The British Berliner
A lifestyle expat travel blog about culture, history, Brexit, the Royal Family, travels around the world, Europe, and being British in Berlin!
Spring At Last!
It’s Spring.
At last.
Thank goodness!
Now I know what you’re thinking.
It’s Germany.
Winter happens.
There’s snow, frost and ice.
Nope!
I’m sorry to tell you but for the last 20 years, that hasn’t always been the case!
I’m a winter baby so snow is my thing!
Having said that, it isn’t that we don’t get snow anymore.
We do, but nowadays, it’s quite unpredictable with a few days of snowflakes, or no snow at all!
And 12 years ago, we had a winter that simply wouldn’t go away.
Even I was fed up with, it ‘cos it was Easter!
We’ve even had snow in May!
If ever there was evidence of climate change, that was surely it.
In fact, 2021 was a case in point.
We had no snow in January and February, then come March there was snow everywhere, and all my baby vegetables and budding flowers, all died!
I know.
Everyone had warned me to hold off planting stuff in the garden, but I wouldn’t listen and spent most of February running in and out of the garden, with blankets and pillowcases!
Not for me you understand.
But for my darling plants!
It was tragic!
It’s March now, and in the last couple of weeks, we’ve had snow every second or third day!
Enough!
It’s gone on for far too long!
And I despair!
I despair I tell you!
I despair ‘cos I want to do some gardening!
But it’s been far too early.
I know.
I sound like such a bore, but before the travel season really kicks off, I thought I might do something to cheer you all up.
So I started the gardening process.
WHAT’S THE GARDENING PROCESS?
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Germany – April 2021
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Germany – April 2021
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Germany – March 2023
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Germany – March 2023
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – London – 2017
You know the drill.
Grass all mowed.
Leaves raked and gathered away.
Flowers sorted out.
Last years’ herbs given the once-over.
Fruit trees thoroughly pruned
While we still have the chance …
Clearing!
Weeding!
Pruning!
Cutting!
Planting!
We’re ready.
‘Cos Spring is here.
At last!
p.s. King Charles is coming to visit Berlin. And I will be there to talk about it on Thursday, 30th March 2023 – Do 30.03.2023 | 19:30 – 20:00 – between 7.30pm – 8p.m – for a few minutes on TV!
What more do you need to know?
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If you’re not in Berlin, you’re boring!
Eek!
It’s Spring. Time to Get Away. Yeah! Use this link to save at least 15% or more, on your dream destination if you book now. Stay anytime before 28 September, 2023!
Minimum 15% saving available on new accommodation bookings at participating properties indicated by the
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Spring At Last!
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Berlin – May 2020
That’s it for now.
Thank you so much everyone. I really appreciate it lots.
All content will continue to remain free of charge but if you feel like buying me a cup of tea, I will graciously accept!
Don’t forget, please SHARE this post!
Cheers!
Spring At Last!
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DISCLOSURE!
Please note that The British Berliner is a participant in affiliate programmes designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Booking.com. In short, every time a Booking.com service is used, booked, and paid for via my link, I get a little percentage, but at no extra cost to yourself!
A win-win for all!
So what are you waiting for?
Thanks a million!
Do you agree? Is Spring here? Are YOUR flowers and plants prepared? Let me know in the comments below!
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 or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com
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And then I saw a film in 2023!
And it’s a wrap!
The Berlinale, otherwise known as – the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival is done!
And what a wonderful time we all had!
We had a long, fantastic fortnight of films, films, and yes more films!
And let me tell you.
As ever.
It was interesting stuff!
So let’s get on with it shall we?
©Diego Castro for Berlinale Shorts
Berlin has been hobnobbing (safely) with the best.
I mean, if it’s good enough for Steven Spielberg, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Cate Blanchett, Peter Dinklage and Sean Penn!
It’s surely good enough for you!
This year, I had to fly to England for a pre-engagement so was only able to watch a minimum number of films.
All the same, in the flurry of excitement and talented art, I managed to watch a mere twelve (12) films in just ten (10) days.
Twelve!
I admit.
I’m awfully sad!
©Alexander Janetzko / Berlinale 2023
©Alexander Janetzko / Berlinale 2023
Here are the films that I watched:
- Atmapamphlet | Autobio-Pamphlet
- Back
- Blackberry
- Dearest Fiona
- Les Chenilles
- Marungka Tjalatjunu | Dipped in Black
- Ming tian bi zuo tian chang jiu | Tomorrow is a Long Time
- Mutt
- Mwanamke Makueni | A Woman in Makueni | Eine Frau in Makueni
- She Came to Me
- The Veiled City
- The Waiting | Das Warten
In my opinion, every film was brilliant, and none were duds!
FILMS I REALLY, REALLY LIKED!
©Peter Himsel, David Ausserhofer and Jack Hare for Berlinale Talents
I’m very into British, Irish, Asian and East European films, as they’re all quite gritty, weird and obscure.
If you’re really into independent or international films, then the following list will please you, and whet your appetite, for good quality film-making.
Films that don’t need to worry about whether the audience will “get it” or appeal to 12-year-old boys.
In short, intelligent films!
Here goes:
©Budgie Films Inc.
©Satyajeet Shobha Shriram
©Protagonist Pictures
©Other Pictures
©Fiona Tan, Antithesis Films
FILMS THAT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN, BUT DIDN’T!
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Berlin – February 2023
- #Manhole
- 8
- 100 Years of Disney Animation – a Shorts Celebration
- A Greyhound of a Girl | Mary, Tansey und die Reise in die Nacht
- A Kind of Testament
- A Lover & Killer of Colour
- Adentro mío estoy bailando | The Klezmer Project
- AI: African Intelligence
- Al Murhaqoon | The Burdened
- And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine
- Ararat
- Arkitekten | The Architect
- Art College 1994
- Au cimetière de la pellicule | The Cemetery of Cinema
- Bai Ta Zhi Guang | The Shadowless Tower | Der schattenlose Turm
- Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker
- Concrete Valley
- Der Kampf um den heiligen Baum | The Battle of the Sacred Tree
- Desperté con un sueño | I Woke Up With a Dream | Auch wenn ich nicht viel sage
- Drifter
- Eeva
- Ein Herbst im Ländchen Bärwalde
- El castillo | The Castle
- El eco | The Echo | Das Echo
- El secuestro de la novia | The Kidnapping of the Bride | Die Brautentführung
- Elaha
- From Fish to Moon
- Gehen und Bleiben | Leaving and Staying
- Geranien | On Mothers and Daughters
- Helt super | Just Super | Sowas von super!
- Here
- Home Invasion
- Horse Opera
- Inside
- Între revoluții | Between Revolutions
- Irgendwann werden wir uns alles erzählen | Someday We’ll Tell Each Other Everything
- It’s a Date
- Jill, Uncredited
- Kara Kafa | Black Head
- Kiss the Future
- Kokomo City
- La herida luminosa | Daydreaming So Vividly About Our Spanish Holidays
- L’Amour du monde | Longing for the World
- Le mura di Bergamo | The Walls of Bergamo
- Le Paradis | The Lost Boys
- Llamadas desde Moscú | Calls from Moscow
- Love to Love You, Donna Summer
- Knochen und Namen | Bones and Names
- Manodrome
- Mirror Mirror
- Nomades du nucléaire | Nuclear Nomads | Atomnomaden
- Or de vie | A Golden Life
- Ours | Bear | Bär
- Passages
- Past Lives
- Poznámky z Eremocénu | Notes from Eremocene
- Qin Mi | Daughter and Son
- Rue Cases-Nègres | Sugar Cane Alley
- Samsara
- Seneca | Seneca – On the Creation of Earthquakes
- Sieben Winter in Teheran | Seven Winters in Tehran
- Sira
- Sonne und Beton | Sun and Concrete
- Stille Liv | The Quiet Migration
- Subete no Yoru wo Omoidasu | Remembering Every Night
- Superpower
- Sweet As
- Terra Mater | Mother Land
- The Fabelmans | Die Fabelmans
- The Survival of Kindness | Das Überleben der Freundlichkeit
- This Is the End
- W Ukrainie | In Ukraine
- Wann wird es endlich wieder so, wie es nie war | When Will It Be Again Like It Never Was Before
- Why Try to Change Me Now
- Wo De Peng You | All Tomorrow’s Parties
- Xue Yun | Absence
- Zeevonk | Sea Sparkle
In watching a festival film, you get to see a large variety of international locations and settings, and a better intimate view with acting and scenes, that are much more realistic than in films with a Hollywood budget!
The Berlin International Film Festival, otherwise known as the Berlinale, is a special treat for the public.
What more do you need to know?
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If you’re not in Berlin, you’re boring!
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It’s a New Year. We’ve made it! Use this link to save at least 15% on discounted stays throughout 2023, when you book before 31 March 2023!
“Early 2023 Deals” bookings must be made before 11:59pm on 31/03/23 for stays with check-in from 01/01/23 and check-out on or before 31/03/23. Discount applies to the cost of room only (excluding any additional fees or taxes). If you make any changes to your booking you may lose your discount and be liable for the full amount. Discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotions.
Booking.comAnd then I saw a film in 2023!
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Berlin – May 2020
That’s it for now.
Thank you so much everyone. I really appreciate it lots.
All content will continue to remain free of charge but if you feel like buying me a cup of tea, I will graciously accept!
Don’t forget, please SHARE this post!
Cheers!
And then I saw a film in 2023!
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DISCLOSURE!
Please note that The British Berliner is a participant in affiliate programmes designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Booking.com. In short, every time a Booking.com service is used, booked, and paid for via my link, I get a little percentage, but at no extra cost to yourself!
A win-win for all!
So what are you waiting for?
Thanks a million!
Would you watch any of these films? Let me know in the comments below!
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 or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com
If you like this post, please Share it! Tweet it! Or Like it!
The 2023 Berlin Film Festival is back – Yay!
Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin / Claudia Schramke, Berlin
OMG!
It’s back!
What’s back you might ask?
Pleeeeease!
As if you didn’t already know!
The red carpet has again been rolled out Berlin is about to (safely) hobnob with the best of the best.
I mean, if it’s good enough for Steven Spielberg, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, Cate Blanchett, Peter Dinklage and Sean Penn!
It’s surely good enough for you!
And why forsooth?
Because films!
Source: Deutsche Kinemathek, Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC
One of my favourite things to look forward to is the Berlinale, otherwise known as – the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival!
My heart swells, when I think how proud I am that Berlin is able to compete with the likes of other film festivals, such as Cannes, and Sundance.
Alright.
Not in the same category
But still.
In my opinion, a festival to be proud of!
With more than five hundred (500) films, fourteen (14) 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.
In 2022, I was finally comfortable enough to attend the Berlinale once again, ‘cos …
You know …
Crowds!
Suffice to say, the Film Festival is back!
Now ‘cos I live in Berlin and I’m considered to be media, I was invited to pre-Press Screenings so that we got to see some of the films in January!
I’m a very busy person so I’ve only seen about 10 films so far!
The Berlinale!
Tickets are on sale from Monday, February 13, 2023 so if you haven’t already started booking, do so now!
Tickets will go out online, and will be available three days in advance, from 10.00 am!
They can be booked (subject to availability) up until the screening starts but once the film begins, you won’t be allowed in!
They’re doing everything they can to make it as safe as possible, so there’s an updated way of booking tickets, and an updated hygiene concept!
For how to book your ticket, see below!
The Berlinale Programme
Buy tickets!
If you click on the Online Tickets icon via the programme page, you will automatically be forwarded to the website of the Berlinale ticketing partner – Eventim.
You’ll have to create an “Eventim” Account ‘cos you can’t actually buy a ticket without it!
There is no processing fee, so what you see is what you pay!
You can use any major credit card and tickets will be delivered to you by Email, or on your mobile phone!
Booked tickets will be sent to the email address that you specified, via the first initial login.
A maximum of 2 tickets can be purchased per person.
If the ticket you want is no longer available, try again later, as additional tickets may occasionally be made available, for films previously marked “sold out!”
Oh, and you need to be at least 18 years old to watch any festival film (except for Generation screenings)!
How much do tickets cost?
Ticket prices vary depending on when you buy the ticket and what category of film you want to watch!
Berlinale tickets are generally between €6.00 – €18.00!
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.
Oh, and you need to be at least 18 years old to watch any festival film (except for Generation screenings)!
Ticket prices from February 13 to 26
- All Screenings (unless otherwise stated) – €15.00
- All screenings at Berlinale Palast and Berlinale Special Gala premieres at Verti Music Hall – €18.00
- Generation – All screenings including on Berlinale Publikumstag – €6.00
- Forum Expanded / Exhibition silent green – €9.00
- Berlinale Talents / Public Talks HAU1 – €15.00
- Berlinale Talents / Public Talks HAU2 & HAU3 – €13.00
- Berlinale Publikumstag / All screenings on February 26 – €11.00
- Tickets for the Berlinale Goes Kiez screening in Plötzensee prison can be booked by phone from February 13 on +49 30 259 20 259
Ticket prices on February 26 – On The Last Day!
Berlinale Publikumstag / All screenings on February 26 – €11.00
Generation – All screenings – €6.00
Discounts for Same-Day Online Tickets!
A 50% discount is available for selected last-minute tickets. (1 Euro discount
for Generation screenings)
If you’re a student, of school age, on welfare, etc. then a 50% discount on tickets are available too.
Subject to availability from 8.00 am on the day of screening!
How do I pay for my ticket?
Tickets can be paid for by three major credit cards – Mastercard, Visa, and American Express – or by instant bank transfer (Sofortüberweisung).
Please note that once you’ve bought your ticket, it isn’t possible to make changes or return tickets, so choose wisely!
I don’t have a 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.
So go on, live a little!
Children!
You can buy as many tickets as you want for Generation screenings.
Tickets cost just €6.00!
p.s. Sniff around, as you might also be able to get 1 Euro discounts for Generation screenings too!
Hygiene /Covid-19 Regulations!
The Berlinale is doing everything they can to make film screenings as safe as possible, and recomends wearing an FFP2 mask.
Please stay at home if you don’t feel well.
And obviously, I shouldn’t have to say this, but continue to wash & sanitise your hands!
For more information, on the Berlinale Protection and Hygiene Policy
Please click here!
© Viera Čákanyová
This year, the Berlinale will take place between 16th February – 26th February 2023.
Ten whole days of film glory!
What more do you need to know?
Follow The British Berliner on Twitter!
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At the time of writing, we weren’t allowed to publish reviews, so all I can tell you is that it’s going to be refreshing, & most engaging!
Bring it on!
Eek!
It’s a New Year. We’ve made it! Use this link to save at least 15% on discounted stays throughout 2023, when you book before 31 March 2023!
“Early 2023 Deals” bookings must be made before 11:59pm on 31/03/23 for stays with check-in from 01/01/23 and check-out on or before 31/03/23. Discount applies to the cost of room only (excluding any additional fees or taxes). If you make any changes to your booking you may lose your discount and be liable for the full amount. Discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotions.
Booking.comThe 2023 Berlin Film Festival is back – Yay!
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Berlin – May 2020
That’s it for now.
Thank you so much everyone. I really appreciate it lots.
All content will continue to remain free of charge but if you feel like buying me a cup of tea, I will graciously accept!
Don’t forget, please SHARE this post!
Cheers!
The 2023 Berlin Film Festival is back – Yay!
Tweet
DISCLOSURE!
Please note that The British Berliner is a participant in affiliate programmes designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Booking.com. In short, every time a Booking.com service is used, booked, and paid for via my link, I get a little percentage, but at no extra cost to yourself!
A win-win for all!
So what are you waiting for?
Thanks a million!
Do you like films? Let me know in the comments below!
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 or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com
Image Berlinale
If you like this post, please Share it! Tweet it! Or Like it!
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