Berlin line-up

[Janine Hansen]

Dear all,
the line-up for the Berlin International Film Festival (February 7 to
18) has finally come out.

Below, I've listed all films from or about Asia that I found in the
program. Any comments on films some of you may have seen already are
highly welcome.

COMPETITION:
Beijing Bicycle (Shi qi sui de dan che), dir. Wang Xiao-shuai
Betelnut Beauty (Ai ni ai wo), dir. Ling Cheng-sheng
Chloe, dir. Riju Go
Inugami, dir. Harada Masato
J.S.A. Joint Security Area (Gong dong kyung bi gu yuk JSA), dir. Park
Chan-Wook

SHORT FILM COMPETITION:
A Short Film about Death, dir. Lin Jun-hong
Hua yang de nian hua, dir. Wong Kar-wei

PANORAMA:
Forever and ever (Di jou tian chang), dir. Raymond To
>From the Queen to the Chief Executive, dir. Herman Yau
Hotoke, Tsuji Jinsei
Lavender (Fan Yi Cho), dir. Ip Kam-hung
Nippon non kuroi natsu (Darkness in the Light), dir. Kumai Kei
Nunmul (Tears), dir. Im Sang-Soo
Yixizhuoma (Song of Tibet), dir. Xie Fei

PANORAMA DOCUMENTS:
Gaea Girls, dir. Kim Longinotto (Japanese w/ English subtitles)

PANORAMA SHORT FILMS:
The Basement Girl, dir. Onodera Midi

FORUM:
Ben Khong Chong (Das Ufer der Frauen ohne Maenner), dir. Luu Trong Ninh
Departure, dir. Nakagawa Yosuke
Flying, Flying (Fei Ya Fei), dir. Li Ying
I Love Beijing (Xiari Nuanyangyang), dir. Ning Ying
Kaza-hana, dir. Somai Shinji
Love/Juice, dir. Shindo Kaze
Riben Guizi (Japanische Soldaten des Teufels), dir. Matsui Minoru
Soro no ana (Hole in the Sky), dir. Kumakiri Kazuyoshi
   -- I guess it's actually "Sora no ana" but the program and posters
say "Soro" --
Zhan Tai (Platform), dir. Jia Zhang-ke

FORUM MIDNIGHT PROGRAM
Comeuppance, dir. Derek Chiu
HELP!!!, dir. Johnnie To
Jiang Hu - The Triad Zone, dir. Dante Lam
Rendan (Quartet for Two), dir. Takenaka Naoto
The Cabbie, dir. Chen Yiwen
The Foul King, dir. Kim Jee-woon

FORUM VIDEO PROGRAM
Devotion (A Film About Ogawa Productions), dir. Barbara Hammer

FORUM "FILMLAND VIETNAM"
Ai Xuoi Van Ly (Die lange Reise), dir. Le Hoang
Chung Cu (Das Wohnhaus), dir. Viet Linh
Doi Cat (Auf Sand gebaut), dir. Nguyen Thanh Van
Mua Oi (Die Zeit der Guaven), dir. Dang Nhat Minh
Nga Ba Dong Loc (Kreuzung Dong Loc), dir. Luu Trong Ninh
Tro Lai Ngu Thuy (Wiedersehen in Ngu Thuy), dir. Le Manh Thich, Do Khanh
Toan
Vao Nam Ra Bac (In den Sueden und zurueck), dir. Phi Tien Son

According to the Forum organizers this is probably the first time an
international film fest places a special focus on new films from
Vietnam.

CHILDREN'S FILM FEST
Nagisa, dir. Konuma Masaru
 -- Isn't he a (former?) Nikkatsu roman poruno director?

I can't say anything about the Asian films at the European Film Market
but -- as in the last years -- there seem to be quite a few among the
more than 330 films in the market section.

This year, the Retrospective is dedicated to Fritz Lang, and the Hommage
to Kirk Douglas.

Then, there is MORITZ'S FAVOURITES, a special section selected by
parting festival director Moritz de Hadeln. They'll show films that he
thought important during his 22-year-term (!) as the film fests head.
The Asian films in this selection are:

Hong gaoliang (Red Sorghum), dir. Zhang Yimou
Hsi yen (The Wedding Banquet), dir. Ang Lee
Umi to dokuyaku (Sea and Poison), dir. Kumai Kei

With jurors Hirano Kyoko from Japan and Chinese director Xie Fei there
is also a strong Asian presence in the Jury.

Are any of you KineJapanners coming to Berlin? Please drop me a line if
you do, I'd really like to get together.

Best regards,
Janine Hansen