For the first time in the history of the Berlinale, Germany's Chancellor will inaugurate the festival. Also setting the tone for this 49th edition, the opening film - Aimée & Jaguar by Max Fäberböck - recounts the true story of two lesbians persecuted by the Hitler regime. The film is Fäberböck's first film and the official selection offers other works by young German filmmakers.

This year's European selection represents works by prominent past masters alongside new discoveries, making European cinema a focus of this year's edition, with a large number of world premieres. And once again at the Berlin International Film Festival, there will be a large number of productions from North America in the Official Selection.