Berlin 31-01-2010

Roman Polanski won’t be coming to the Berlin Film Festival next month – in spite of a premier of his latest film -and there won’t be any videotaped message as had been speculated.

Roman Polanski is under house arrest in Switzerland and has been to the Berlinale many times in the past – he says he loves the positive artistic atmosphere in Berlin.

Polanski’s new film ‘The Ghost Writer’ was filmed in Germany and has already received around 4 million Euro in German film subsidy financing.

He  has had a number of films showcased in the Berlinale in the past.

The film has a strong political statement – however it was chosen not for that reason but rather because of its artistic merit – organizers have said.

The Berlinale which is an annual event   -one of the world’s three most important film  festivals –  will be held this year  from the 11th till the 21st of February in various Berlin locations.

For these two weeks the city is totally enraptured by the Berlinale – one of the world’s three most important festivals -the Berlinale fully captures the dynamic ‘Berlin Spirit’.

Film Directors and actors from around the world will come to Berlin and many consider Berlin as the artistic centre of German film – it provides a home to both a thriving cinema scene and a discerning and enthusiastic public.

This is a nice combination to have for any film festival organizers!