SHOWING TODAY
Isaac Hayes, Bobby Womack, The Supremes and The Delfonics all feature on the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown (screening in competition today)… and so does Johnny Cash. It comes as at least a mild surprise to hear the venerable Country and Western star singing his doleful version of Tennessee Stud in a film which was partly inspired by the director's love of blaxploitation pics. The 1970s star Pam Grier identified closely with her role as the air stewardess caught between federal agents and a ruthless arms dealer: "Jackie's not a good victim. That's what I like about her… I've had the will to survive for 20 years in this business and I've got the scars to show it."
Also in competition, Jeanne et le garçon formidable, a film about love, death and AIDS which is also a musical comedy. "Just because Aids exists doesn't mean that we should forget about pleasure," say its directors, Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau.
Taiwanese director Lin Cheng-sheng admits that Sweet Degeneration (also in competition) was inspired by a period in his relationship with his father. "I stole his money every day and then drifted from one hotel to another, having sex with prostitutes." GM
UPDATE
*Hommage honorée Catherine Deneuve is expected to appear at the end of the screening of her Truffaut classic The Last Metro today at around 19.40 at the Cinema Paris.
*The screening of Panorama entry Sitcom has been cancelled. Instead, Christian Vincent's What's So Funny About Me will be shown today, 21.15, at the Royal (one screening only). In the first Sitcom repetition slot Frankfurt - Millennium will substitute (Atelier am Zoo, 18 Feb, 15.30). No follow-up will fill the spot of the second Sitcom repetition (21 Feb, 17.00).
*As it has done for the past two years, the Panorama Retrospective is presenting the restored masterpieces of the late director Jack Smith (today, 23.30, Atelier am Zoo).
Also featured in the programme is legendary New York underground film Broken Goddess, starring Holly Woodlawn.
*You can join the city tour for the guests of the Berlin Film Festival free of charge on Friday, 20 February, from 11.30 to 13.00, departing from the CineCenter.
Please register at the Info-Counter of the CineCenter, Budapester Str. 42, 1st floor. The tour is supported by Partner für Berlin GmbH.
*17 February
Vor (The Thief) at 20.15, Royal 3De poolse bruid (The Polish Bride) at 19.30, Royal 4 La femme de chambre du Titanic (The Chambermaid and the Titanic) is now screening at 14.30, Kammerspiele A I Think it's Lovely at 18.45, Studio 8-Video
*Festival director Moritz de Hadeln spent some time discussing relations between the Berlinale and the Austrian film industry yesterday when he received Dr Malmoe, the Cultural Councillor of the City of Vienna.
*Not only does Carmelo Romero of Spain's ICAA need congratulating for being 60 years old today - he also has another reason to be cheerful. Moritz de Hadeln will also be presenting him with the prestigious Berlinale Camera in gratitude for his support of Spanish cinema at the Berlinale during his long and varied career. Well done, Carmelo!
IN TOWN
Robert Forster, Andrés Vicente Gómez, Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Lothar Just, Dr. Norbert Kückelmann, Art Linson, Guy Maddin, Yves Marmion, Andreas von Schorlemer, Rod Webb, Richard Dindo, John Greyson, Francisco Hoyos Grinon, Simon Relph, Christine Ravet, Naum Kleeman, Gilberto Pontecorvo
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY
The Berlinale opens a window to the world and takes a look at how the German and international media view the festival and the surrounding goings-on.
They (the Coens) have skipped through the gangster film, the screwball comedy, the thriller and film noir like kids, nicking something from each, but without loading the film with references à la Tarantino.
Der Tagesspiegel
Gus Van Sant, who in Off-Hollywood films such as Drugstore Cowboy or My Own Private Idaho told more passionately than any other American director the stories of young underdogs, drifters and crazies, is right on the mark with the intense and emotional Good Will Hunting. The enthusiasm of his authors and protagonists carried Van Sant over the dark, disturbing undercurrent which characterises his earlier work. But maybe that's why something so beautiful resulted.
Der Spiegel
The Hackesche Höfe and surrounding streets saw an unusual swarm of pleasure-seekers on Saturday night and Sunday morning. The mild weather brought together a colourful mixture: thousands of Berlinale guests and stars, museum visitors, soccer fans and party people strolling around the block… A festival promenade like Cannes was unknown in Berlin… until this weekend.
Der Tagesspiegel
NEWS
*The European Film Academy (EFA) is holding the first meeting of the Board's new membership today. It will be chaired by Nik Powell, with deputy chairs Agnieszka Holland and Dieter Kosslick as well as members Rosana Pastor, Wibeke Windelov, Ulrich Felsberg, Roberto Cicutto, Martin Sulik, José Vicuña, Simon Perry and Pierre-Henri Deleau. Honary board member Ben Kingsley, head of this year's Berlinale jury, is also attending. OL
This year unspooling between 3-11 July, again with an 'A' certificate from FIAPF, the Czech Republic's Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will set up a market for the first time in its post-socialist era, it was announced last night.
"The main purpose is to give producers and sales agents from Eastern and Central Europe a format to introduce themselves in the business, and to help them find partners from other countries," said market exec Denisa Strbova.
According to Strbova, the festival has worked on the idea of the market for a long time - and in order to ensure a proper launch, participants will find most of the market facilities free of charge. JRJ
*A new, Prague-based distribution company, 3g films is having its debut in the European Film Market, looking for European, independent, low-budget product for the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Zuzana Drazilova is in Berlin, representing her colleague Katerina Rihova, former programme coordinator at the Karlovy Vary and Prague festivals, and Petra Samonilova. Their first release is set for September. JRJ
*At the European Film Market, Los Angeles-based Film Finders announced the opening of a London office, headed by Betsy Spanbock, formerly in acquisition for the Samuel Goldwyn Company.
Both attending the Berlinale, president Sydney Levine and executive vp Peter Belsito set up their company to "serve the needs of producers seeking buyers, and development, production and acquisition executives and distributors worldwide looking for product".
Film Finders tracks information on 12,500 new titles annually, including independent features and non-English language productions, which are all available for co-production or distribution. In addition a market reminder service is delivered to clients before major international markets. JRJ
Eureka shout
Rudi Barnet of Wallonie Bruxelles Images is in Berlin to drum up further support for the Eureka Audiovisuel Budapest Screenings of 13-15 November. The aim of the mini-market is to introduce the top Western European and US broadcasters and theatrical buyers to product from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe.
"For the first time we will present productions from countries which historically have experienced difficulties with international promotion and sales," commented Barnet. "We will bring the top 50 international buyers to Budapest to see the best films and programmes from these regions. It will save time for the buyers, having the product of many different countries housed in one place for three days, and Eastern European producers will be able to engage in co-production negotiations."
Around 150 features, shorts, documentaries and series will be selected, a prerequisite being that they have never before been broadcast or distributed on the international market.
Barnet, the former director of the San Sebastián Film Festival, was the creator of the Donostia Screenings in 1989. NC
Curt's non-stop schlock show
You've got this problem: you just got sold out of the Mongolian gay sex comedy that's getting all the buzz and the spotlight on Argentine Yiddish gaucho films doesn't start for another hour and a half. Luckily, this year there is an alternative to wandering the streets: the non-stop Curt Siodmak films at Kino Central. A short hop by S-Bahn from Zoo Station to Hackischer Mark - and you can come and go out any time you want!
Every afternoon from 14.00 till 18.00 you get a Curt Siodmak double feature presented just like those old matinees used to be - if you miss the beginning, stay for the next show, or if you want, see the film again. Or even just come in, kill some time and leave.
Central programmer Andreas Wildfang says, "I think people should feel free to come for 20 minutes if they feel like it. I mean what's the big deal? At five marks for a double bill, we're the cheapest show the Berlinale ever had. Around here a cup of coffee can cost five marks, so why not stop by and see a movie instead?"
And who should be stopping by today for a coffee break but monster-man Siodmak himself. If you missed him on Sunday, catch up with him this afternoon at 14:00! (Free with accreditation.) AH
Talented: but big in Pakistan?
How do you define stardom? Jury president Ben Kingsley reckons that Roger Moore's litmus test is as effective as any - "You're not a star unless they can spell your name in Karachi."
Whether or not the 15 European actors and actresses in Sunday's Shooting Stars promotion make the grade in Pakistan, Kingsley is in no doubt that they're a talented bunch. "That was the most lively and most intelligent, the most lucid and illuminating press conference I have ever attended," he enthused after listening to the newcomers field a series of questions from the international press.
The 'Shooting Stars' faced the cameras again at a special reception in the Hotel Adlon where they were regaled with poetry by special guest Percy Adlon (Bagdad Cafe). Adlon's grandfather Lorenz, the son of a shoemaker, built the hotel, which was ravaged by the Russians at the end of World War II. Thousands of bottles of the finest wine were lost on that fateful day, but the cellars seemed well-enough stocked on Sunday night as guests toasted the young stars. GM
A criminal tale
Shortly before the premiere of his first feature Sökarna (The Searchers) in 1993, Swedish director Daniel Fridell's male lead, Liam Norberg, was arrested for robbery. Now on leave from his 12-year jail sentence, he's in Fridell's new film, Under ytan (Beneath the Surface) - as a policeman.
"The darkest Swedish film since Ingmar Bergman was young," wrote the Swedish press of the $1.1 million film. Screening in the EFM for Nordisk Film TV-Distribution, Under ytan follows two sisters of 18 and 23, one a drug addict on the way to self-destruction, the other about to escape.
"Maybe you need the darkness in order to see the light," said Fridell, whose three features - including 30:e november (30 November) - are all set in Sweden. "But although my new film contains a lot of real-life material, it is no documentary." JRJ
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