Some of Hollywood's hottest stars are getting fitted for the red carpet today as one of the biggest events in film has just announced this year's lineup. No, we're not talking about the Academy Awards: it's the 60th annual Berlin International Film Festival. Yes, while America reacts to the Oscar nominations this morning, Germany is busy generating its own buzz thanks to a star-studded lineup expected to draw big-screen luminaries such as Renée Zellweger, Leonardo DiCaprio and Pierce Brosnan to the event. As reported in Variety, those are just some of the stars who will be turning out for this year's Berlinale, which will screen over 400 films during the 11-day event.
Zellweger, who will be one of seven jury members judging the 20 films competing for the festival's coveted Golden and Silver Bear awards, will be joined on the panel by acclaimed German director Werner Herzog. But perhaps the most buzzworthy event of the festival will be the screening of Brosnan's film 'The Ghost Writer.'
That's because the movie, which co-stars Ewan McGregor as a writer who uncovers a dangerous secret while researching a book, was directed by controversial fugitive Roman Polanski, whose arrest while attending the Zurich Film Festival last fall delayed completion of the film and sparked a media firestorm. While many members of the film community have been outspoken in their attempts to have Polanski freed (he is being held on charges stemming from a 1977 rape case where he plead guilty to unlawful intercourse with a minor), it's unclear yet whether activists will use the Berlinale as a forum for their grievances or if the drama will remain on screen only.
Other notable films slated to appear at the festival include Martin Scorsese's 'Shutter Island,' the James Franco vehicle 'Howl' and the Casey Affleck thriller 'The Killer Inside Me.' And in remembrance of the great German director Eric Rohmer, who passed away last month, organizers have scheduled a special showing of his acclaimed film 'Pauline at the Beach,' which won top prize at the 1983 Berlinale.
The Berlin International Film Festival begins on Feb. 11.
Add your comments