The Berlin International Film Festival is held annually in February, but this year, as an exception due to the global pandemic, it will be held virtually from March 1 to 5. According to Variety magazine, a special smaller edition with in-person screenings of world premieres will be organized in June – if COVID-19 allows it. "With the change in the festival format in 2021, we will have the chance to protect the health of all guests and to support the restart of the cinema industry. With the summer event, we want to celebrate a festival for the cinema and offer the Berlinale audience the long-awaited community experience," says Mariette Rissenbeek, the Festival's executive director.
In its 71st edition, the event offers films to everyone’s taste. Among the 15 competing titles, five are produced by women (some of whom are also co-directors), in line with last year's edition, where 6 out of 18 films were directed by women.
Rissenbeek further stated: "we knew that, after many months of the pandemic and the closure of the cinemas, a vast number of filmmakers and dedicated people in the industry were urgently looking for a platform where they could continue their work (...) that's why we made an online edition in March and then in June we can all meet again in the cinema – in compliance with the hygiene and social distancing rules that will apply at that time – to exchange ideas and enjoy the films on the big screen.”
A complete list of the announced competing films can be found in Variety’s publication.
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