Written by Kianna Best on Feb 21, 2023. Posted in Awards and Festivals

Berlinale opening week starts off strong

Starting on 16 February, Berlinale 2023 started off with some unmissable moments. Commencing the events with a digital livestream of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, the festival so far has seen attendance from a slate of top notch talent, the premieres of thought provoking works, as well as political protests and signs of solidarity. Berlinale will reach its close on 26 February.

Taking place at the Berlinale Palast, this year’s film festival opened with an introduction by actor and director Sean Penn for a live video stream hosted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he delivered a powerful speech, urging attendees to stand with Ukraine. Penn has shown his creative solidarity with the  nation through his Berlinale premiere of Superpower, a documentary profile on the Ukrainian president and his leadership during these trying times.

Berlinale directors Mariëtte Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian commented: “The Berlinale, along with all filmmakers and participants, expresses solidarity with the people of Ukraine in their fight for its independence and strongly condemns the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Our thoughts and sympathy are with the victims, the suffering population, the millions who left Ukraine and the artists that have remained defending the country and continue filming the war.”

Further amplifying the opening of the festival, Anne Hathaway interjected the press conference for her latest movie She Came to Me to applaud both the festival for their support and Zelensky for being a “hero of our times”. Juxtaposed to the emotionally powerful moment that preceded the conference, Hathaway’s latest venture is a romantic comedy featuring Peter Dinklage who plays a composer struggling with a bad case of writer’s block. Seeking all help he can, Dinklage’s character winds up in an affair with a love-addicted tugboat captain played by Marisa Tomei.

In the name of taking a stand, the Berlinale red carpet was not simply a stage for who wore it best competitions and fashion faux pas. On Saturday, protesters took to the carpet to protest the repressive regime in Iran, chanting “Women, Life, Freedom!”. The group made up of Iranian filmmakers and talents were joined by jury president Kristen Stewart. Preceding the protests, a panel was held for The Role of Cinema and the Arts in the Iranian Revolution, including commentary from Holy Spider actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi and The Siren director Sepideh Farsi on their hopes that the current wave of protests will end the unjust regime.

Speaking about her film The Siren to Variety Farsi said: “The end of the film has hope, and I really, really would like them [Iranians] to feel it as a glow of sun for the near future of Iran, because I’m really hoping that we will reach that victory soon.”

Images courtesy of Berlinale 2023