Berlin (dpa) – The Berlinale has got underway with calls for freedom and democracy. At the opening ceremony of the Berlinale film festival in Berlin, actors and the festival management spoke out against far-right extremism and racism. At an event organised by the Festival, actresses including Jella Haase and Katja Riemann trod the red carpet to call to “defend democracy”. Alongside Cannes and Venice, the Berlinale is one of the world’s largest film festivals.
“The Berlinale has a great deal: of space for dialogue between people and art. But it has no place for hatred. Hate is not on our guest list,” said the co-director of the Festival Mariette Rissenbeek at the opening gala. Culture Minister Claudia Roth was also among those who rejected racism and hate. Roth called to counter racism with “the beauty of diversity, respect and courage, joy and understanding, empathy and humanity”.
Twenty films are in the running for the Golden Bear at this year’s 74th Berlinale. The awards will be presented on 24 February. Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o is chairing the international jury this year.
