, Park Miso, Kim Minhee
Partly shot in Berlin, the film follows a young man who tries to find his way in the face of his parents’ wishes and impositions.
“Memory Box”
France/Lebanon/Canada/Qatar
by Joana Hadjithomas, Khalil Joreige
with Rim Turki, Manal Issa, Paloma Vauthier
Three generations of women who are relocated to Canada, deal with memories of their country of origin, Lebanon.
“Nebenan” (Next Door)
Germany
by Daniel Brühl
with Daniel Brühl, Peter Kurth
A tribute to the contradiction of Berlin in the 21st century, the film explores several characters, including a famous film actor and his neighbor, as their lives collide.
“Petite Maman”
France
by Céline Sciamma
with Joséphine Sanz, Gabrielle Sanz, Nina Meurisse
The director returns to her pet themes of kids and rites of passage, shot through with magic realism.
Ras vkhedavt, rodesac cas vukurebt? (What Do We See When We Look at the Sky?)
Germany/Georgia
by Alexandre Koberidze
with Ani Karseladze, Giorgi Bochorishvili, Vakhtang Fanchulidze
In Georgia, a young man and woman meet and are separated by destiny.
“Rengeteg – mindenhol látlak” (Forest – I See You Everywhere)
Hungary
by Bence Fliegauf
with Laura Podlovics, István Lénárt, Lilla Kizlinger, Zsolt Végh, László Cziffer, Juli Jakab, Ági Gubík
A sequel to Fliegauf’s 2003 Berlin title “Forest,” the Hungary-set film challenges physicality and shatters boundaries.
“Természetes fény” (Natural Light)
Hungary/Latvia/France/Germany
by Dénes Nagy
with Ferenc Szabó, Tamás Garbacz, László Bajkó
An officer from the Hungarian army is ordered to scout an area where Russian partisans fight against the occupation of the Third Reich.
“Una Película de Policías” (A Cop Movie)
Mexico
by Alonso Ruizpalacios
with Mónica Del Carmen, Raúl Briones
Set on the mean streets of Mexico city, fiction and documentary intertwine in this portrayal of the life of a police officer.
Berlinale Special Titles
“Best Sellers”
Canada/U.K.
by Lina Roessler
with Michael Caine, Aubrey Plaza
“Courage”
Germany
by Aliaksei Paluyan
with Maryna Yakubovich, Pavel Haradnizky, Denis Tarasenka
“French Exit”
Canada/Ireland
by Azazel Jacobs
with Michelle Pfeiffer, Lucas Hedges, Valerie Mahaffey, Imogen Poots
“Je suis Karl”
Germany/Czech Republic
by Christian Schwochow
with Luna Wedler, Jannis Niewöhner, Milan Peschel
“Language Lessons”
U.S.
by Natalie Morales
with Natalie Morales, Mark Duplass, Desean Terry
“Limbo”
Hong Kong/People’s Republic of China
by Cheang Soi
with Lam Ka Tung, Liu Cya, Lee Mason, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi
“The Mauritanian”
U.K.
by Kevin Macdonald
with Jodie Foster, Tahar Rahim, Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch
“Per Lucio” (For Lucio)
Italy
by Pietro Marcello
“Tides”
Germany/Switzerland
by Tim Fehlbaum
with Nora Arnezedar, Iain Glen, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina
“Tina”
U.S.
by Dan Lindsay, T. J. Martin
with Tina Turner, Angela Bassett, Oprah Winfrey, Katori Hall
“Wer wir waren” (Who We Were)
Germany
by Marc Bauder
with Alexander Gerst, Sylvia Erle, Dennis Snower, Matthieu Ricard