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| Opening Day |
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Dream tickets The rush for tickets for yesterday's opening party given by the governing mayor of Berlin, Eberhard Diepgen, and the federal government commissioner for cultural affairs and the media, Dr Michael Naumann, began in earnest yesterday as protocol chief Ronald Trisch did his best to keep all the party people happy. The huge increase in numbers brought about by the visit of Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schröder; the influx of requests for tickets from members of the Shoah Foundation (Spielberg/Bubis); and the large contingent from Fox's The Thin Red Line left many more festival-goers than usual disappointed at not getting a ticket. Apologies to those who missed out and commiserations to Ronald Trisch for having probably the worst job of the festival on opening day. Snow entry Opening day wasn't all fun and games for everyone. The appalling weather conditions in central and southern Germany on Tuesday delayed several jury members on their journeys to Berlin. Israeli director Assi Dayan was held up at Munich airport most of the day, while Katja von Garnier cut her losses and jumped in a car to drive to Berlin from Frankfurt. To add insult to injury, Dayan's luggage went astray and Jack Valenti's bags got lost in transit at Frankfurt airport. But the blow was softened for the jury members at their opening dinner. Baron Philippe de Rothschild offered a special wine for the honoured guests: a 1987 red Mouton Cadet, which proved a very popular choice with all concerned. Air Force Ein Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schröder had no such transport problems after his opening speech at the Zoopalast last night. Berlin air traffic control already had a firm booking for a German Air Force plane to take off at 22.30 from Tegel. Its passenger: the chancellor. Its destination: Washington DC, for talks with US President William Jefferson Clinton. |