The History of the Berlin Film Festival

History of the Berlin Film Festival

The Berlin International Film Festival was initially conceived in the early 1950s by James Wilder Spaulding, the American Chief of the USIA's Motion Picture Division. However, this first festival did not take place due to financial reasons. In 1955 some cities in the Federal Republic of Germany as well as a few other European countries decided to establish a film festival which would be independent of the Venice International Film Festival. The idea to create a "German Film Festival" in Berlin was born, as a "Gegenveranstaltung" (alternative event) to the Venice Film Festival, which at the time was the "only game in town" as far as an international film festival was concerned. This was initiated by the British, who were hosting the "International Film Week" in London and the "European Film Festival" in Brussels. The event was intended as a "counter-festival" to the "Venice Biennale". In the meantime, the "International Film Festival" in Berlin has become a "Hauptveranstaltung" (main event) of the German and European film industry. In 1955, the newly founded "Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie" (German Film and Television Academy) in Berlin and the "Internationale Filmschule" (International Film School) in Frankfurt am Main agreed to organize the "First International Film Festival in Berlin". They expected to generate the necessary funds and interest in addition to the Berlin Philharmonic's patronage, which they had obtained. They were given a two-year-long research period and the founding amount of 100,000 DM. During two years they would build up an interest in the festival and generate financial sponsorship. They received the support of the German Film Distributors' Association (DEFA). The American Federal Government's USIA also supported the event.

Objectives of the Berlin Film Festival

The Berlin Film Festival was considered as a “Contest of the Capitals” as it was intended to show that the Western world was still capable of cultural achievements. It was also used for political purposes and as a source for promoting the new, young democratic Germany to the rest of the world. While the festival was under the political control of the Western allies and the Federal Government of Germany, the emerging film industry in the former West Germany worked hard to create its own identity. Therefore, the Berlin Festival became a venue for public and artistic discourse about German film culture, as well as for political confrontation. The Berlin Film Festival was also used as a platform for the Federal Republic of Germany to criticize Eastern Bloc and Soviet Union politics. In the 1950s and 1960s, the festival was used to criticize the rising Cold War and McCarthyism in the United States. However, the festival was not only used for political reasons. It was also used for artistic and aesthetic reasons. The organizers of the festival wanted to present different cinematic styles and film cultures to the audience.

Location of the Berlin Film Festival

The Berlin International Film Festival takes place annually in February at the "Bundesplatz" (Federal Plaza) in "Kreuzberg" (a district in Berlin). The festival venue is the "Haus der Berliner Festspiele" (House of Berlin International Film Festival). The Berlin International Film Festival has an open-air cinema that can hold up to 4,000 people. However, only 800 to 1,200 people are allowed inside the cinema. The open-air cinema is located on the "Bundesplatz". The "Bundesplatz" is an area in Berlin that was established during the interwar period. It was designed with the intention of being the center of the city. The area was created with the construction of the "Haus der Berliner Festspiele" and the "Gret Palucca" (a pedestrian and shopping street) in 1926. The "Gret Palucca" is surrounded by the "Haus der Berliner Festspiele", the "Haus der Kulturen der Welt" (House of Cultures of the World), the "Preußische Kunstsammlung" (Prussian Art Collection), and the Berlin Cathedral. The Berlin Cathedral is located in the middle of the "Gret Palucca".

Events during Berlin Film Festival

The Berlin Film Festival is held annually in February. It features screenings of the latest films in the program "Competition", "Perspectives", "Children's Festival", and "Panorama". The festival also hosts the "Berlinale Shorts". The "Berlinale Shorts" is the largest short film festival in the world with an attendance of around 90,000 visitors. The festival also hosts a number of events such as lectures, discussions, and parties. The competition section of the festival is open to all feature films of any length and in any language produced since August 1, 2017, or at least 90 days before the festival starts. Films can be in any genre, but their subject matter must be appropriate for an audience above 12 years old. Each film can be shown for four consecutive days.

Screening procedure during the festival

The Berlin Film Festival is a public festival and the audience comes from around the world. However, the festival organizers select films which would be appropriate for an international audience. Therefore, films that are selected for the festival represent a variety of cinematic styles and reflect the latest trends in cinema. The films may be selected from either the "competition" or the "panorama" sections of the festival. The films in the "competition" section are selected from films sent by film producers from all around the world. Their films have to go through a screening process and only films that are considered appropriate for the festival by the screening committee will be included in the program.