Berlin

Dear guests, as a Berliner I have to apologize: Sorry for this awful weather! More mud than snow, a harsh and cold westerly and the sky almost always grey. Instead of „Heavens over Berlin” (the originally German title of Wim Wenders´„Wings of Desire”) we only can talk about the bank of clouds over the city in these days. „Süddeutsche Zeitung” from Munich (where they have snow all winter and beautiful mountains nearby) writes: If there is something in Berlin what you can call „lousy”, then it´s the winter. Of course, for us Berliner´s it´s always difficult to hear criticism from the German south, but in this case, we have to accept without envy: Bavarian´s, you are f***** right.

„Süddeutsche Zeitung” makes an interesting proposal: Just change the date of Berlinale! And the newspaper remembers that until 1977 Berlinale has been a summer festival, which took place in lovely June. So why, for example, Berlinale couldn´t swap places with Cannes in May? The answer is simple: Nobody wants a festival so near to the Oscars ceremony.

With this we come to a more severe question: Since the bringing forward of the Oscars ceremony from end-March to end-February nine years ago Berlinale has a real problem. „Die Welt” calls it the „accursed” February-date. The paper from Berlin sees only one solution: The Berlinale has to strengthen the bond with their participants. „Die Welt” notes „Talente Campus”, where 300 talents from all over the world coming to Berlin during the festival, and Berlinale´s „Residency-Program” for promising film makers. Other important argument: After Cannes, „Berlin has become the second largest film market in the world”.

The „European Film Market” as the glimmer of hope for Berlinale´s future? „The Hollywood Reporter” says yes and mentions „Berlin´s profile is on rise as the festival parade gets more and more crowded”. Maybe it´s better to read only the foreign press instead of the pessimistic and moaning German papers…

Ole Schulz