Winter's "Coolest" Festivals

Focus on Berlinale 2001
• February 9 - 18 (Germany)

On the festival circuit since 1951, Berlin is known for bucking the trends and setting its own. Unlike most European festivals, which bemoan le Blockbuster (Cannes comes to mind), Berlin embraces Hollywood but maintains an international esprit. Last year its top honor, the Golden Bear, went to Magnolia by Paul Thomas Anderson, while the Silver Bear went to The Road Home by Zhang Yimou. During the two weeks of the festival, Potsdamer Platz transforms itself into a hotbed of cinema activity. The festival features a competition section and several sidebars, including The Forum, The Panorama, Retrospectives, Kinderfilmfest (a children's film festival), and a New German Films section.

Hedwig and The Believer lead Sundance Awards
• January 18 - 28 (Park City)

The winners of the 2001 Sundance Film Festival were announced in an awards ceremony January 27, 2001 in Park City, Utah. Henry Bean's The Believer, the dramatic tale of a religious boy-turned-Nazi skinhead won the Grand Jury Prize, while Zhang Yimou's festival hit The Road Home won the World Cinema audience award, and Hediwg and the Angry Inch won the general Audience Award.

Rotterdam Bestows VPRO Tiger Awards
• Jan 24 - Feb 4 (Netherlands)

The winning films of the 30th International Film Festival were announced February 4. The winners in the VPRO Tiger Award Competition for first or second features were Bad Company by Furumaya Tomoyuki of Japan (also won the FIPRESCI prize), In Den Tag Hinein (The Days Between) by Maria Speth of Germany, and 25 Watts by Juan Pablo Rebella & Pablo Stoll of Uruguay.