Berlin International Film Festival | 9 - 14 February

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News: Fest Briefs

Short Cuts

* On the first day of the fest, Berlinale catalogues did not reach the EFM and Protocol due to police security checks. So maybe X-ray machines would be a good idea for next year to separate bombs from books...

* Anyone who suspected a technical problem after the speeches at the opening ceremony at the Berlinale Palast should note that the screen weighs over seven tons and needs four attendants to adjust it whenever it's used. So have some patience, it's worth the wait.

* The festival has expressed its concern to Warner Bros over the poor organisation of the arrival of the Three Kings delegation at the Berlinale Palast for their official selection screening. Having kept the press waiting for half an hour, the talent then arrived on the red carpet 25 minutes after the screening was scheduled to start. "The public in the theatre," wrote de Hadeln to the head of Warner Germany, Willfred Geike, "was utterly furious for having to wait so long and even my excuses were not accepted."

Chancellor Schroeder & Jeanne Moreau* Jeanne Moreau was accompanied by fest director Moritz de Hadeln yesterday to meet Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French Minister of Culture Catherine Trautmann. The occasion was to discuss the project for a new Franco-German film academy and the intensification of the collaboration between the two countries within the framework of the EC.

* A obviously high-spirited Russian delegation (Russkij bunt, Vorosilovskij Strelok) arrived Friday night from Moscow. Maybe their copious luggage guaranteed the abundance of caviar at the Russian reception last night? What they did bring with them though was a copy of the film which was 12 minutes longer than expected....

* Berlinale receptionist Melenke Böhme has been suffering major stress after a citywide outbreak of Leomania. Melenke has been fielding at least 40 calls a day from giggling, over-excited teenage girls asking about DiCaprio's whereabouts. And Berlin tabloid BZ's offer of a DM1000 prize for any girl with photographic proof that she'd managed to kiss Leo brought loads of screaming girls to the red carpet.

* The shuttle bus service to the festival hotels has been extended until after the end of the last evening screening. You'll still find the bus at the usual stop.

* The uniquely throaty voice of Jeanne Moreau reached festival topper Moritz de Hadeln's phone yesterday morning at 8.30 telling him that she had a fever and was to leave to Paris at midday. "It wasn't the festival's fault, it was the ambassador's fault," she joked. La Moreau obviously caught a cold when she had to wait in the drafty lobby of the French embassy after receiving her Golden Bear. Luckily, Gwyneth Paltrow and Matt Damon offered to host the Shooting Stars presentation instead.

* "The fact that our politicians are so interested in the festival is a good sign
for the film industry, since they will understand the importance of the film industry and economics even better," was Moritz de Hadeln's reflection on the incredibly strong interest of Reichstag politicians in obtaining tickets to innumerable festival events at this
year's Berlinale.

* Flashers beware! The festival kindly requests that accredited photographers stick to the time allocated to taking photographs and do not disturb the rest of the press conferences. So please ­ show a little self-control!

Berlin 1999 - Berlin 98 - Berlin 97 - Berlin 96