The 53rd Berlin Film Festival kicked off on Thursday night with the hit musical Chicago.
The movie's stars Richard Gere, Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones all jetted into the German capital for the screening. And Renee poured cold water on rumours that she and her Welsh-born co-star didn't get along, by throwing her arm around Catherine and saying: "I love this girl, I mean, what's not to love?". Catherine, who is seven months pregnant, happily added: "We're our own best enemies!".
The Chicago cast are due to be joined by a host of other stars as the festival gathers pace. Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Ed Harris will all be arriving for the event, which coincides with next week's announcement of the Oscar nominations.
Festival director Dieter Kosslick says he wants the event to reflect international issues and not simply copy US award ceremonies, however. The gathering's Panorama and Forum sections will this year concentrate on films about the Middle East. "It cannot always be about champagne and kiss-kiss," said Dieter.
The contenders for the prestigious Golden Bear award include Steven Soderbergh's sci-fi flick Solaris, starring George Clooney, and Spike Jonzes' Adaptation. George's directorial debut, Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, is also shortlisted, along with Michael Winterbottom's In This World. The latter, a gritty look at the plight of Afghan refugees trying to reach Britain, is the only UK contender.
In all 22 films are competing for the prize, which will be decided by a seven-member panel chaired by Canadian director Atom Egoyan. The gong will be awarded on February 15.
There will also be opportunities for some of the less well-known guests at the festival. Five hundred young filmmakers are to be given the chance to participate in workshops with iconic star Dennis Hopper and the acclaimed German director Wim Wenders.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
