The Berlin International Film Festival began in 1951 at the height of the Cold War. The festival, also known as the Berlinale, was designed as a “showcase of the free world” by Oscar Martay, a film officer with the US-led military administration in West Berlin. Existing in a deeply divided city between global powers, the festival quickly gained a reputation as a space for intercultural dialogue and criticism of societal issues through film.

In the decades since its establishment, the Berlinale has grown into one of Europe’s most prestigious film festivals, regarded as one of the “Big Three” international film festivals, along with Cannes and Venice. Its promotion of edgy political films has earned it both praise and controversy over the years, with both traditions continuing to this day.

This year, the 76th Berlin International Film Festival will take place from February 12 to February 22.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Germany’s preeminent film festival:

Honorees

Each year, the festival honors two individuals who have made significant contributions to cinema throughout their lives. The Honorary Golden Bear is awarded to someone who has made “lasting contribution to the art of film,” while the Berlinale Camera is awarded to “personalities and institutions who have made a special contribution to filmmaking and with whom the festival feels closely connected.”

This year, the festival will award the Honorary Golden Bear to Academy Award®-winning actress Michelle Yeoh. Over her career spanning four decades and several continents, Yeoh has been celebrated as one of the most versatile stars of our time.

Known for her roles in films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Everything Everywhere All at Once, Yeoh has brought joy to audiences around the world.

The Berlinale Camera will be awarded to contemporary composer and artist Max Richter, known as one of the most influential musicians in cinema. He has composed innovative scores for films and television series including Ad Astra, Arrival, and HBO’s The Leftovers.

His award will be introduced by Oscar®-winning director Chloé Zhao, who collaborated with Richter on her latest film, Hamnet.

Juries

In January, the Berlinale named its international competition jury members, who will decide the winners of the prestigious Golden and Silver Bear awards.

Heading the jury is acclaimed German filmmaker Wim Wenders. Wenders is a world-famous auteur director who has earned several prestigious accolades including a BAFTA Award, Cannes’ Palm d’Or, Venice’s Golden Lion, and an Honorary Golden Bear from the Berlinale.

Joining Wenders will be Nepalese filmmaker Min Bahadur Bham, South Korean actor Bae Doona, Indian director and archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, American filmmaker Reinaldo Marcus Green, Japanese filmmaker Hikari, and Polish film producer Ewa Puszczyńska.

Separate juries will determine the winners of awards in other categories including International Short Film, the Berlinale Documentary Award, an award for Best First Feature, and more.

Films

This festival will be the second under artistic director Tricia Tuttle, who will seek to bring together globally celebrated auteur filmmakers, politically-charged films, and (naturally) plenty of star power.

20 films will screen in the official competition. While we can’t go over all of them here for the sake of your attention span, here are some of the titles drawing the most interest ahead of the festival.

Among the most anticipated films screening in competition is Rosebush Pruning, from director Karim Aïnouz and starring Riley Keough, Callum Turner, and Elle Fanning. Tuttle describes the film as a “twisted thriller about a privileged family unraveling when dark secrets emerge.” The film is making its global debut at the Berlinale.

Also in competition will be Josephine, the latest outing from director Beth de Araújo. The film, which is described as a psychological thriller, stars Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan as parents of a young daughter who witnesses a violent assault in Golden Gate Park, leading to intense fear and paranoia.

One of the more unique offerings in the lineup is Yo (Love is a Rebellious Bird). The documentary follows Anna, who commemorates her late friend Yo by building a 1/3-scale version of her house. The house is just big enough for Anna to squeeze into, and inside lives a puppet of Yo. According to Anna, the film is meant to “highlight the enduring power of friendship and what we learn from each other in life and through death.”

Outside of the main competition, “The Ballad of Judas Priest” is sure to make a splash as it debuts in Berlin. The documentary, which follows the legendary English heavy metal band Judas Priest, is co-directed by documentary filmmaker Sam Dunn and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello in his filmmaking debut.

Conclusion

The eyes of the cinema world will be turning to Berlin next week, and we can’t wait to see the films that make an impact at the festival!

There are many more films screening at the festival that we didn’t have time to get to, but don’t just rely on us – check them out for yourself on the Berlinale’s website. Or, better yet, hop on a plane and see them for yourself (we wish we could)!

Congratulations to all the incredible filmmakers who will be celebrated there. Prost!