BERLIN (AP) 鈥� The is kicking off on Thursday with the world premiere of Tom Tykwer鈥檚 鈥淭he Light,鈥� a timely tale of a dysfunctional German family and a Syrian refugee.
The this year comes against the backdrop of Germany's parliament elections. For Tykwer, it's the third time he has opened the festival although his most recent success has come in the form of hit TV show 鈥淏abylon Berlin.鈥�
鈥淭he Light鈥� infuses drama, political and social commentary, song and dance 鈥� and a migration storyline that Tykwer says he didn鈥檛 know would be so relevant when he started working on the movie three years ago.
鈥淣ow that it aligns with the elections and the elections are riding on the subject so violently, of course, I feel (strongly) that this movie has a really strong position about it,鈥� he told The Associated Press.
Nineteen films will compete in the main competition lineup, with the Golden Bear winner to be announced at the closing gala on Feb. 22.
The role of politics
Germany鈥檚 national election on Feb. 23, the final day of the Berlinale, is being held seven months early, after in a dispute about how to revitalize the country鈥檚 economy.
Efforts to curb migration have emerged as a central issue in the campaign 鈥� along with the question of how to handle the challenge from the far-right Alternative for Germany, which appears to be on course for its strongest national election result yet.
Politics remained front and center at a news conference with this year鈥檚 Berlinale international jury, headed up by American director Todd Haynes.
And despite an air of pessimism around today鈥檚 global politics, there was positivity around the role of cinema.
Haynes said the Berlinale 鈥渉as always had a strength of conviction and an openness to challenging and political discourse and bringing that into the filmmaking.鈥�
鈥淲hat鈥檚 happening in the world right now has put an extra urgency to all of that,鈥� he added.
Franco-Moroccan director and jury member Nabil Ayouch added that people need strong creative voices. 鈥淲e have to be radical. We have to be strong in our choices, in our movies,鈥� he said.
Five films to watch
鈥淏lue Moon鈥� is set during the opening night of the musical 鈥淥klahoma!鈥� and marks director Richard Linklater's return to the Berlinale for the first time since 鈥淏oyhood鈥� premiered at the festival in 2014.
Starring long-time collaborator Ethan Hawke and Margaret Qualley of 鈥淭he Substance,鈥� the movie is competing for the Golden Bear.
Rose Byrne stars in 鈥樷�淚f I had Legs I鈥檇 Kick You鈥� alongside A$AP Rocky and .
The anxiety inducing dramedy from Mary Bronstein, follows Byrne鈥檚 character Linda as an exhausted working mum surrounded by a revolving group of unhelpful bystanders, colleagues and family. After a hit Sundance world premiere, the movie gets to join the Berlinale's competition lineup.
reunites with Mexican director Michel Franco in the drama 鈥淒reams,鈥� about a young Mexican ballet dancer played by real-life dancer Isaac Hern谩ndez. Chastain plays a wealthy socialite who finds her young lover has moved illegally to San Francisco to pursue both her and his dancing dreams.
Emma Mackey and Vicky Krieps star in playwright Rebecca LenkiewIcz鈥檚 directorial debut 鈥淗ot Milk,鈥� also a hot contender. Based on Deborah Levy鈥檚 book of the same name, it鈥檚 the story of a girl who meets a free-spirited traveler when she takes her mother to consult a healer about her mystery illness in a Spanish seaside town.
And plays an actress shooting a film adaptation of Hans Christina Anderson's fairytale 鈥淭he Snow Queen鈥� in Lucile Had啪ihalilovi膰鈥檚 70s-set French fantasy drama, 鈥淭he Ice Tower.鈥�
Fangirl favorites
Though politics may play a part, some Berliners may be simply hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars.
will undoubtedly cause a stoir the Palast red carpet for the German premiere of his award-winning biopic 鈥淎 Complete Unknown鈥� on Friday 鈥� a final push before the Oscars where Chalamet is up for best actor for his portrayal of Bob Dylan.
Jacob Elordi is also likely to attract a strong fan turnout when he premieres the new TV series 鈥淭he Narrow Road to the Deep North鈥� at the festival.
Justin Kurzel鈥檚 much anticipated drama about a World War II hero haunted by his experiences in a Japanese prisoner of war camp has it鈥檚 red carpet debut on Saturday.
Robert Pattinson will also hit the Berlinale carpet on the same day for a special screening of Bong Joon-Ho鈥檚
In 鈥淢ickey 17,鈥� a sci-fi comedy, Pattinson plays a space traveler who is sure to bring out fans braving Berlin's sub-zero temperatures this February.
Louise Dixon, The Associated Press
