BERLINALE '09 | Tykwer's "The International" Gets Top Berlin Fest Slot

A scene from Tom Tykwer's "The International".

The world premiere of German filmmaker Tom Tykwer's "The International" will open the 59th Berlin International Film Festival on February 5, 2009. The fest launch is set days before the film opens in Germany. The event will continue through February 15th in the German capital.

Written by Eric Singer, the film is described as the story of, "Interpol Agent Louis Salinger and New York attorney Eleanor Whitman [who] are determined to uncover the illegal activities of one of the world's most powerful banks, and must risk their own lives in the process." It stars Clive Owen and Naomi Watts and the action thriller also features Armin Mueller-Stahl, Brian F. O'Byrne, Ulrich Thomsen, and Jack McGee.

Funded in part by the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF), "The International" was filmed at Germany's Studio Babelsberg and on location in Berlin, New York, Istanbul and Milan. The film was produced by Lloyd Phillips, Charles Roven, and Richard Suckle.

Best known for the 1998 film "Run Lola Run," Tom Tykwer is a co-founder of the Berlin-based production company, X Filme Creative Pool. His recent feature films include "Perfume" and "Heaven." He frequently composes original music for his films.

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Anthony Kaufman first profiled Tom Tykwer in 1999 when "Run Lola Run" was released in U.S. theaters.