Berlin

Director Victoria Mahoney, Oscar-nominee Gabourey Sidibe ("Precious") and Zoë Kravitz in Berlin Saturday night following the World Premiere of their Berlinale Competition film, "Yelling to the Sky." The trio were at the after-party following the debut at Soho House in Berlin for a very nice party and a slew of New York film stalwarts including Joana Vicente and Amy Dotson from IFP, the crew from Elephant Eye who are selling the film internationally, the folks from sales company Submarine and more. In the film, Kravits plays seventeen year old Sweetness O'Hara who is left to fend for herself in a neighborhood where her survival is uncertain. "Yelling to the Sky" is one of the only U.S. entries screening in competition this year in Berlin.

In his first write up of the Berlinale in his Critics Notebook Shane Danielsen called Czech film "Kawasaki's Rose" (Kawasakiho Ruze) "the one undeniable 'find' of the festival so far." Following the premiere of the film, directed by Jan Hrebejk and which screened in the festival's Panorama, all gathered for dinner and some good times (and apparently even a little nudity later that evening) in the German capital. Giving a good pose (and a bit of leg), actors Petra Hrebeckova, Anna Simoniva, Lenka Vlasakova along with Neil Friedman of Menemsha Films. [Photo by Mark Rabinowitz]

Director Joe Berlinger took the prize in Berlin for his doc "Crude" at the Cinema for Peace gala earlier this week, seen here flanked by none other then former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and Leonardo DiCaprio who was in town for the world premiere of Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island, which had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival. Berlinger's "Crude" follows the story of thousands of Ecuadorans who are waging a legal battle against Chevron over contamination of the Ecuadorean Amazon. "To stand on a stage in Berlin and shake the hand of the man who brought down the Berlin Wall - Mikhail Gorbachev - is truly an honor," Berlinger told indieWIRE about the evening from Berlin. [Image courtesy of Cinema for Peace]

We snapped this quick shot of actress Renee Zellweger at the Berlinale as she posed for photos at the Hyatt Hotel in Potsdamer Platz (a slight blur since the festival doesn't look kindly on photos in the press conference room, which we still are baffled by). Zellweger, who is serving on the competition jury, said she was very happy to be spending the next two weeks in Berlin and was looking forward to seeing the line up.

The Berlinale changed venues for its 60th opening bash Thursday night, opting for a nicely refurbished Soviet-era edifice in the heart of East Berlin called Cafe Moscow. Hundreds of attendees sampled food from a host of well-known Berlin chefs and guzzled wine and some delicious German beer. And of course, Berlinale filmmakers joined in on the fun, including "Waste Land" director Lucy Walker and "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" director Mat Whitecross who both made for a dashing pic for iPOP as the evening wound down. Whitecross' "Rock & Roll" spotlights musician Ian Dury, while "Wasteland," which won an Audience Award at the recent Sundance Film Festival. Walker's "Waste Land" follows Brazilian artist Vik Muniz who creates photographic images of people using found materials from the places where they live and work - Rio's largest landfill. Chinese film "Apart Together" by Wang Quan'an opened the Berlin International Film Festival Thursday night.

Werner Herzog said that "there is no criteria for this," today in Berlin ahead of the opening night gala of Chinese director Wang Quan'an's "Apart Together." Herzog joined his fellow jurors for a round of questioning from press about the philosophy of good film, how to judge work etc. As is typical with jury press conferences, the jurors themselves remained coy lest any of their possible prejudices come through, but the group seemed to play it all off well. Here, Herzog is exiting with fellow juror, German actress Cornelia Froboess.

Blast to the Past: Berlin International Film Festival head Dieter Kosslick gave a sign of peace at the opening of the 2008 Berlinale with Berlin programmer (and now MoMA Film Department head) Rajendra Roy. The festival opens Thursday with the world premiere of "Tuan Yuan" (Apart Together) in the Berlinale Palast and closes with "Otouto" (About Her Brother) by Yoji Yamada February 21. [indieWIRE will be On the Scene with daily dispatches beginning later this week.]

Take a look around, chances are you'll see at least some of these upcoming actors - or so that's the prediction of the Berlinale, which is spotlighting this group, many of whom appear in films in this year's festival line up. Probably the most recognizable (at least Stateside) is 18 year-old German actor David Kross (in the middle), who appeared opposite Kate Winslet in Stephen Daldry's "The Reader." Also in the photo are fellow shooting stars Sarah Bolger (Ireland), Celine Bolomey (Switzerland), Veronica Echegui (Spain), Hafsia Herzi (France), Kross, Cyron Melville (Denmark), Carey Mulligan (U.K.), Alba Caterina Rohrwacher (Italy), Orsi Toth (Hungary) and Samuli Vauramo (Finland). Unfortunately Vauramo got a bit cut off in the photo, but he's quite cute and funny btw.

"Milk" director Gus Van Sant and writer Dustin Lance Black in Berlin where their film is screening in the festival's Panorama section. Both have nominations in the latest Oscar race.

Michelle Pfeiffer certainly brought out the journalists Tuesday afternoon as the press conference for her film, "Cheri," directed by Stephen Frears, was underway. The film will have its debut tonight.

Danish film company Trust Nordisk always has a raucous party at the Berlinale on a high floor of an Alexander Platz building which brings out - it seems - everyone from the European Film Market. It's good to arrive after having thrown back a few because the competition at the bar is serious, and get ready for smoke, loud music and people ready to really have a throw down. And of course, joining in on the fun is Trust CEO Rikke Ennis and the company's Nicolai Korsgaard.

Director John Greyson (right) is in Berlin for the world premiere of his Panorama section film, "Fig Trees." He's pictured here with his boyfriend artist Stephen Andrews who has drawings in the Forum Expanded Exhibitions. The two attended Telefilm Canada's reception at the Canadian embassy over the weekend.

The Canadian embassy threw down the welcome mat in Berlin for their delegation of Berlinale filmmakers, hosting a cocktail party with Telefilm Canada. Joining the fray were the "C'est Pas Moi, Je Le Jure!" (It's Not Me, I Swear) kids Antoine L' Ecuyer and Catherine Faucher horsing around with director Philippe Falardeau. Their film is screening in the Generation KPlus Competition.

Many nations host parties during the Berlinale touting their national cinemas, and the Germans had their night out Sunday with a very civilized soiree for industry and filmmakers. Pictured here are Andreas Rothauer of Beta Cinema, Vera Herchenbach of Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, "Berlin Calling" director Hannes Stoehr (his film will have its US premiere at the upcoming Miami International Film Festival.) and German Films' Oliver Mahrdt.

First off, All Apologies for the somewhat crappy photo. The thing is with Berlin (and believe us it's such a great festival) their major flaw is for some reason they don't want people to take pictures unless you have some sort of "special pass" at a press conference where people are there to actually pose and you know, take a damn picture. At any rate, before getting into trouble, we snapped this picture of director Sally Potter with actress Lily Cole who stars in her latest film, "Rage," screening in the Berlinale's competition.

Can you imagine going overseas and the United States actually having a reception at an embassy for their filmmakers at a festival? Heaven for fuckingbid! That would probably subsidize freaks, homosexuals, artists and weird people... or whatever. Sorry, we digress. Anyway, Canada had a nice reception for its peeps at their embassy near Potsdamer Platz and along with the Canadians there were our total BFFs including David Nugent (left) of the Hamptons International Film Festival, the very lovely Courtney Noble (actually Canadian) of Fortissimo Films and David Kwok (he hates photos) of the Tribeca Film Festival (coming up soon!)

British actress Carey Mulligan is having quite a year. She stars in Lone Scherfig's "An Education," which won a lot of praise for her performance at the recent Sundance Film Festival, and she was selected to participate in the Berlinale's "Shooting Stars" program, which spotlights rising young actors from mostly Europe. Could she be getting a nom next year?

Berlinale Panorama head Wieland Speck quieted down the loud gay club music Friday night at the party for the festival's Teddy competition to introduce this year's Teddy jury, which will pick the Berlinale's best gay film, and to announce a new festival initiative. Speck accepted a €5,000 check which will go to a program that will allow gay films to be serviced to gay festivals around the world, including countries in which gay events face harassment or downright bans. After that and a toast, the pounding thump-a-thump returned...

Kate Winslet was barraged with questions during a news conference for "The Reader" at the Berlin International Film Festival Friday afternoon. The packed conference room even had a few sort of randy reporters peppering Winslet about her role in which she has love making scenes with a younger man (David Kross). "It was not difficult to do the love scenes with David at all," said Winslet. He's 18 and professional, and we just got on with it really..." Ralph Fiennes also talked about his role in the film and said that the global economic crisis had delayed his next project, but that he expected production to finally start soon in Serbia.

"The Berlinale opening night is full of German TV stars and locally famous Drag Queens," a couple of people commented last night (and one was even German). Perhaps, but not as locally famous "Yes Men" aka Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonano (Jacques Servin and Igor Vamos) made their way to the Berlinale for their doc "The Yes Men Fix the World," screening in the festival's Panorama section - here at the opening night party. They even managed to "drag" a Drag into the photo.

Inside the Berlinale Palast tonight, Michel Gondry draws some hair on his own chest, when asked to autograph a large photo of himself hanging on a wall of the venue. Gondry's "Be Kind, Rewind" closed the Berlin International Film Festival tonight, with a screening after the awards ceremony. indieWIRE profiled the filmmaker during a recent Apple Store Soho in New York City.

At the recent IFP dinner in Berlin (co-hosted by Kodak and both the NY state and NYC film offices), NY State film commissioner Pat Kaufman steps in to greet the team behind the Panorama section doc, "Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell." Pictured with Pat are (left to right) producers Kyle Martin and Ben Howe, with director Matt Wolf. The film, about the avant-garde composer, singer-songwriter, cellist, and disco producer debuted last night at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Director Whit Stillman ("The Last Days of Disco") hung out at the IFP filmmaker dinner Monday night in Berlin, meandering among the crowd and chatting. At this moment, iW snapped a photo with him and Troma guru Lloyd Kaufman. The dinner brought together filmmakers who are IFP alumni and co-hosted by Kodak and both the NY state and NYC film offices.

Susan Boehm co-hosted the IFP's dinner for filmmakers Monday night in Potsdamer Platz along with Kodak and the NY state and NYC film offices. Among those in the crowd hanging out for the pre-dinner cocktails were Frederic Boyer (left), a member of the selection committee for the Directors Fortnight in Cannes and producer Mark Herbert, whose film "This is England" (directed by Shane Meadows) won the Best British film prize the other night at the BAFTAs.

Director Parvez Sharma (right) and producer Sandi Dubowski head out of the IFP's annual dinner in Berlin celebrating their alumni attending the festival (co-hosted by Kodak, and the New York state as well as New York City film offices) to get ready for their party in celebration of "A Jihad for Love," which screened in the Panorama section of the Berlinale.

Turkish film in the Forum section.

Sir Ben Kingsley is in Berlin with two films -- one portraying a corrupt Russian drug agent and the other an American college professor who embarks on an affair with a beautiful young student. In director Isabel Coixet's "Elegy," playing in competition here and based on the novel by Philip Roth, Sir Ben falls for former student Consuela, played by Penelope Cruz. "I wanted [the experience] to be vulnerable," said Kinglsely. "I didn't want there to be too many layers. I even asked if I could use my own voice even though [my character] is American." In the surprising thriller "Transsiberian" by Brad Anderson (starring Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer) Sir Ben takes on a Russian accent for his role as a wayward drug agent who happens upon an American couple who unknowingly find themselves being used as mules to transport heroin aboard the trans Siberian railway from Russia's Far East to Moscow. "The film starts as a travel adventure and transforms into a Dostoevsky novel and a dark adventure," says Kingsley.

After showing up in Park City for "The Good Dick," Tom Arnold (second from left) crossed the Atlantic for the Berlinale in support of a very serious role in Damien Harris' "Gardens of the Night." "Doing this role is tough," said Arnold in Berlin explaining his initial hesitation to take on a character that abuses children. "My agent and people around me told me 'no.' Then my publicist said, 'are you an actor or Tom Arnold?'" Arnold then revealed he had been abused as a child. "I just knew that there was candy at the end. I thought he was a peer, but he was 20 at the time. Then later, I found out he was a preacher living in Iowa..." Harris commented that the film took two years of research including visits to shelters in Hollywood, a destination for many homeless children. "Many kids are living on the Hollywood Walk of Fame," noted Arnold. "It's ironic because growing up in Iowa, it's not the impression you have of that place..." Pictured with Arnold (left to right) are: director Damian Harris, actors Gillian Jacobs and Evan Ross.

Imagine this one... U.S. directors and guests arrive at the heavily fortified U.S. embassy in Berlin for a reception in honor of American filmmakers at the Berlinale (yeah right! As if...) Well, our dear neighbors to the north did just that for their directors at the Canadian embassy just off Potsdamer Platz on Saturday night. Some of the filmmakers in attendance included Bruce LaBruce ("Otto; Or Up with Dead People"), Guy Maddin ("My Winnipeg"), Claudia Morgado ("No Bikini"), "My Winnipeg" producer Jody Shapiro, Telefilm Canada's Brigitte Hubmann, director Yves Christian Fournier ("Everything is Fine") and Gisele Gordon ("Miss Chief Trilogy").

Oscar nominee Tilda Swinton ("Michael Clayton") is at the Berlin International Film Festival with a pair of projects, starring in Erick Zonca's competition entry "Julia," which debuts tonight (Saturday) and as a producer and performer in Isaac Julien's "Derek." Asked about stretching to play such an extreme character -- a self-abusive alcoholic -- Swinton explained during today's press conference, "She is not that exotic, we all know people like Julia, let's face it." Continuing, she praised Zonca, "I call his cinema a kind of zoology, a cinema of zoology. He's a kind of David Attenborough, he takes three meters of this one animal's life and he gives it to you," and she added, "It's got that kind of scrutiny and it's that complicated and it's that amoral and it's that compassionate and it's really intense because it's examining what I was looking for in a cinema for many years. It's such a relief to find this sort of passionate amorality in the cinema at last, again." [Eugene Hernandez]

The Pan Nordic Building, Felleshus, at Berlin's Nordic Embassies complex near Potsdamer Platz was the site of a sprawling premiere party for Petri Kotwica's "Black Ice," which had its international premiere in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival on Friday night. The black but humorous love triangle, which seemed well-received here at the festival, has already been a hit back home in Finland, recently winning six of the country's Jussi Awards, including best picture. Pictured at the party are filmmaker Kowtica (right), winner of the best director prize at the Jussi's, with Outi Maenpaa, best actress prize at the recent ceremony. The Berlinale competition slot for "Black Ice" is a big moment for Finnish cinema, marking the first time in nearly 20 years that the country has had a film in competition at the German festival. [Eugene Hernandez]

At Thursday's opening night party inside the massive Berlinale Palast, Panorama section head Weiland Speck (center) smiles alongside Gregg Araki (left) and Strand Releasing's Marcus Hu (right). Araki is in Berlin with a re-mastered version of his 1992 film, "The Living End." The $20,000 16mm indie, which also recently returned to Sundance, has been digitally restored for a new DVD release by Strand.

Calling Thursday's "Shine A Light" premiere at the 2008 Berlinale even more nervewracking than performing the concert back in New York City two years ago, Mick Jagger (pictured entering the Berlinale Palast on Thursday) beamed on stage last night at the honor of having the film selected as the first documentary ever to open the fest. Jagger stood alongside his bandmates, festival head Dieter Kosslick and director Martin Scorsese, who admitted that the last time he was at the Berlinale was in 1981 with "Raging Bull." "Do you remember that...what happened at the showing of 'Raging Bull'?" prodded Jagger. "There was a disturbance of some kind," Scorsese stammered, as some of The Rolling Stones laughed loudly on stage, "...it was delayed for awhile, but we finally got to screen the film...It was quite an event." "He still won't say what happened," Jagger interjected, amidst continued laughter as Kosslick, at the other end of the stage, motioned with his hands to let the matter go. On a more serious note, Scorsese offered, "This is a special night for us, we really hope that you enjoy the film and we're really greatful that we're here."

Director Stephen Kijak (right) joins his possee at the popular Swedish Film party in Berlin. Kijak's ("Cinemania") latest doc, "Scott Walker - 30 Century Man" is in Berlinale screening in the Panorama. He's joined by producer Mia Bays (next to him) and actor Gale Harold ("Queer As Folk," "Vanished") who served as associate producer on the film. And joining in on the fun is director Lucy Walker ("Blindsight"). "30 Century Man" profiles enigmatic musician/artist Scott Walker whose loyal following includes the likes of fellow musicians Johnny Marr and Sting, who appear in the film, as well as David Bowie, who is also executive producer of the film, which had its international premiere in the German capital.

"Eagle Vs. Shark" director Taika Waititi (left) joins Sundance Film Festival programmer Bird Runningwater and Loren Horsley, who stars in the comedy from New Zealand, at the reception in the European Film Market near Potsdamer Platz earlier this week. "Eagle Vs. Shark," which Miramax will open in the U.S., premiered in January at Sundance. The film is screening in the Berlinale's new Generation section.

Pusan International Film Festival director Kim Dong-ho (left), Korean Film Council (KOFIC) chair An Cheong sook and Asian Film Market director Park Kwang-su hosted a dinner for Korean cinema near Potsdamer Platz Monday night. AFM will host its second edition alongside Pusan, Asia's biggest film festival, in October. The Koreans scored this year in Berlin with numerous titles screening at the festival.

Toronto International Film Festival doc programmer Thom Powers (right) and Newport Film Festival programmer David Nugent in Berlin and hanging out at the European Film Market party earlier this week.

Producer/writer Gal Uchovsky hung out with the stars of his film, "The Bubble" ahead of its screening in the Panorama (directed by Eytan Fox) along with the film's hot actors Yousef 'Joe' Sweid and Ohad Knoller ahead of their screening earlier in the week in Berlin. As an aside... Uchovsky is also a judge on "Israeli Idol" (of "American Idol" fame which is.... a la the U.K.'s "Pop Idol..."--- you get the idea).

European Film Market head Becki Probst and co-director Karen Arikian at the Berlinale Palast Sunday night in celebration of... well-- the European Film Market... The busy market held a party for their guests, and we give it a +.

Los Angeles Film Festival programmers Rachel Rosen and Doug Jones upstairs in Berlin overlooking the Fortissimo Films party and doing the rounds. Film Independent, which organizes the annual LAFF held in June, also has a big event coming up--the annual Film Independent Spirit Awards, which will take place in Santa Monica, CA on Saturday, Feb. 24 (hosted by Sarah Silverman and broadcast on IFC). So buy a bottle of champagne or two... or three--preferably the good shit, but it's all good--and check it out!!

"A Walk Into the Sea" director Esther Robinson (left) screened her film "A Walk Into the Sea" in the Panorama at the Berlinale. Her doc takes a look at her uncle, Danny Williams, purportedly a one time lover of Andy Warhol who disappeared, and had choreographed the ever so crucial lighting in the Velvet Underground's early shows, including those deliriously famous "Andy Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitible." Robinson is joined (left to right) in Berlin after their screening with cohorts Tamra Raven, Shannon Kennedy, and Kelly DeVine.

The folks from Berlinale competition film "When a Man Falls from the Forest" had a chill cocktail party at Berlin's new swanky Hotel de Rome in the east part of the city. Writer/director Ryan Eslinger ("Madness and Genius") joined one of the film's stars Sharon Stone and producer Mary Aloe for a pic in the bar. Their film premiered Monday evening at the Berlinale Palast in Potsdamer Platz.

Panorama director Lynn Hershman Leeson and entertainment director Steven Beer earlier on during the Berlinale. Leeson is in Berlin with her latest "Strange Culture," which Beer produced along with Hershman and Lise Swenson.

"Children of Glory" producer Kata Dobo, producer Andrew Vajna ("Terminator 3"), director Krisztina Goda standing stage-side at the Fortissimo Films party over the weekend in Berlin. The music got many on the dance floor, while others decided to check out the Absenthe area upstairs.

Tony Ayres, director of "The Home Song Stories" and "The Girl Who Swallowed Bees" director Paul McDermott hanging out at the Fortissimo Films party over the weekend in Berlin as some cool '80s tunes got some dancers out onto the floor. Their films screened at the Berlinale.

iPOP reaaaallly (and we're not kidding) wishes we could've gotten a non-press conference pic of these two. Director/actress Julie Delpy and actor Daniel Bruhl were fun to watch "perform" at their news conference for their film "Two Days in Paris" (Deux Jours a Paris), also starring Adam Goldberg and screening in the Berlinale's Panorama. Bruhl wasn't in it for that long, but god, we were so happy he was... And Delpy is hilarious. Had she been around in DC back in 2002, there would've never been that freedom-fries thing...

Chanel maestro Karl Lagerfeld just so happens to have a doc all about him at the Berlinale. And honestly, so he should... He's a real f'n character. Beyond the film, directed by Rodolphe Marconi, he was quite a presence at his press conference. He signed someone's hat, screwed the past (philosophically speaking) and took great joy in listening to the translation of his own press conference (he spoke all the languages offered to the press). And gave his reaction to anorexia, photography, the blind and fashion, leaving Biarritz, and a hell of a lot more.

If you've ever been to Korea, then you'll know this trio... Pop star Jung Ji-hoon (left) is all that... And actress Lim Soo-jung (we're sure is all that too) plays his strange love interest (or vice versa, so see the movie) in a twisted tale that involves mechanics. All of it a product of director Park Chan-wook (in the middle of it all). In case someone noticed, it's not at a party, but at a press conference, but well, there you go. We almost got a picture of them at a dinner, but... well... but...

Well, the time change sucks, but hey, it's an opening night party. Outfest's Kirsten Schaffer, Bird Runningwater a la Sundance notoriety, and director Mike Jonathan make the final rounds at the opening party in Berlin. Jonathan is attending with his film, "Hawaikii."

In Berlin and handling the questions at a very packed room of journalists for their opening night film, "La Vie en Rose" (called "La Mome" outside the U.S.), French actress Marion Cotillard and director Olivier Dahan were surrounded by photogs and overly aggressive camera crews throughout the press conference Thursday afternoon at the Grand Hyatt Hotel (somehow recording them sitting down must make for great television). Word in Potsdamer Platz was that Cotillard gave a dazzling performance portraying French chanteuse Edith Piaf in the dramatic--if a bit lengthy--film.

Peace, Love and the Berlin-F'N-ale!!! Berlin International Film Festival director, Dieter Kosslick gives us a sign at the opening night party Thursday for the 10-day festival along with Berlinale programmer Rajendra Roy late into the evening, which began with the gala screening of Olivier Dahan's "La Vie en Rose" (La Mome). Roy is also the Artistic Director of October's Hamptons International Film Festival.

Director Ryan Eslinger ("Madness and Genius") hung out with us iW folks on his way out of the Berlinale opening night party, and stayed around for a chat. His latest film, "When a Man Falls in the Forest," with Dylan Baker, Timothy Hutton and Sharon Stone, will screen Monday in the festival's competition. Eslinger's been an iW fav since his Hamptons Fest days with his first film--and a refreshingly nice person to know.

Chatting at the Berlinale opening night party in Potsdamer Platz following the gala screening of Olivier Dahan's "La Vie en Rose" (La Mome), Strand Releasing co-prez Marcus Hu, looking chipper after a long flight from LA (it was his birthday) and Unifrance chief Antoine Khalife. Both managed to find chairs in the coveted main floor of the Berlinale Palast, in the multi-tiered party Thursday night.

In New York City last week are Berlin International Film Festival director Dieter Kosslick (right) and Karen Arikian, co-director of the European Film Market at the Berlinale. The two joined industry insiders and friends at the end of what they said was a productive trip to New York to meet with colleagues and film industry. The party took place at the home of NYU faculty member, and filmmaker, Jay Anania.

At the Berlinale party, Kief Davidson, director of "The Devil's Miner", with Cleo Godsey from First Run Features.

RES Media Group's Karol Martesko with Hamptons International Film Festival Artistic Director and Berlinale programming committe member Raj Roy and Hamptons fest executive director Denise Kassell, chatting at the Berlinale party in New York last week.

More from Berlin '06: Hanging out at the Trust Films sales party left to right: Konstantinos Kontrovrakis, Thessalonikki Film Festival programmer, "In Between Days" actress Jiseon Kim, So Yong Kim, writer/director of "In Between Days," the film's writer/producer, Bradley Rust Gray along with Tribeca Film Festival programmer, David Kwok.

More from Berlin '06: Sundance was also among the festivals in Berlin to host a party, this one in the European Film Market on one chilly afternoon (actually everyday was pretty chilly). Enjoying a nice festival respite are "Quinceanera" star, Jesse Garcia (middle with an iced tea, the cutie doesn't drink) whose film, directed by Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer, took both the jury and audience awards at Sundance. Joining Garcia are Sundance programmer, Bird Runningwater (again with his angelic lanyard) and David Courier, Outfest programmer and Sundance programming consultant.

More from Berlin '06: The AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival hosted an evening soiree in the Sony Center in Potsdamer Platz for its fest. Enjoying a little Presseco were Shaz Bennett, AFI Fest senior programmer (left), AFI Fest head Christian Gaines and Nancy Collet, director of programming.

More from Berlin '06: Rushing out of the Canada party on their way to the big Scandinavian bash in Mitte (and it was a fun one too). Voss Norway's Cinema (Kino) Director Ann Karin Atteras (left) with New York-based publicist, Gary Springer and doc filmmaker, Kari Pettersen ("Cool & Crazy on the Road").

More from Berlin '06: The Ritz Hotel in Potsdamer Platz was a nightly hub of social activity. Industryites armed with expense accounts partied-hearty in the bar into the wee hours of the night. Enjoying a more sedate early evening affair here though were Hamptons International Film Festival executive director Denise Kassel (left) on the occasion of her birthday, along with Hamptons director of programming, Rajendra Roy (who also worked on the Berlinale programming team again this year) and former IFC exec, Kelly DeVine.

Director General of the Swedish Film Institute Ase Kleveland (left) toasts actress Harriet Andersson (a frequent collaborator with Ingmar Bergman) on her birthday at last week's Swedish party at Cafe Einstein in Berlin. The crowd sang her "Happy Birthday," which brought on the tears. The party was a good one in a fancy restaurant, which was a contrast to the area of Berlin where it is located -- popular with some very ostentatiously dressed prostitutes.

At the Panorama party in Berlin, "El Dia Que Mori" director Maryam Keshavarz (center), with producer Carla Roley (right) and producer Sean Shodahl. Their film received a special mention at the fest.

Having a ball at the Canada party at the Canadian embassy in Potsdamer Platz, SilverDocs' new programmer Skye Sitney hangs with Tribeca Film Festival programmer David Kwok and Thom Powers, the recently named new docs programmer at the Toronto International Film Festival. The Canada party had quite a rigid check in. A hard invitation wasn't sufficient, and we almost didn't get in.

The Berlinale's Panorama section threw itself a party inside the Berlinale Palast last week. The room was packed full of smokers, as is evident with the smoky room. The Panorama section is huge, and as one Berlin guidebook said, 'it's almost a festival in and of itself.'

The Berlinale comes almost on the heels of America's big fest, the Sundance Film Festival, so it's no surprise to see many of the same people working the fest circuit in the German capital. Sundance hosted an afternoon cocktail party at the new venue housing the European Film Market about a ten minute walk from Potsdamer Platz, which turned into a mini-reunion for many who most likely were chatting each other up no long before thousands of miles away in Utah. Sundance Film Festival director Geoff Gilmore (right) joined the festivities along with Karen Arikian, deputy director of the EFM and Sundance programmer, Bird Runningwater whose lanyard is simply celestial!

Independent Feature Project (IFP) executive director Michelle Byrd (left) and producer Effie Brown ("Real Women Have Curves") joined the good times at the Icleand party in west Berlin. The party turned into a late nighter for many there, with some (though we don't think these two) checking out around 5am (this is Berlin), and local celebutante Gloria Viagra (seen in the background with her big hair) spinned the night's tunes. Byrd hosted the IFP Filmmakers in Berlin dinner the following night in Potsdamer Platz.

Kodak's Anne Hubbell co-hosted the Independent Feature Project's (IFP) Filmmaker's Dinner in Berlin earlier this week. Many of the busy fest-goers commented that the sit down evening was their first "real" meal in a while as many at the busy festival tend to grab a "quicky" en route to one thing or another. Joining Hubbell at the table is Samuel Goldwyn Films acquisition exec. Peter Goldwyn, who will soon relocate to New York from L.A.

IFC Entertainment president Jonathan Sehring shared a post-dessert chit chat with "The Trials of Darryl Hunt" co-director, Anne Sundberg (co-directed with Ricki Stern) at the IFP dinner in Potsdamer Platz. The doc, which played in competition at Sundance last month, screened in the European Film Market at the Berlinale.

Stepping up to the bar at the Trust Film Sales party, Pernille Fischer Christensen, director of competition film "A Soap", the film's screenwriter, Kim Fupz Aakeson and Fusun Eriksen of Trust Film Sales. The party was quite a rager, with some people finally leaving the venue at 5:45am. "A Soap" is a love triangle that is a Danish/Swedish production.

Michael Hayden, Sandra Hebron artistic director and Sarah Lutton from The Times bfi London Film Festival at the Trust Film Sales party last weekend. The trio had nice bright smiles for this photo after taking a look at the original shot and deciding they wanted a re-take showing their pearly whites.

Playing hosts at their party in Berlin spotlighting the Asian Film Market, Mr. Kim Dong-Ho, director of the Pusan International Film Festival and co-director of the Asian Film Market and Ms. An Cheong Sook, chairperson of the Korean Film Council. We were expecting to have to explain what indieWIRE was, but Ms Cheong surprised us by knowing it well. The Korean party had terrific food and a great view of Berlin from atop a high rise.

Finding a place to sit and have some cocktails, Annette K. Olesen, director "1:1," screening in the Panorama section and Trine Dyrholm, lead actor in "A Soap," screening in competition at the Trust Film Sales party, which took place near Alexander Platz in east Berlin.

"The Science of Sleep" star Gael Garcia Bernal and director Michel Gondry seemed to be having a bit of fun at the press conference for their film, screening at the Berlin International Film Festival. Bernal, who responded to questions in English, French and Spanish, described his dreams to much laughter, while Gondry at times took photos of Bernal and the audience. Gondry also brought along a little bubbley for the occasion.

Goth rocker Marilyn Manson was almost in his full regalia Sunday in Berlin for a press announcement of his new biopic project "Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll," which he will direct and star in this coming summer. Manson, pictured here with model Lily Cole who will also star in the film, said he relates to the troubled "Alice in Wonderland" author's life. Manson also said film is an important creative passion for him personally. "I feel more of a student of film then music," he said during the press conference, and added that when he makes a record he envisions it "like a film."

Japanese director Takashi Miike, in Berlin for his film "Big Bang Love," said he'd like to do his own version of a spaghetti Western, and wants to do a film that is more violent then the Hong Kong material. "There's an audience that likes my films, but they're certainly not mainstream" Takashi said through an interpreter. Pictured with Takashi (right) is "Big Bang Love" actor, Masanobu Ando.

When all the parties are over, there's always the Independents Lounge (last year known as the Panorama Bar) near Potsdamer Platz. Having a good ole time here is Outfest executive director Stephen Gutwillig (left), actress/producer Mia Riverton ("Red Doors") who is taking part in this year's Talent Campus at the Berlinale, and Rudi Furstberger of German company Rosebud Entertainment.

A couple of gals got all dolled up for the Teddy party at the Homebase Independents Lounge last weekend in Berlin. The Teddy Award is given to the best gay film at the Berlinale.

"Breakfast on Pluto" star Cillian Murphy thought he had finished doing press for the film, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for best actor. But, it was off to the Berlinale for another engagement for the film and international press. Murphy, pictured here with the film's producer Alan Moloney, hung out with transvestites while preparing for the role of Kitten in the film and said their needs were pretty basic: To be loved, and to look pretty.

A German actress leaving the Berlinale opening night party causes a stir among the roving photographers.

At the opening night Berlinale party, Panorama heads Margaret Von Schiller and Weiland Speck with local Berlin notable, Gloria Viagra.

Crowds trying to go through the main entrance to the European Film Market were diverted through a back entrance this afternoon in Berlin in anticipation of the arrival of Germany's new Chancellor, Angela Merkel. No doubt giving an official push to the market, which more than doubled in size this year, Merkel (center) visited various booths in the large venue. Merkel is seen here exiting the German films section at the market with Berlin International Film Festival head Dieter Kosslick and Beki Probst, the head of the European Film Market.

At the Arkaden, the shopping mall in Potsdamer Platz (site of many of the Berlinale theaters), patrons line-up to buy tickets on the day before the Berlin International Film Festival was set to begin.

At the Berlinale Palast Wednesday, workers construct platforms for the red carpet that will heat up with arrivals tonight (Thursday), when the Berlin International Film Festival opens.