Although this is the first time he has sat on any festival jury, Assi Dayan, son of one of Israel's legendary politicians, is a veteran of dozens of festivals.

The multi-talented film-maker claims he normally sees about one film a year: his own. "It's real hard work," he says about his stint on the jury. "We should be paid and given a prize for our patience," he adds, half-seriously.

As for his fellow jury members: "I don't know about previous juries, but there are people here that one can talk to and be friendly with. And [they are] very intelligent."

The director of 14 films, Dayan has been in Berlin twice before. What he likes best about attending screenings here is that "this is a festival where most audiences are not professionals".

Surprised when asked to be on the Berlinale panel, he recently received a life achievement award at the Jerusalem film festival. "I'm too young," he insists. "I know people who deserve it more than I do."

And what will he be looking for? "I expect something intelligent," he says, adding that he thinks European films are ready for a comeback. "Like we say with musicians or rock stars - a comeback in the intelligence of European films." Owen Levy