First Look: Colin Firth and Jude Law Channel Literary ‘Genius’ in Berlinale World Premiere

Actor Michael Grandage (“The Madness of King George”) makes his first foray behind the camera for “Genius,” world premiering in competition at next year’s Berlinale. Written by the prolific John Logan (“Hugo,” “Skyfall,” Spectre,” and Golden Globe nominee “Penny Dreadful”), the film stars Colin Firth as famed literary editor Max Perkins, who wrangled American icons Ernest Hemingway (Dominic West), Thomas Wolfe (Law), and F. Scott Fitzgerald (Guy Pearce) during a decades long tenure at Charles Scribner’s Sons. 

In the years between the two World Wars, Perkins—who developed close relationships with his writers—oversaw the publication of such classic titles as “This Side of Paradise,” “The Great Gatsby,” “The Sun Also Rises,” “A Farewell to Arms,” and “Look Homeward, Angel.”

The film co-stars Nicole Kidman, Laura Linney, and Vanessa Kirby. Read the list of titles added to the Berlinale Competition and Berlinale Special sections so far below:

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Competition

“Boris sans Béatrice” (Boris without Béatrice)
Canada
By Denis Côté (“Vic+Flo Saw a Bear”)

With James Hyndman, Simone-Elise Girard, Denis Lavant,
Isolda Dychauk, Dounia Sichov
World premiere

“Genius”
United Kingdom / USA
By Michael Grandage
With Colin Firth, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Laura Linney, Guy
Pearce, Dominic West
World premiere

“Jeder stirbt für sich allein” (Alone in Berlin)

Germany / France / United Kingdom

By Vincent Perez (“The Secret”)

With Brendan Gleeson, Emma Thompson, Daniel Brühl, Mikael
Persbrandt

World Premiere

“Midnight Special”

USA

By Jeff Nichols (“Mud,” “Take Shelter”)

With Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam
Driver, Jaedan Lieberher, Sam Shepard

World premiere

“Zero Days” – documentary

USA

By Alex Gibney (“Taxi to the Dark Side”)

World premiere

Berlinale Special
“The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble” – documentary

USA

By Morgan Neville (“Twenty Feet from Stardom”)
European premiere

“The Seasons in Quincy: Four Portraits of John Berger” –
documentary
United Kingdom
By Colin MacCabe, Christopher Roth, Bartek Dziadosz, Tilda
Swinton

World Premiere

“Where To Invade Next” – documentary

USA

By Michael Moore (“Fahrenheit 9/11,” “Bowling for Columbine”)

European premiere