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 Bill Murray, Helen Mirren and Robert Pattinson. It’s surely good enough for you!
And why forsooth?
Because?
Because the 68th 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.
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, up and coming artists, and an opportunity to see, talk to, and take close-up pictures, of international stars in the movie world!
The public programme of the Berlinale shows about 400 films per year, mostly international or European premieres of every genre, length and format! Formats such as epic international cinema (Competition), independent art house (Panorama), films for a younger audience (Generation), new discoveries and promising talent from the German film scene (Perspektive Deutsches Kino), avant-garde, experimental cinematography (Forum / Forum Expanded), “exotic” cinema from the Weimar Republic / post World War I historical black and white documentary filming (Retrospective), film classics / rediscovered films(Berlinale Classics), cult films curated by the Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen (Homage), films about food (Culinary Cinema), art house cinemas within Berlin (Berlinale Goes Kiez), cinematic story-telling of Indigenous people around the world (NATIVe – A Journey into Indigenous Cinema), new and extraordinary productions via the honouring of influential cinema personalities, and short pieces (Berlinale Shorts).
The Berlin International Film Festival is a source of inspiration in the global film community, encouraging the influx of film programmes, workshops, panel discussions, joint projects, and other creative outlets and networking possibilities via the European Film Market (EFM), the Berlinale Co-Production Market, the Berlinale Talents which introduces high-profile professionals to 250 promising young international film makers, the World Cinema Fund (WCF) which provides financial support to film projects in countries with weak film infrastructure, and the Berlinale Residency programme which offers international directors, financial support and funding to live in Berlin for a few months, and to start their next film project.
I’m actually in the video above. This was the first “star” Press Conference at the Berlinale, and I’m standing right behind the journalist who asked Bryan Cranston that super interesting question!
You simply can’t go wrong!
That’s right.
From the 15th of February to the 25th February, 2018, Berlin will be packed solid, with members of the film industry.
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!
Read my beginners’ guide and find out how!
A BEGINNERS’ GUIDE TO THE BERLINALE / THE BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2018! OR ANY OTHER FILM FESTIVAL!!
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.
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 / publications in every cinema forum in the city. It’s free of charge. 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 Press Conferences and Photo Calls, 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!
Relax & check my social media feed about the Berlinale, on Twitter & Facebook!
USE SOCIAL MEDIA: The Berlinale is on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube – #Berlinale. You can also follow my Twitter 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.
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 – 15 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 n’ all that!
No seat is a dud in my opinion, but if you have preferred seating, or want to get comfy with the new plush seats available in some cinema venues, 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 19:30, and 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 some sort of ID card.
There’s also an exclusive ticket counter, only for punters with MasterCard!
TICKET PRICES: Berlinale tickets are generally between €4.00 – €20.00! 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 for Generation tickets, groups of at least 5 people or more, can buy their tickets at a cost of 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!
This year, a dedicated Press Screening Guide was made available. And it has been a godsend!
The press brochure / guide has information about press screenings, and other events that are available to accredited journalists and media representatives.
And I used the Press Screening Guide to the full!
Nevertheless, even press people have to organise themselves, as film tickets are only made available one (1) day prior, and so I found myself checking into the Grand Hyatt Berlin on a daily basis!
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 also managed to get 99% of the film tickets that I wanted. However, on the very last film festival day, I ended up buying another ticket at the cinema box office, as press tickets were in limited supply, and I really wanted to watch the Generation 14+ film – Adam!
All in all, I pretty much got every film ticket that I wanted.
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!
In my case, I aim for weird Asian films, obscure East European films, Anglo-American films with controversial topics, German films with a twist, 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 Bill Murray, Helen Mirren, Jeff Goldblum, Emily Watson, Bill Nighy, Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones), Robert Pattinson, Emily Mortimer (The Newsroom), Joaquin Phoenix, Rosamund Pike, Jim Broadbent, Tilda Swinton, Daniel Brühl, Mia Wasikowska, Liev Schreiber, Hugo Weaving and Ed Sheeran. Directors such as Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel), Idris Elba (Luther), Rupert Everett (The Importance of Being Earnest), Steven Soderbergh (the Ocean’s Trilogy), and other directors, producers, and actors.
Four 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, Richard Gere, Idris Elba, or Natalie Dormer, all that flies out of the window, and people start screaming!
The actors are always calm, professional and charming (especially George, Richard, Idris, & Natalie. 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 brilliant 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 / The Berlin International Film Festival 2018. Or any other Film Festival!!
Have you ever been to a film festival? What actor would you like to see on the Red Carpet? Let me know!
See you in Berlin.
If you have any questions send me a tweet, talk to me on Facebook, find me on Linkedin, make a comment below, look for me on Google+ or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com
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8 Comments on “A Beginners’ Guide to the Berlinale / The Berlin International Film Festival 2018. Or any other Film Festival!!”
Sounds and looks like it was a great time. Having lived in Hollywood for so many years, I think l am a bit jaded :-). I had a partner at work who would made it a tradition to run down the red carpet the night before the Oscars..lol! I would have liked to see Helen Mirren though. I think she’s quite cool. Some of these films sound interesting too.
Yeah, we’re not in that category, but definitely superior as far as independent movies are concerned, very “Up There!” Yep! Helen Mirren is my idol, right from the days of Prime Suspect. I only hope that I’ll look half as gorgeous as she does, in the years to come! 😀
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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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Sounds and looks like it was a great time. Having lived in Hollywood for so many years, I think l am a bit jaded :-). I had a partner at work who would made it a tradition to run down the red carpet the night before the Oscars..lol! I would have liked to see Helen Mirren though. I think she’s quite cool. Some of these films sound interesting too.
Thanks so much KemKem! Hoooooollywood. ‘Nice!
Yeah, we’re not in that category, but definitely superior as far as independent movies are concerned, very “Up There!” Yep! Helen Mirren is my idol, right from the days of Prime Suspect. I only hope that I’ll look half as gorgeous as she does, in the years to come! 😀
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