The Berlin International Film Festival kicks off in February, and the first set of films slated to screen has just been announced. In the main competition, 10 films have been selected so far, and four of them (40 percent) are directed by women.
Included in the lineup are wonderful female directors like Agnieszka Holland and Sally Potter. Potter’s film, “The Party,” includes a powerhouse cast: Patricia Clarkson, Cherry Jones, Emily Mortimer, Cillian Murphy, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Timothy Spall star in “a tragi-comedy that ends in blood,” The Playlist writes.
There is also a four-film Berlinale Special section, but none of the films announced in that program are directed by women. There’s still more of the festival’s lineup to come, so hopefully there will be more female directors included.
The Berlinale International Film Festival runs from February 9–17, 2017. See below for the women in competition so far this year.
COMPETITION
“A teströl és a lélekröl” (“On Body and Soul”)
Hungary
By Ildiko Enyedi
With Géza Morcsányi, Alexandra Borbély, Zoltán Schneider
World premiere
“Colo”
Portugal / France
By Teresa Villaverde
With João Pedro Vaz, Alice Albergaria Borges, Beatriz Batarda, Clara Jost
World premiere
“The Party”
United Kingdom
By Sally Potter
With Patricia Clarkson, Bruno Ganz, Cherry Jones, Emily Mortimer, Cillian Murphy, Kristin Scott Thomas, Timothy Spall
World premiere
“Pokot” (“Spoor”)
Poland / Germany / Czech Republic / Sweden / Slovak Republic
By Agnieszka Holland (Europa Europa, Bitter Harvest, In Darkness)
With Agnieszka Mandat, Wiktor Zborowski, Miroslav Krobot, Jakub Gierszał, Patricia Volny, Borys Szyc
World premiere
