There are no obvious frontrunners going into the 73rd Berlinale. The 19 films selected by the team led by artistic director Carlo Chatrian are heavy on arthouse and international cinema, with a strong focus on movies with a strong political message.
The opening night film was She Came to Me written and directed by Rebecca Miller. Stars are Peter Dinklage, Marisa Tomey and Producer Anne Hathaway. Initial reviews are somewhat mixed but leaning towards the positive.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that many are beginning to believe that a U.S. theatrical distribution first is not necessary for films to financially succeed overseas. https://tinyurl.com/4yx65u38 If this is indeed the new trend, it would also lend support to those distributors that elect to do a one day limited theatrical distribution (for Oscar purposes) and then go to straight to streaming. It will be important to track the trend over the next two years.
EUROPEAN FILMS MARKET (Feb. 16 – 23)
One of the big events at Berlinale is the European Films Market where filmmakers get to seek buyers and regional distributors for their upcoming projects and already completed films.
Bleaker Street Announces Two Important U.S. Distribution Purchases
One: Mike Leigh is to begin shooting a new film in 2023 backed by Film4. As usual for Leigh no title is available nor plot details, cst, and anything else about the film. However since the project was first announced in 2020 and shelved for Covid there is hope that the film is father along than might be thought.
Two: The Return an historical epic based on Homer’s classic The Odyssey. Rumored for a couple of months, the film will reunite The English Patient stars, Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, after 27 years. Set to begin production this Spring in Greece and Italy a U.S. theatrical release is planned for 2024.
I’m choosing not to discuss the large number of other films being marketed at the European Films Market, preferring to wait until first glimpses come. An amazing number of screenings are set for over the next week.
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