Berlin International Film Festival 2019

View other Berlin International Film Festival Films by strand: Berlinale Classics, Competition, Homage - Charlotte Rampling, Panorama, Perspektive Deutsches Kino

We Are Little Zombies We Are Little Zombies
We Are Little Zombies and Driveways
2040 (Country: Australia; Year: 2019; Director: Damon Gameau; Writer: Damon Gameau; Stars: Damon Gameau, Eva Lazzaro, Zoe Gameau, Davini Malcolm, Damon Gameau, Eva Lazzaro, Zoe Gameau, Davini Malcolm)
The intrepid creator of the documentary That Sugar Film sets off on another journey, this time to scour the world for solutions and measures to combat climate change.
Documentary. Out of competition. Kplus
Anbessa (Country: Italy, Ethiopia, United States; Year: 2019; Director: Mo Scarpelli; Writer: Mo Scarpelli)
Asalif and his mother defy Ethiopia’s omnipresent modern housing development culture, by continuing to live a life characterised by proximity to nature and rootedness in community. The boy counters the ruptures in his accustomed surroundings and the threat posed by the hyena that haunts his neighbourhood by reinventing himself as a hero: as Anbessa, the lion.
Documentary. World premiere. Kplus
Baracoa (Country: Colombia, Switzerland, United States, Cuba; Year: 2019; Director: Pablo Briones, Sean Clark, Jace Freeman; Writer: Pablo Briones; Stars: Leonel Aguilera, Antuàn Alemàn, Leonel Aguilera, Antuàn Alemàn)
Summer is long and hot in the tiny Cuban village. Nine-year-old Leonel and his 13-year-old friend Antuán are fighting boredom as best they can by catching tadpoles and argue about hairstyles, while the sea calls and a move to Havana is on the horizon.
Documentary. World premiere. Kplus
The Body Remembers When The World Broke Open (Country: Canada, Norway; Year: 2019; Director: Kathleen Hepburn, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers; Writer: Kathleen Hepburn, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers; Stars: Violet Nelson, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Charlie Hannah, Barbara Eve Harris, Sonny Surowiec, Jay Cardinal Villeneuve, Tony Massil, Aidan Dee, James Angus Cowan, Anthony Bolognese, Anesha Bailey, Lissa Neptuno, Charles Jarman, Paul Jarrett, Glenn Cho)
An intense encounter between two indigenous women on the streets of Vancouver plays out over the course of a single afternoon and evening.
World premiere. 14plus
Bulbul Can Sing (Country: India; Year: 2018; Director: Rima Das; Writer: Rima Das; Stars: Pakija Begam, Arnali Das, Manabendra Das, Manoranjan Das, Bonita Thakuriya, Pakija Begam, Arnali Das, Manabendra Das, Manoranjan Das, Bonita Thakuriya)
Portrait of a trio of friends struggling with the expectations of adults and tradition in their village community.
European premiere. 14plus
Knives And Skin Knives And Skin
Knives And Skin and House Of Hummingbird
By The Name Of Tania (Country: Belgium, Netherlands, Peru; Year: 2019; Director: Mary Jimenez, Bénédicte Liénard; Stars: Yossimar Vietto Omnia, Ismael Vasquez Colchado, Tanit Lidia Coquiche Cenepo, Fiorella J. Aquila, Yossimar Vietto Omnia, Ismael Vasquez Colchado, Tanit Lidia Coquiche Cenepo, Fiorella J. Aquila)
Tania is not her real name. She has lost that as well as her right of self-determination. In the hope of finding happiness in the Peruvian gold mines, she fell into the hands of a trafficker who forced her to work in the brothels.
Kplus
Cleo (Country: Germany; Year: 2019; Director: Erik Schmitt; Stars: Marleen Lohse, Jeremy Mockridge, Gwendolyn Göbel, Heiko Pinkowski, Max Mauff)
Can Cleo turn back time? It seems that misfortune has been haunting her loved ones since she was born. A legendary treasure sounds like the solution to her problems, but Cleo will have to let go of the past.
Kplus
A Colony (Une colonie) (Country: Canada; Year: 2018; Director: Geneviève Dulude-De Celles; Writer: Geneviève Dulude-De Celles; Stars: Robin Aubert, Emilie Bierre, Irlande Côté, Noémie Godin-Vigneau, Cassandra Gosselin-Pelletier, Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie, Robin Aubert, Emilie Bierre, Irlande Côté, Noémie Godin-Vigneau, Cassandra Gosselin-Pelletier, Jacob Whiteduck-Lavoie)
Running the tricky gauntlet of school life and first house parties, 12-year-old Mylia is having a tough time figuring out where she fits in. That is, until she gets to know her idiosyncratic schoolmate Jimmy. The boy from the neighbouring Abenaki reservation encourages her to cross externally defined boundaries.
International premiere. Kplus
The Crossing (Guo Chun Tian) (Country: China; Year: 2018; Director: Bai Xue; Stars: Gang Jiao, Elena Kong, Kai Chi Liu, Hongjie Ni, Carmen Soup, Sunny Sun, Huang Yao, Gang Jiao, Elena Kong, Kai Chi Liu, Hongjie Ni, Carmen Soup, Sunny Sun, Huang Yao)
A teenager joins a smuggling gang in a bid to realise her dream of seeing snow in Japan, but her life begins to fall apart.
European premiere. 14plus
Daniel (Daniel fait face) (Country: France; Year: 2018; Director: Marine Atlan; Stars: Théo Polgar, Madeleine Folacci, Aurélien Gabrielli, Emmanuelle Cuau, Théo Polgar, Madeleine Folacci, Aurélien Gabrielli, Emmanuelle Cuau)
Spooky stuff is afoot in a French school. All of a sudden, 10-year-old Daniel finds himself alone with Marthe – their encounter is both tender and troubling, and it seems to take place in a sort of vacuum.
International premiere. Kplus
Bulbul Can Sing Bulbul Can Sing
Bulbul Can Sing and 2040
Driveways (Country: US; Year: 2019; Director: Andrew Ahn; Writer: Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen; Stars: Jack Caleb, Stan Carp, Hong Chau, Jennifer Delora, Brian Dennehy, James DiGiacomo, Sophia DiStefano, Christine Ebersole, Lucas Jaye, Samantha Jones, Anastasia Veronica Lee, Raymond Lee, Fernando Mateo Jr., Robyn Payne, Wayne Pyle)
Eight-year-old Cody is spending the summer in an unfamiliar setting with his mom Kathy. Though he can’t relate to the neighbourhood kids, things take an unexpected turn when he develops an unusual friendship with grouchy old Del from next door.
Kplus
A First Farewell (Di yi ci de li bie) (Country: China; Year: 2018; Director: Lina Wang)
Isa lives with his family in a Uighur village community. His mother’s illness and his best friend’s bad grades make life hard.
European premiere. Kplus
Goldie (Country: US; Year: 2018; Director: Sam de Jong; Writer: Sam de Jong; Stars: Slick Woods, George Sample III, Danny Hoch, Khris Davis, Mugga, DeShawn White, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Demi Singleton, Thaddeus Daniels, Ratnesh Dubey, De'Atchra Skerritt, Sienna Rivers, Jazmyn C Dorsey, Angela Griszell, David Mohr)
When her mother is imprisoned, Goldie’s first priority becomes the fight to keep child welfare services from tearing her and her siblings apart from one another as she tries to pursue her dream.
World premiere. 14plus
House Of Hummingbird (Country: South Korea; Year: 2018; Director: Bora Kim; Writer: Bora Kim; Stars: Jeong In-gi, Kim Sae-byeok, ParkJi-hu, Lee Seung-Yeon)
She roams the neighbourhood with her best friend, attempts to fall in love, is sent to the hospital with an unclear diagnosis. Untethered from the wider world, 14-year-old Eun-hee floats through Seoul.
European premiere. 14plus
Kids (Kinder) (Year: 2019; Director: Nina Wesemann)
Documentary about four kids who live in Berlin.
Documentary. World premiere. Kplus
The Red Phallus The Red Phallus
The Red Phallus and Baracoa
Knives And Skin (Country: US; Year: 2019; Director: Jennifer Reeder; Writer: Jennifer Reeder; Stars: Kate Arrington, Tony Fitzpatrick, Tim Hopper, Marika Engelhardt, James Vincent Meredith, Robert T. Cunningham, Marilyn Dodds Frank, Ty Olwin, Raven Whitley, Audrey Francis, Grace Etzkorn, Genevieve Venjohnson, Ireon Roach, Kayla Carter, Haley Bolithon)
Trouble brews in small town America after the disappearance of a teenager.
World premiere. 14plus
Kokdu: A Story of Guardian Angels (Kok-du yi-ya-ki) (Country: South Korea; Year: 2019; Director: Kim Tae Yong; Stars: Kim Su-an, Choi Go, Cho Hee-bong, Park Sang-ju, Shim Jae-hyun)
When their mortally ill grandmother is admitted to the hospital, siblings Su-min and Dong-min embark on a turbulent adventure.
Kplus
Lotte And The Lost Dragons (Lotte ja kadunud lohed) (Country: Estonia, Latvia; Year: 2019; Director: Janno Põldma, Heiki Ernits)
Lotte goes on the hunt for a fire-breathing dragon.
International premiere. Kplus
Louis & Luca - Mission To The Moon (Månelyst i Flåklypa) (Country: Norway; Year: 2018; Director: Rasmus A Sivertsen; Writer: Karsten Fullu; Stars: Kari Ann Grønsund, Trond Høvik, Per Skjølsvik, Kåre Conradi, John F. Brungot, Fridtjov Såheim, Bjarte Hjelmeland, Kari Ann Grønsund, Trond Høvik, Per Skjølsvik, Kåre Conradi, John F. Brungot, Fridtjov Såheim, Bjarte Hjelmeland)
Louis the magpie and Luca the hedgehog, are going on a trip to the moon.
Kplus
The Magic Life Of V (Country: Finland, Denmark, Bulgaria; Year: 2019; Director: Tonislav Hristov)
Haunted by childhood traumas, Veera is trying to become more independent through live roleplaying. As she guides herself and her mentally-challenged brother through worlds of multiple roles and identities, witches and wizards, she finds the courage to face the demons of her own past and her abusive father's legacy.
14plus
Reconstructing Utøya Reconstructing Utøya
Reconstructing Utøya and Your Turn
My Extraordinary Summer With Tess (Mijn bijzonder rare week met Tess) (Country: Netherlands; Year: 2019; Director: Steven Wouterlood; Writer: Anna Woltz, Laura van Dijk; Stars: Jennifer Hoffman, Hans Dagelet, Julian Ras, Guido Pollemans, Terence Schreurs, Tjebbo Gerritsma, Sonny Coops Van Utteren, Johannes Kienast, Suzan Boogaerdt, Josephine Arendsen, Jennifer Hoffman, Hans Dagelet, Julian Ras, Guido Pollemans, Terence Schreurs)
As the youngest of the family, Sam’s afraid of dying last. Which explains his peculiar obsession with practicing being alone while on summer vacation. Then along comes unconventional Tess! She’s got a secret plan and needs Sam’s help to pull it off.
Kplus
Reconstructing Utøya (Country: Sweden, Norway, Denmark; Year: 2018; Director: Carl Javér; Writer: Carl Javér, Fredrik Lange; Stars: Jenny Andersen, Rakel Mortensdatter Birkeli, Barbro Bugge, Sunniva Clark, Johanne Lovise Dikkanen, Vebjörn Karlsen Fosnes, Kaleb Haile, Torje Hansen, Harriet Amalie Hanssen, Marianne Hetland, Andreas Kjosmoen, Nicolas Steffensen Krane, Opal Mariell Lomgård, Torstein Myklebust, Ragnild Risnes)
Four young survivors of the killing spree that took place on the Norwegian island in the summer of 2011 confront their experiences in a performative reconstruction of events.
Out of competition. 14plus
The Red Phallus (Country: Bhutan, Germany; Year: 2019; Director: Tashi Gyeltshen; Stars: Tshering Euden, Singye, Dorji Gyeltshen)
Caught between a married lover and a domineering father, Sangay’s life is hemmed in on all sides.
14plus
Ringside (Country: Germany, US; Year: 2019; Director: André Hörmann; Stars: Kenneth Sims Jr., Kenneth Sims Sr., Destyne Butler Jr., Destyne Butler Sr)
For Kenny and Destyne, the boxing gym is a shelter from the perils of the street. Spurred on by their ambitious fathers, the ring becomes a personal prison, though it also represents their only chance to escape the rough world of Chicago’s South Side.
14plus
Stupid Young Heart (Hölmö Nuori Sydän) (Country: Finland, Netherlands, Sweden; Year: 2018; Director: Selma Vilhunen; Writer: Kirsikka Saari; Stars: Pihla Viitala, Ville Haapasalo, Mika Melender, Anton Kettunen, Rosa Honkonen, Katja Kukkola, Aamu Milonoff, Juha Ruokola, Jere Ristseppä, Leena Vanhamäki, Elsa Marjanen, Abshir Sheik Nur, Sonya Lindfors, Ephraime Lopanda, Pihla Viitala)
A pair of suburban teens suddenly find themselves trying to deal with an unexpected pregnancy.
European premiere. 14plus
My Extraordinary Summer With Tess My Extraordinary Summer With Tess
My Extraordinary Summer With Tess and Goldie
Sune Vs Sune (Country: Sweden; Year: 2018; Director: Jon Holmberg; Writer: Jon Holmberg, Jon Holmberg, Anders Jacobsson, Daniella Mendel-Enk, Daniella Mendel-Enk, Sören Olsson, Sören Olsson, Sara Young; Stars: Sissela Benn, Pamela Cortes Bruna, Anders Eriksson, Elis Gerdt, Fredrik Hallgren, Baxter Renman, William Spetz, Tea Stjärne, Lily Wahlsteen, John Österlund, Sissela Benn, Pamela Cortes Bruna, Anders Eriksson, Elis Gerdt, Fredrik Hallgren)
Armed with laser guns and swords and with best friend Sophie in tow, Sune regularly embarks on epic fantasy battles. Yet as the summer holidays draw to an end, a different challenge awaits him in the real world: a new classmate has arrived, also called Sune.
Kplus
We Are Little Zombies (Country: Japan; Year: 2019; Director: Makoto Nagahisa; Writer: Makoto Nagahisa; Stars: Keita Ninomiya, Satoshi Mizuno, Mondo Okumura, Sena Nakajima)
Their parents are dead. They should be sad, but they can't cry. So they form a kick-ass band. This is the story of four 13-year-olds in search of their emotions.
European premiere.14plus
Where We Belong (Country: Switzerland; Year: 2019; Director: Jacqueline Zünd; Writer: Jacqueline Zünd; Stars: Carleton Gogel, Sherazade Gogel, Thomas Kurmann, Alyssia Pascale, Ilaria Pascale, Carleton Gogel, Sherazade Gogel, Thomas Kurmann, Alyssia Pascale, Ilaria Pascale)
The parents split up, the children are left behind with their thoughts.
Kplus
Your Turn (Espero tua (re)volta) (Country: Brazil; Year: 2019; Director: Eliza Capai)
Demonstrating, occupying schools across the country, self-organisation and police oppression, the camera always in the midst. Young Brasilians make history in this radical document.
14plus
News

59th New York Film Festival early bird highlights Futura, Jane By Charlotte, James Baldwin: From Another Place and The Velvet Underground

More news and features

Playing Now

Eye For Film continues to support festivals both locally and across the world. At the moment, we're covering:

Abertoir

DOC NYC
New York's celebration of factual film

Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
One of the largest film gatherings in northern Europe

French Film Festival
The UK's longest running celebration of Francophone cinema

London Korean Film Festival

In the Archive


Archive of festival coverage.

Daily diary and reviews from 2005-2018.

Coverage of the lynchpin German festival.


DJDT

Versions

Time

Settings from settings.local

Headers

Request

SQL queries from 1 connection

Templates (13 rendered)

Cache calls from 2 backends

Signals