FROM "SILENT FRIEND" TO "EINFACHEN UNFALL" AND "NOUVELLE VAGUE" - COMPETITION FILMS AND SPECIALS

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From Ildikó Enyedi, Park Chan-wook, Radu Jude, Jafar Panahi to Naomi Kawase, Richard Linklater, Joachim Trier, and Kristen Stewart: The 20th Berlin World Cinema Festival AROUND THE WORLD IN 14 FILMS presents big names in world cinema and exciting discoveries from the film festival season in its “14 Films” competition and specials.

The festival name is reflected in the “14 Films” competition series: in 2025, AROUND THE WORLD IN 14 FILMS will present international festival hits and surprises from six female and eight male directors from Colombia, the USA, Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Hungary, Georgia, Morocco, Iran, China, Thailand, and Japan in its cinematic review of the year. Among the award-winning and much-discussed works is “Silent Friend” by Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi, which will be shown as a “German Preview.” In addition to Tony Leung Chiu-wai, star of many masterpieces by director Wong Kar-Wai, Léa Seydoux, Luna Wedler, and Enzo Brumm can be seen in leading roles. Variety praised the film, which was shot in locations including the botanical gardens of the university town of Marburg, as a “symphony for the senses.” With “A Simple Accident” by Jafar Panahi, the festival underscores its 20-year appreciation for Iranian filmmaking. The drama poses moral questions about truth and uncertainty, revenge and mercy with relentless clarity – and is France's Oscar® submission for “Best International Feature Film” in 2026. Jafar Panahi received the Palme d'Or for the film at Cannes in 2025. “The Chronology of Water” is actress Kristen Stewart's directorial debut. The romantic drama is based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by former swimmer and now writer Lidia Yuknavitch. From November 28 to December 6, 2025, the festival will present 24 works (14 films and ten specials) as Berlin premieres, including three German premieres (Calle Malaga – Ein Zuhause in Tanger, Resurrection, and No Other Choice). Nine festival entries are Oscar® submissions (“Best International Feature Film” 2026); four works were funded by the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and eleven were co-financed by ARTE. The festival cinemas are the Kino in der KulturBrauerei, the delphi LUX, and the Neues Off. Premium partners in 2025 are audio specialist beyerdynamic, the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, ARTE, and CineStar.

Ticket sales will start on Friday, November 7, 2025, in the afternoon.

Around the globe – the 14 films of the cinematic journey

The 14 entries in the “14 Films” competition: “A Poet,” directed by Simón Mesa Soto (Colombia), “The Chronology of Water,” directed by Kristen Stewart (USA), “I Only Rest in the Storm,” dir. Pedro Pinho (Portugal), “Romería,” dir. Carla Simón (Spain), “The Youngest Daughter,” dir. Hafsia Herzi (France), “Silent Friend,” dir. Ildikó Enyedi (Germany/Hungary), “Orphan,” R. László Nemes (Hungary), “Dry Leaf,” R. Alexandre Koberidze (WCF Berlinale Georgia), “Calle Malaga – A Home in Tangier,” R. Maryam Touzani (Morocco), “A Simple Accident,” R. Jafar Panahi (Iran), “Resurrection,” R. Bi Gan (China), “A Useful Ghost,” R. Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke (WCF Berlinale Thailand), “Yakushima's Illusion,” R. Naomi Kawase (Japan, France), and “Two Seasons, Two Strangers,” R. Sho Miyake (Japan). A jury will select one of the “14 Films” for the “BASIS Berlin Postproduction Award for Best Director,” which will be presented on the evening of December 6, 2025.

Ten Specials: Opening, Berlinale Spotlight, Homage, German Cinema & Closing

The competition of “14 Films” is complemented by ten specials. In addition to the opening film “Sentimental Value” by Norway's directorial prodigy Joachim Trier, the 7th “Berlinale Spotlight: World Cinema Fund” promises outstanding festival discoveries that were realized with the support of the Berlinale's World Cinema Fund. The “Berlinale Spotlight: World Cinema Fund” program is complemented by ‘Zafari’ (2024), a dystopian black comedy by Venezuelan director Mariana Rondón. The festival has already presented her work “Pelo Malo” (“Bad Hair,” 2013). AROUND THE WORLD IN 14 FILMS also pays tribute to directors Radu Jude, Romania (“Dracula”), Lav Diaz, Philippines (‘Magellan’), and Park Chan-wook, South Korea (“No Other Choice”). The “German Cinema” special opens the screen for Ulrich Köhler's “Gavagai,” a film “about the slippage of meanings—and perhaps Köhler's most courageous analysis of the present to date” (Patrick Wellinski). The spectacular finale on December 6 is “Nouvelle Vague.” In his 35mm film, US star Richard Linklater tells the turbulent story of the making of Jean-Luc Godard's “Breathless.” The cult film won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 1960 Berlinale.