Coen Brothers’ True Grit Opens Berlin Film Festival 2011

The Berlin International Film Festival, or if you prefer – the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals, and something that's definitely worth our attention. And if you thought we were going to miss this spectacle – you were wrong, because we're also curious to find out who will return home with the Golden and Silver Bears statues! The 2011 Berlin film festival opens tonight with the Coen brothers‘ Western remake True Grit, so let's get started. We all know, this remake of a 1969 classic Western, is already a nominee in even 10 categories, including best picture for the upcoming Oscar. And, by the way the filmmaking team Joel and Ethan Cohen also earned Oscar nods as best director. The remake is already out in North America and so is not eligible for prizes at the closing ceremony on February 19, but it will screen out of competition today. While we're still here at this title, let me remind you that Jeff Bridges is a nominee for his starring role as U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn, a role made famous by John Wayne, while fourteen-year-old Hailee Steinfeld is nominated for her supporting role in the film.

10-day program also includes Ralph Fiennes‘ debut as a director Coriolanus, the upcoming war movie starring Ralph Fiennes and Gerard Butler and J.C. Chandor's finance thriller Margin Call with Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany and Jeremy Irons. This year, the festival aims to promote 3D, with the premieres of Wim Wender‘s 3D dance film Pina about choreographer Pina Bausch and Werner Herzog‘s Caves of Forgotten Dreams about prehistoric paintings in France, pretty straightforward documentary – only in 3D. In competition that would be French director Michel Ocelot‘s 3D film Tales of the Night. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXpFD7gi8R0[/youtube] Wim Wenders' Pina Trailer The four new selections out of competition all represent Europe. They include the new film by Austrian director Wolfgang Murnberger – My Best Enemy, Unknown, by Jaume Collet-Serra starring Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger and Bruno Ganz and Service Entrance by Philippe Le Guay, starring Fabrice Lucchini, Sandrine Kiberlain and Carmen Maura. Ok, you can see the rest of this list below, but let's not forget one of the most interesting things at this year's Berlinale – the absent Jafar Panahi! The Iranian director was invited to be on the jury but he was sentenced in December to six years in prison. Panahi, whose film Offside won the festival's Silver Bear award in 2006, has been banned from making films or traveling abroad for 20 years! Imagine that! “His conviction violates the right to freedom of expression and the freedom of art” – the festival said, while jury president Isabella Rossellini said inviting Panahi was an “attempt to take a very strong position for freedom of speech and freedom of artists.” [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZFP5HfJPTY[/youtube] Werner Herzog's Cave of Forgotten Dreams Trailer So, you can already tell that the 61st Berlin Film Festival will be an interesting one. We'll definitely keep an eye on the whole thing. IN COMPETITION The Turin Horse – Béla Tarr Hungary, France, Germany, Switzerland The Prize – Paula Markovitch Mexico, France, Polond, Germany Tales Of The Night – Michel Ocelot France Sleeping Sickness – Ulrich Köhler Germany, France, The Netherlands The Forgiveness Of Blood – Joshua Marston U.S.A., Albania A Mysterious World – Rodrigo Moreno Argentina, Germany, Uruguay Innocent Saturday – Alexander Mindadze Russia, Germany, Ukrania Nader And Simin, A Separation – Asghar Farhadi Iran Margin Call – JC Chandor U.S.A. Come Rain, Come Shine – Lee Yoon-ki Republic of Korea If Not Us, Who – Andres Veiel Germany Coriolanus – Ralph Fiennes United Kingdom The Future – Miranda July Germany, U.S.A. Our Grand Despair – Seyfi Teoman Turkey, Germany, The Netherlands Lipstikka – Jonathan Sagall Israel, United Kingdom Yelling To The Sky – Victoria Mahoney U.S.A. OUT OF COMPETITION Almanya – Yasemin Samdereli Germany My Best Enemy – Wolfgang Murnberger Austria, Luxembourg Service Entrance – Philippe Le Guay France Unknown – Jaume Collet-Serra Germany, United-Kingdom, France Pina – Wim Wenders Germany, France True Grit – Joel and Ethan Coen U.S.A (Opening Film) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUiCu-zuAgM[/youtube] True Grit Trailer