Berlin International Film Festival
(February 6-17)

The first half of the Competition program for the 52nd Berlin International Film Festival (6 - 17 February 2002) is now certain and includes films from the USA, Europe and Asia. Among these first 14 entries, there will be seven world premieres. Screenings to select the remaining Competition films for the Berlinale 2002 will continue into late January.

The young US director Wes Anderson will take part in the Competition with his film The Royal Tenenbaums starring Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Stiller. Another US Competition entry is Monster's Ball by Swiss-born director Marc Forster. Peter Boyle, Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry star in this drama about hate and racism.

Robert Altman's English-American-German co-production Gosford Park will be shown in a special out-of competition screening. Gosford Park is a historical drama about a mysterious murder in England in the 1930's.

Two Asian films have been invited to participate: Chinese director Zhang Yimou is taking part in the Berlinale's Competition program for the third time. His film, Happy Time, is running out of competition. It portrays the odyssey of an older man on his quest for love and happiness and stars Zhao Ben-shan and Dong Jie.

From Korea, Na-Bbun-Nam-Ja (Bad Guy) - internationally celebrated director Kim Ki-duk's most recent film - will be participating in the Competition. Bad Guy depicts the fatal encounter between a gang leader in the red light district and a young woman college student. This film stars Cho Jae-Hyun and Seo Won.

Once again European cinema will be well represented: From Denmark, the world premiere of Små Ulykker (Minor Mishaps) is running in the Competition. The young director Annette K. Olesen tells of the big and small mishaps in a family who despite all differences works things out. Olesen has cast Jorgen Kiil, Vigga Bro and Maria Würgler Rich in her film.

French grand master Bertrand Tavernier will be presenting Laissez-Passer in the Competition. He examines the story of "Continental ", a German film production company, which produced French films during the occupation in Paris. His protagonists are torn between active resistance and docile submission to the regime. Jacques Gamblin, Denis Podalydès and Marie Gillain play the leading roles in this tragicomic story.

The Competition will also present the world premiere of Otar Iosseliani's Lundi Matin. The film tells the tale of a factory worker in the French provinces, who one day breaks out of the daily drudgery of work and family life, and takes off on a journey. Jacques Bidou, Arrigo Mozzo and Anne Kravz-Tarnavsky co-star in this film.

With the world premiere of 8 Femmes, French director François Ozon is participating for the second time in the Berlinale Competition. His cast includes France's most famous actresses: Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Béart, Fanny Ardant, Virginie Ledoyen, Danielle Darrieux, Ludivine Sagnier and Firmine Richard. Based on Robert Thomas' stage play, Ozon has created a dramatic comedy about the mutual suspicions and recriminations after a murder in a large family.

Constantin Costa-Gavras' Amen is based on Rolf Hochhuth's sensational stage play "Der Stellvertreter" (The Deputy), Costa-Gavras addresses the topic of the concordat which was reached between the Catholic Church and the Nazi regime. The Competition is presenting the world premiere of Amen, featuring Ulrich Tukur, Mathieu Kassovitz and Ulrich Mühe in the leading roles.

Moral questions of guilt and docile submission to National Socialism are also the focus of Istvan Szabó's Taking Sides, which is being screened out of competition. Szabó portrays the investigations in the denazification proceedings for conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler who, on the one hand, had supported Nazi cultural propaganda while, on the other, had aided individuals persecuted by the regime.

In addition to Tom Tykwer's film Heaven, which as announced earlier will open the Berlinale, another German film will present its world premiere at the Competition: Dominik Graf's Der Felsen (A Map of the Heart). Karoline Eichhorn, Peter Lohmeyer and the young actor Antonio Wannek co-star in this film. The film recounts the tale of a woman who, after a painful separation, loses her hold on everything, and her very existence evolves into a dangerous balancing act.

Wim Wenders' documentary film Viel Passiert - Der BAP Film will be shown as a world premiere at a special out-of competition screening. Wenders takes movie-goers off on a voyage in time to the most important stations in the career of this famous Cologne rock band.

Selected Films

The Royal Tenenbaums by Wes Anderson (US), with Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller.

Monster's Ball by (Swiss-born) Marc Forster (US), with Peter Boyle, Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry.

Gosford Park by Robert Altman (an English-American-German co-production), with Emily Watson, Kristin Scott-Thomas, Alan Bates, Helen Mirren. Altman's first production in England will be shown in a special out-of competition screening.

Happy Time by Zhang Yimou (China), with Zhao Ben-shan, Dong Jie. Out of competition.

Na-Bbun-Nam-Ja (Bad Guy) by Kim Ki-duk (Korea), with Cho Jae-Hyun, Seo Won.

Sma Ulykker (Minor Mishaps) by Annette K. Olesen (Denmark), with Jorgen Kiil, Vigga Bro, Maria Würgler Rich.

Laissez-Passer by Bertrand Tavernier (France), with Jacques Gamblin, Denis Podalydès, Marie Gillain.

Lundi Matin by Otar Iosseliani, with Jacques Bidou, Arrigo Mozzo, Anne Kravz-Tarnavsky.

8 Femmes by François Ozon (France), with Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Beart, Fanny Ardant, Virginie Ledoyen, Danielle Darrieux, Ludivine Sagnier, Firmine Richard.

Amen by Constantin Costa-Gavras (based on Rolf Hochhuth's stage play Der Stellvertreter / The Deputy), with Ulrich Tukur, Mathieu Kassovitz, Ulrich Mühe.

Taking Sides by Istvan Szabo, with Harvey Keitel, Stellan Skarsgard and Moritz Bleibtreu.

In addition to Tom Tykwer's film Heaven, which will open the Berlinale, another German film will present its world premiere at the Competition: Dominik Graf's Der Felsen (A Map of the Heart), staring Karoline Eichhorn, Peter Lohmeyer, Antonio Wannek. Wim Wenders' documentary film Viel Passiert - Der BAP Film will be shown at a special out-of competition screening.