The 2013 Berlin International Film Festival announced this year’s competition jury. In a first for the festival, women are the majority of the voting body—comprising 4 of the 7 jury members.
The women members include Susanne Bier, director of the Oscar-winning In a Better World and the upcoming Love is All You Need. Iranian director Shirin Neshat, of Women Without Men, a film about a group of women who find independence and comfort in one another during a CIA-backed 1953 overthrow of Iran. Phenomenal cinematographer Ellen Kuras, who did one of my all-time favorites, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Greek producer and director of Attenberg, Athina Rachel Tsangari, who has also produced films like Dogtooth. She is also the co-producer of 2013 Sundance favorite Before Midnight.
It will be interesting to see how a majority women-based jury could effect this year’s competition. We’ll keep tabs on the Berlin lineup as it continues to roll out. Women and Hollywood will be on the ground in Berlin for the festival this year.
BERLIN 2013: Competition Jury Announced (The Hollywood Reporter)
