The Berlinale reopens to the public, but with reduced capacity and only for vaccinated people and with a daily test

The Berlinale is not resigned to holding a second edition without an audience because of the coronavirus. Next month the festival will be face-to-face again, but in a much smaller format, both in duration and capacity. The organization will comply with the strict security measures that govern Berlin, but without renouncing a bit of glamor: there will be a red carpet with the protagonists of the films in competition, but no parties or celebrations. The festival unveiled this Wednesday which film will open its next edition, from February 10 to 20:

, the latest work by French director François Ozon, a free interpretation of the classic by Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

The German capital is preparing to add new restrictions to those already in force. As of Saturday, bars and restaurants will only accept those vaccinated who have also received the booster dose or who present a negative test done on the day. The wave of omicron begins to leave record data of infected, especially in Berlin, where it will be mandatory to wear an FFP2 mask on public transport. In this context, the Berlinale wants to open itself to the public but with all precautions. The capacity in the rooms will be 50% and to access the same conditions will apply as in the restoration: vaccinated (or recovered) who have also taken a test.

Both the organization and the city have wanted to convey that, although logistics is complicated, it is possible to hold a face-to-face event in the middle of the rising curve of infections. "We think the format is very successful and perfectly justifiable," the mayor, Social Democrat Franziska Giffey, said Tuesday. "We want to send a signal to the world of culture that the Berlinale can be held, although, of course, with restrictions." Germany, which had the cinemas closed for eight months last year, this time has not supported its neighbors Denmark and the Netherlands, which have once again closed theaters due to the push of the omicron variant.

Some sections of the festival, such as the European Film Market (EFM) or the Talents market, will be exclusively digital, as reported by the organization in a statement this Wednesday. The films of the rest of the sections, including the official one in competition, will be presented between the 10th and the 16th, that is, six days instead of the usual ten. On the last day, all the awards will be presented except the Golden Bear of Honor to the French actress Isabelle Huppert, who will receive it at a special gala on the 15th in recognition of her entire career.

During the last four days of the event, several theaters throughout the city will once again screen the films for the public, who in other years have had long queues to get tickets. The seats will be sold at 10 euros. Last year industry professionals and accredited journalists were able to watch most of the films online for five days, while the jury for the main section met in a Berlin cinema. In summer the projections with the public and in the open air were repeated.

press conference

with the directors of the Berlinale, Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian. Directors and actors will hold press conferences to present their films during the festival. “We are aware of the challenges posed by the unpredictable course of the pandemic. But at the same time, we believe that we must not forget that culture plays a fundamental role in society ”, assure the co-directors.

Franços Ozon's new film celebrates its world premiere on February 10 at the Berlinale Palast and his election has had a lot to do with the pandemic situation. Starring Denis Ménochet, Isabelle Adjani and Hanna Schygulla,

is a free interpretation

, Rainer Werner Fassbinder's 1972 classic. lightness and enthusiasm to our gloomy everyday life. Peter von Kant is a theatrical

around the concept of the confinement ”, assured Chatrian.

It is Ozon's sixth participation in the competitive section.

Twenty years ago the entire cast won the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution by

, which this year will also be screened as part of the Isabelle Huppert tribute.

"It is a pleasure and an honor to return to Berlin, from where I only have great memories, 22 years after the premiere of

, an adaptation of Rainer Werner Fassbinder," says François Ozon in a statement in a festival press release. .