I couldn't get to this year's Berlinale (Berlin film festival), which is now in full swing, but I did at least get to interview the festival's head, Dieter Kosslick, when he and his New Zealand-born selector of Australian films, Marianne Redpath, visited Australia for the first time in September.The interview is up at the SBS film website.
Extract:
'...if Kosslick is known for anything, it’s his unapologetic enthusiasm for stars. “When I came in there was the criticism that there aren’t enough celebrities on the red carpet,” he says, adding that after teething problems in the first three years, he had 100 percent success in the turn-up rate.
“Then we had people saying ‘Dieter is focusing on the celebrities and not the films’ – and this is a stupid point. Because on the red carpet are the people who make these films.' “We have 4200 journalists in Berlin," he continues. “Can you tell me what these journalists would do without the red carpet? The red carpet is very important.” When Kosslick invites a film into a competition or gala screening spot, there’s an explicit understanding the stars and director will appear in person..."
Photo above right: Kosslick rubbing shoulders on the red carpet with Penelope Cruz and Ben Kingsley.
Meanwhile the festival has premiered the restored, director's cut of Fritz Lang's silent classic Metropolis - described by the Independent as " better than anyone could ever have expected".
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