And now, ladies and gents, the red carpet has been rolled out yet again, and Berlin has been hobnobbing with the best of the best. I mean, if it’s good enough for Richard Gere and Jonny Lee Miller of T2 Trainspotting. It’s surely good enough for you!
And why forsooth?
Because?
Because the 67th Berlin International Film Festival, otherwise known as the Berlinale, is in town!
Now for those of you interested in getting a piece of the action it’s quite easy.
WHAT IS THE BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL / BERLINALE?
My press pass at the Berlinale.
Well, the Berlinale is simply, the world’s largest public film festival which provides an audience of interested film-goers, a city full of excitement, a diverse cultural scene, fascinating new films, and an opportunity to see, talk to, and take close-up pictures, of international stars in the movie world!
From the 9th of February to the 19th February, 2017, Berlin will be packed solid with members of the film industry.
My heart swells when I know that Berlin is competing with the likes of other film festivals, in Cannes and Sundance.
Alright, not in the same category, but still. A festival to be proud of!
With more than four hundred (400) films, fifteen (15) categories sections, and more than half a million cinema visits, the Berlinale is not only an independent film festival with a difference, but also a film festival that ordinary people can actually visit.
A world international festival can sometimes be daunting, so I’m going to try and make it as easy as possible so that you too can participate. If you want to!
BE PREPARED: The Berlinale always takes place in February so get yourself on the mailing list of the Berlinale, so that you know when the official Berlinale programme is published.
USE THE INTERNET: There is a Berlinale homepage in both English and German. On the homepage is a Programme Section which also has a most valuable item called the programme planner. Use this item to search for films so that you have an idea of what you might want to see BEFORE the film festival begins.
Search for a programme at the Berlinale.
GET THE PROGRAMME: If you’re not entirely sure what each film is about, you can either download the pdf format or if you’re in Berlin (and why wouldn’t you be!), you can pretty much find the programme brochures in every cinema forum in the city. Just help yourself!
USE TECHNOLOGY: Not only can you use the programme planner for your personal searches but you can also get into the 21st century and, for the first time ever, download the Apps (for Android and iOS) which links into the programme planner so that you can mark your favourite film or event at home, or on the move, and still remain up-to-date across multiple devices. The app also provides Berlinale information about festival venues, festival events and an overview of festival video broadcasts, the Opening and Closing Gala, as well as all the fun on the Red Carpet!
USE SOCIAL MEDIA: The Berlinale is on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. You can also follow my titbits and little quips here! Not only that, but around the Potsdamer Platz Arcade, WiFi is available for 2 hours per day per person, and there are other WIFI hotspots scattered around in various venues. For free!
MAKE A LIST: Once you have a rough idea of what you want to see, go ahead and make a list. Don’t forget to put the date, the name of the film in it’s original language and in English, the venue, and the time. Then make a second list with different films. Just in case. And a third one too!
Look at the packed crowd for the World Premier of Es war einmal in Deutschland – Bye Bye Germany. Aim to arrive early!
CHECK THE FILM TIME: People get really excited when punters finally get the film of their dream and then discover soon after, that they can’t actually watch it ‘cos they’re still at a previous showing! Just because the film states a starting time of 20:00 doesn’t actually mean that it’s going to start at 20:00! Films start late, discussions over lap. Deal with it! I find that putting films three (3) hours apart generally leaves more than enough room to manoeuvre. So, if for example, a film starts at 09:30, the next film I book is at 12:30 and not anything less! Most films tend to last between 80 and 100 minutes but you want to give yourself time for overlaps and also for getting from A to B. Berlin’s public transport system is fantastic but you still have to wade your way through the crowds to get out of the venue itself, and then go downstairs to your next train station, not to talk of wading yourself through more crowds, at the next film venue!
LEAVE EARLY: Doors generally open 10 minutes before the film starts, so make sure you’re in the queue at least 20 minutes before the movie begins. If it’s a popular film, give yourself 30 minutes as there is no allocated seating. First come, first served. No seat is a dud in my opinion, but if you have preferred seating, then get there early.
This means that you’re going to have to gird your loins, get all your mates together and be smart and efficient. Each individual can only buy 2 tickets per film, except for Generation (children / youth films) which you can buy 4 tickets at a time, and Culinary Cinema film screenings at 7.30 pm, which you can buy as many as you like! You can of course, cross your fingers and buy on the day if tickets are available at the box office of the cinemas themselves. Ticket counters open daily from 10:00 to 20:00, with people forming a queue from as early as 08:00!
If you don’t feel up to being with the rabble, not a problem, use your fingers and go online to buy tickets at the Berlinale instead!
BUYING TICKETS ONLINE: If you don’t feel up to being with the hoi polloi, not a problem, use your fingers and go online instead! On the programme page is an online ticket icon. If you click on it, you’ll be directed to the online ticket shop but be warned, the other buyers are keen film-goers and pros. at this game. You’ll need firm fingers to keep clicking and refreshing in order to get those tickets. Or better still, allocate yourself an army of friends to help you.
You know how concert tickets sell out in 10 minutes? Yep! They use the same method. Friends! Mates! Neighbours! Everyone you know!
Grab a few friends to help you buy your Berlinale ticket!
If you click on the Online Tickets icon, you will automatically be forwarded to the website of the Berlinale ticketing partner – Eventim. You’ll have to create an Eventim account with an extra processing fee of €2.00 per ticket. You can also use a major credit card and the tickets will be delivered to you either by Email, on your mobile phone, or you can simply pick the tickets up at the Online Ticket Pick-up Counter in the Potsdamer Platz Arcade shopping centre, by showing your printed confirmation and ID card.
There’s an exclusive ticket counter only for punters with Mastercard!
TICKET PRICES: Berlinale tickets are generally between €4.00 – €22.00! A 50% discount is available for selected last-minute tickets and of course, if you’re a student, of school age, on welfare, etc, then a 50% discount on tickets are available too.
If you register by telephone, groups of at least 5 people for Generation tickets, cost just €2.50 each!
NO TICKET: If you still haven’t got the ticket you want, then go ahead and get any other film ticket instead!
The whole point of a film festival are the intriguing films that are made available. Every film has passed muster, and outside of your own personal preference, none of the films are duds. Go on live a little! If you’re still unsure, then go to the venue of your choice and either hold out a sign that you’re looking for an extra ticket, or look for individuals who might want to sell theirs. Don’t deal with touts though. If the individual looks nice enough and has 1 or 2 tickets rather than 20, and is willing to sell it at market price, or even cheaper, then go for it!
WATCH YOUR THROAT: After watching quite a few films, the throat does tend to take a bit of a beating as the rooms can get a bit dry, so arm yourself with water and cough drops. Take a scarf too, in case the air-con is at full blast!
PRESS: If you’re a press person, you should have been through the accreditation process and have your badge and Berlinale gift bag! Nevertheless, even press people have to organise themselves, as tickets are only made available one (1) day prior, and so I found myself checking into the Grand Hyatt Berlin on a daily basis!
After a hard day at the Berlinale, surely I deserve a glass of champagne!
On the other hand, free water, free coffee (Ouch!) free WiFi, a press room, comfy seats and a quick means of getting all the press stuff and press tickets that you need, are provided.
Everyone has been so helpful and kind and because I’m now a pro. I’ve gotten each and every film ticket that I have wanted so far.
BE OPEN TO A NEW EXPERIENCE: I love going to film festivals and one of the main reasons is that in many cases, the films that you get to see at such events will never be shown at regular cinemas, or ever at all! I mean, I hardly doubt that a weird Canadian story about a young teenager obsessed with catching fish, a Yiddish ultra-orthodox Hasidic Jewish community based in New York, or a film set in a rural village of Tibetan-India where an old man diagnosed with lung cancer, sets out to build his own grave, is going to be shown at a local cinema near you!
I really don’t think so!
In my case, I aim for weird Asian films, obscure East European films, Anglo-American films with controversial topics, and films over issues that I would never usually go for ‘cos they’re just not shown at your local flick!
STAY FOR Q&A: The beauty of an international film festival or any film festival at all, is that everyone tends to be there. You get stars such as Richard Gere, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), Gillian Anderson (Scully),Chloë Sevigny, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting), Timothy Spall, Steeve Coogan, Cillian Murphy, Sibel Kekili (Game of Thrones), Moritz Bleibtreu, Jason Issacs (Harry Potter), and Geoffrey Rush. Directors such as Stanley Tucci (The Hunger Games), Danny Boyle (Trainspotting & Slum Dog Millionaire), Gurinder Chadh (Bend it like Beckham), and other directors, producers, actors.
In fact, everyone!
Helena Bonham-Carter sat behind me at the Berlinale,and I hadn’t even noticed, until she got up to go to the front of the stage!
Three years ago, Helena Bonham-Carter sat behind me and I hadn’t even noticed, until she got up to go to the front of the stage!
Actors, directors and producers tend to go out to the front and apart from staring at them really closely, you can ask them questions about their films or their thoughts, surrounding that film. And being that this is Berlin, everyone’s really chilled and not freaking out, or going crazy!
If there’s a hottie on the red carpet like George Clooney, Jonny Lee Miller or Richard Gere, all that flies out of the window, and people start screaming!
The actors are always calm, professional and charming (especially George & Richard. We’re on first name basis now of course..!) but the audience just lose themselves with star-lust, over-whelmingness, or the fact that film premier tickets can sell out surprisingly quickly, and not be found for love or money. If you didn’t know somebody, who knew somebody, who knew somebody, way up there, chances were, you wouldn’t get a look in!
The atmosphere once you get indoors, really is comforting and quite frankly, it’s nice.
This article is not sponsored and even though I received press tickets, all opinions and the excellent festival films that I chose, are my very, very own!
It’s February!
I have so much to share with you.
Next week, I’ll be reviewing the films that I saw at the Berlinale.
Please note that there are now affiliate links (for the very first time) connected to this post. Please consider using the links, because every time some sort of accommodation or travel insurance is booked via my links I get a little percentage, but at no extra cost to yourself!
A win-win for all!
Thanks a million!
A Beginners’ Guide to the Berlinale, otherwise known as the Berlin International Film Festival 2017!
Have you ever been to a film festival? What actor would you like to see in real life? Let me know!
See you in Berlin.
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13 Comments on “A Beginners’ Guide to the Berlinale, otherwise known as the Berlin International Film Festival 2017!”
I am so jealous! I love film festivals and when we lived in London I used to hit up the Film 4 Fright Fest, Sci Fi Film Festival, BFI Film Festival and Human Rights Festival each year. I would watch at least a couple of films at each and I loved the Q&As. Sadly, nothing like that here in Thailand 🙁 Glad you had a great time, there have been some amazing films out recently, luckily we can catch some of them here in Chiang Mai for just £2 per person!
Thanks so much Amy!
London is great for film festivals especially Film 4 and BFI. I’m so lucky to be living in Berlin and having just as much access! And it’s true. One of the best aspects of any film festival is the Q&A, and getting to see the stars, directors, producers, cast, etc in the flesh. And for many, they, are just as delighted. In fact, sometimes even amazed to have been invited to show their films to huge-filled rooms in Berlin! I was at a Japanese/Taiwan film World Premier showing last night. The film started at 22:00, and was still packed to the brim. In fact, most of us had to run to get the last trains after, but it was so worth a late Monday night showing! 🙂
p.s. £2 per person for a box office flick is awesome!
Wow. I used to love going to the movie portion of the SXSW festival back in Austin when I was a teenager but that was like nothing compared to the massive scale of Berlinale. Seems the more I learn about this city, the more awesome it gets. Have fun enjoying a few new films! 🙂
Thanks so much Derek!
The Berlinale isn’t Cannes of course, but as far as independent and “real” international films are concerned, it’s a pretty huge deal. I mean, I can’t tell you how many Chinese, Japanese & Brazilian films I’ve seen in the last week alone. And last night I saw a Yiddish film based in Brooklyn. And tomorrow, I’m hoping to see a black & white film about 2 Jewish Holocaust survivors who return to Hungary in 1945. It’s my last chance as all the tickets (including that of the press) have sold out!
You so won’t see any of these items at your typical blockbuster flick, and that’s what makes the Berlinale so exciting. 🙂
p.s. Berlin is the place to be!
Thanks so much Victor! Me too. And with the press conferences depending on how “top profile” they are. You can. Easier with the German stars of course…! 🙂
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I'm a British girl from Manchester living in Berlin with my German husband and my half British – half German son.
My blog is a lifestyle expat travel blog and puts a focus on my promotion of culture, history, travels around the world, Europe, Brexit, the Royal Family, British-German life and being British in Berlin - I am The British Berliner!
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I am so jealous! I love film festivals and when we lived in London I used to hit up the Film 4 Fright Fest, Sci Fi Film Festival, BFI Film Festival and Human Rights Festival each year. I would watch at least a couple of films at each and I loved the Q&As. Sadly, nothing like that here in Thailand 🙁 Glad you had a great time, there have been some amazing films out recently, luckily we can catch some of them here in Chiang Mai for just £2 per person!
Thanks so much Amy!
London is great for film festivals especially Film 4 and BFI. I’m so lucky to be living in Berlin and having just as much access! And it’s true. One of the best aspects of any film festival is the Q&A, and getting to see the stars, directors, producers, cast, etc in the flesh. And for many, they, are just as delighted. In fact, sometimes even amazed to have been invited to show their films to huge-filled rooms in Berlin! I was at a Japanese/Taiwan film World Premier showing last night. The film started at 22:00, and was still packed to the brim. In fact, most of us had to run to get the last trains after, but it was so worth a late Monday night showing! 🙂
p.s. £2 per person for a box office flick is awesome!
Wow. I used to love going to the movie portion of the SXSW festival back in Austin when I was a teenager but that was like nothing compared to the massive scale of Berlinale. Seems the more I learn about this city, the more awesome it gets. Have fun enjoying a few new films! 🙂
Thanks so much Derek!
The Berlinale isn’t Cannes of course, but as far as independent and “real” international films are concerned, it’s a pretty huge deal. I mean, I can’t tell you how many Chinese, Japanese & Brazilian films I’ve seen in the last week alone. And last night I saw a Yiddish film based in Brooklyn. And tomorrow, I’m hoping to see a black & white film about 2 Jewish Holocaust survivors who return to Hungary in 1945. It’s my last chance as all the tickets (including that of the press) have sold out!
You so won’t see any of these items at your typical blockbuster flick, and that’s what makes the Berlinale so exciting. 🙂
p.s. Berlin is the place to be!
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I’d like not just to see, but to drink a glass of wine and speak with Sean Connery.
Thanks so much Victor! Me too. And with the press conferences depending on how “top profile” they are. You can. Easier with the German stars of course…! 🙂
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