At the start of the Berlinale, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj made an emotional appeal to filmmakers and artists to support his country following the Russian attack. “Can art stay out of politics?” Selenskyj asked via video link at the opening gala tonight. The question is now extremely important once more.
Both the festival organizers and the German Minister of State for Culture, Claudia Roth, pledged solidarity with Ukraine. The audience gave Selenskyj a standing ovation.
In his video speech, the former actor emphasized that cinema and film can overcome barriers, both real and ideological. He recalled Wim Wenders’ film “Der Himmel über Berlin”, which anticipated the end of the division of Germany. Today it is Russia that is building a new wall in Ukraine. “It’s a wall between freedom and slavery,” said Zelenskyy.
Sean Penn shows Ukraine film
Before Selenskyj’s speech, the US actor and director Sean Penn, who is showing his film “Superpower” at the Berlinale, also spoke at the opening gala. Penn began filming alongside fellow actor Aaron Kaufman in Ukraine in early 2021. During filming on February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine. The film then turned out very differently than planned, said Penn.
The Berlinale, which is one of the most important international film festivals along with Cannes and Venice, ends on February 26th. 19 films are in the running for the Golden Bear. The comedy “She Came to Me” by director Rebecca Miller was selected as the opening film. Jury President Kristen Stewart will decide together with other filmmakers at the end. The Berlinale wants to show a total of around 280 films in around a week and a half.
