Berlin, Germany (Weltexpress). 24 films in the competition program, submitted from 24 nations, states, countries, awards of the international jury on February 24 – fits! Whether the selection was correct, was discussed again very controversially.
Tom Tykwer served as President, and Cécile de France, Chema Prado, Adele Romanski, Ryuichi Sakamoto as well as Stephanie Zacharek also acted as members of this illustrious committee. “Touch me not” won gold, presented to the producer of the work (Romanian-German-Czech-Bulgarian-French) Adina Pintilie. Longing for intimacy in the face of fear when touching – the material demanded from the viewer a sensitive scanning of all sorts of protagonists who sometimes brittle, at times slimy set themselves into scene: A bulky strip, as desired by Tykwer. And somehow it also asked the question of what we are-and-what-we- want-to-be.
In the opening film “Isle of Dogs” by Wes Anderson, a doggie sums it up – as Dieter Kosslick said in his speech this year. Wes got a Silver Bear for Best Director, but unfortunately Atari, the star of the animated film, went blank. Silver for best actress: Ana Braun in “Las herederas” by Marcello Martinessi. Silver Bear for Best Actor: Anthony Bajon in “La prière” by Cédric Kahn. Ah yes, before that: Silver Bear, and Jury Grand Prize for “Twarg” or “Mug” by Malgorzata Szumowska. A socio-critical satire from Poland, which together with others trying to take a trophy raised the question – see above. Silver Bear for Best Screenplay: Manuel Alcalá and Alonso Ruizpalacios for “Museo” by Alonso R. And Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Achievement: Elena Okopnaya for Costume and Production Design in “Dovlatov” by Alexey German Junior. Well, “Las herederas” was also awarded a bear as a whole, with the Alfred Bauer Prize in silver form “for a feature film that opens new perspectives” – because it was the first from Paraguay at the Berlinale? Because men here can only play a role lending a hand with furniture, certainly no leading one?
Who Waldheim was, what waltzes he wanted to dance, and could, on Austrian and international parquet, is the story followed in the documentary by Ruth Beckermann. “Glashütte Original” awarded the documentary film prize endowed with 50,000 euros for the second time. In 2018, 18 films were in competition. “Waldheim’s Waltz” was chosen by the jury of three: Cintia Gil, Ulrike Ottinger and Eric Schlosser as best out of the Berlinale sections – from the competition to the special series Culinary Cinema. A series for that Venice and Cannes as well as many other festivals worldwide envy Berlin. However, a film award from the Culinary Cinema: still officially absent. Is the sponsor missing? What about Slow Food, for example? When will they be handed over at the Eco-gala-diner for the first time, them lets say Golden and Silver “Honey Bears”?
