Berlin

The main programme of the Panorama will open with the Brazilian production Sangue azul (Blue Blood) by Lirio Ferreira at the CinemaxX 7 on February 5. In the magnificent visuals of a fairy tale, the film tells of a family torn by strife and how, bit by bit, its members find their way back to each other. In doing so they disclose secrets whose consequences only become evident as things unfold.

Panorama Special will open with two works at the Zoo Palast on February 6. With Mexican filmmaker Gabriel Ripstein’s tension-driven directorial debut, 600 Millas (600 Miles), in which a young gunrunner, en route from Texas to Mexico, suddenly finds himself stuck with a US task force veteran (Tim Roth). Trying to get rid of the guy, turns into the biggest adventure of the young man’s life. The other film is legendary German director Rosa von Praunheim’s latest work: Härte (Tough Love) tells the story of karate world champion Andreas "Andy" Marquardt, who also appears in this hybrid feature, and accompanies the audience on his journey from a childhood of abuse to an adulthood of violence. Ultimately he evolves into a man who cares (albeit rather gruffly) about others. This film introduces the thematic focus of abuse that runs through all three Panorama series.

Latin America is making a strong showing: Chilean director Sebastián Silva is presenting his film Nasty Baby that is set in Brooklyn. Chico Teixeira and Anna Muylaert, both from Brazil, are contributingAusência (Absence) and Que horas ela volta? (The Second Mother) respectively. And from Argentina come Marco Berger’s Mariposa (Butterfly / the director was also TEDDY Award-winner 2011 forAusente / Absent) and Juan Schnitman’s El incendio (The Fire) on the perils of human relationships.

New to the line-up is Mitchell Lichtenstein’s part wicked and whimsical sociological study, psychodrama and horror story from the USA. After Teeth and Happy Tears, Angelica is this director’s third contribution to the Berlinale. Also new and from the USA is Takeshi Fukunaga’s directorial debut,Out of My Hand, about a worker on a Liberian rubber plantation who wants to get away from a life overshadowed by civil war and so moves to New York.

Two European-US co-productions portray the emotional worlds of young people in the USA. In Bizarre, French director Étienne Faure places teenage Maurice in a tender and playful environment, a commune of sorts, in Brooklyn. While dffb graduate Micah Magee’s debut film, Petting Zoo, sets its protagonist in Texas, where she tries to maintain her autonomy despite daily adversities. Europe’s presence is further strengthened by works from Romania, Russia and Lithuania. Discoveries from Iran, the Palestinian Territories, Morocco, South Africa, as well as Thailand and Indonesia conclude this year’s fictional film line-up.

The complete programme of Panorama Dokumente will be announced in the next press release.

Here is the list of the most recently selected films (for information on previously announced films see press release from December 16, 2014)

Panorama fictional films

600 Millas (600 Miles) - Mexico
By Gabriel Ripstein
With Tim Roth, Kristyan Ferrer, Harrison Thomas, Noé Hernández, Armando Hernández
World premiere

Al bahr min ouaraikoum (The Sea Is Behind) - Morocco
By Hicham Lasri
With Malek Akhmiss, Hassan Badida, Yassine Sekkal
European premiere

Al-Hob wa Al-Sariqa wa Mashakel Ukhra (Love, Theft and Other Entanglements) – Palestinian Territories
By Muayad Alayan
With Sami Metwasi, Maya Abu Alhayyat, Riyad Sliman, Ramzi Maqdisi, Kamel Elbasha
World premiere

Angelica - USA
By Mitchell Lichtenstein
With Jena Malone, Janet McTeer, Ed Stoppard, Tovah Feldshuh
World premiere

Ausência (Absence) – Brazil / Chile / France
By Chico Teixeira
With Matheus Fagundes, Irandhir Santos, Gilda Nomacce, Thiago de Matos, Francisca Gavilán
International premiere

Bizarre – France / USA
By Étienne Faure
With Pierre Prieur, Adrian James, Raquel Nave, Rebekah Underhill
World premiere

De ce eu? (Why me?) – Romania / Bulgaria / Hungary
By Tudor Giurgiu
With Emilian Oprea, Mihai Constantin, Andreea Vasile, Dan Condurache, Liviu Pintileaska
World premiere

El incendio (The Fire) - Argentina
By Juan Schnitman
With Pilar Gamboa, Juan Barberini
World premiere

Härte (Tough Love) - Germany
By Rosa von Praunheim
With Luise Heyer, Hanno Koffler, Katy Karrenbauer, Marion Erdmann, Andreas Marquardt
World premiere

How To Win At Checkers (Every Time) – Thailand / USA / Indonesia
By Josh Kim
World premiere

Mariposa (Butterfly) - Argentina
By Marco Berger
With Ailín Salas, Javier De Pietro, Julián Infantino, Malena Villa
World premiere

Nasty Baby - USA
By Sebastián Silva
With Kristen Wiig, Sebastián Silva, Tunde Adebimpe, Mark Margolis, Reg E. Cathey
International Premiere

Necktie Youth – South Africa
By Sibs Shongwe-La Mer
With Sibs Shongwe-La Mer, Bonko Cosmo, Emma Tollman, Jonathan Young, Colleen Balchin
World premiere

Onthakan (The Blue Hour) - Thailand
By Anucha Boonyawatana
With Atthaphan Poonsawas, Oabnithi Wiwattanawarang, Duangjai Hirunsri
World premiere

Out of My Hand - USA
By Takeshi Fukunaga
With Bishop Blay, Duke Murphy Dennis, Zenobia Kpoto
World premiere

Paridan az Ertefa Kam (A Minor Leap Down) – Iran / France
By Hamed Rajabi
With Negar Javaherian, Rambod Javan
World premiere

Petting Zoo – Germany / Greece / USA
By Micah Magee
With Devon Keller, Austin Reed, Deztiny Gonzales, Kiowa Tucker
World premiere

Pionery-geroi (Pioneer Heroes) – Russian Federation
By Natalia Kudryashova
With Natalia Kudryashova, Daria Moroz, Aleksei Mitin, Aleksandr Userdin
World premiere

Que Horas Ela Volta? (The Second Mother) - Brazil
By Anna Muylaert
European premiere

Sangailė (The Summer of Sangailé) – Lithuania / France / Netherlands
By Alanté Kavaïté
With Julija Steponaityté, Aiste Diržiute, Juraté Sodyté, Martynas Budraitis
European premiere

Sangue azul (Blue Blood) - Brazil
By Lirio Ferreira
With Daniel de Oliveira, Caroline Abras, Sandra Coverloni, Rômulo Braga
International premiere

Zui Sheng Meng Si (Thanatos, Drunk) - Taiwan
By Chang Tso-Chi
With Lee Hong-Chi, Chen Jen-Shuo, Huang Shang-Ho, Lu Hsueh-Feng, Wang Ching-Ting
World premiere