Berlinale Special & Berlinale Series

A selection of previous Berlinale Special productions

Isabelle Huppert
À propos de Joan | About Joan by Laurent Larivière
FRA, DEU, IRL 2021, Berlinale Special
© 247films

Nick Cave
This Much I Know To Be True by Andrew Dominik
GBR 2021, Berlinale Special
© Bad Seed Ltd.

Zoey Deutch, Mark Rylance
The Outfit by Graham Moore
USA 2021, Berlinale Special
© Nick Wall / Focus Features

Michelle Pfeiffer, Lucas Hedges
French Exit by Azazel Jacobs
CAN, IRL 2021, Berlinale Special
© Tobias Datum / Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Jodie Foster
The Mauritanian | Der Mauretanier by Kevin Macdonald
GBR 2021, Berlinale Special
© STX International / TOBIS

Courage by Aliaksei Paluyan
DEU 2021, Berlinale Special
© Living Pictures Production

Minami, Johnny Depp
Minamata by Andrew Levitas
GBR 2020, Berlinale Special
© Larry Horricks / HanWay Films

Last and First Men by Jóhann Jóhannsson
ISL 2019, Berlinale Special
© Sturla Brandth Grøvlen

Ivan Trojan, Juraj Loj
Charlatan by Agnieszka Holland
CZE, IRL, POL, SVK 2020, Berlinale Special
© Marlene Film Production

Park Hae-soo
Sa-nyang-eui-si-gan | Time to Hunt by Yoon Sung-hyun
KOR 2020, Berlinale Special
© Union Investment Partners, Littlebig Pictures, Sidus

Hillary Clinton
Hillary by Nanette Burstein
USA 2019, Berlinale Special
© Clinton Foundation

The Look of Silence by Joshua Oppenheimer
DNK/NOR/FIN/IDN/GBR 2014, Berlinale Special
© Lars Skree

Ranveer Singh
Gully Boy by Zoya Akhtar
IND 2018, Berlinale Special
© Excel Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams
American Hustle by David O. Russell
USA 2013, Berlinale Special
Francois Duhamel © Tobis Film

Robert Silvers
Untitled New York Review of Books Documentary by Martin Scorsese, David Tedeschi
USA 2013, Berlinale Special

VE Day Celebrations London 1945
The Spirit of '45 by Ken Loach
GBR 2013, Berlinale Special
© IWM

Shah Rukh Khan
Don – The King Is Back by Farhan Akhtar
IND/DEU 2011, Berlinale Special
© Rapid Eye Movies

Althawra ... Khabar | Reporting ... A Revolution | Bericht ... einer Revolution by Bassam Mortada
EGY 2012, Berlinale Special

Colin Firth
The King’s Speech by Tom Hooper
GBR/AUS 2010, Berlinale Special

Food, Inc. by Robert Kenner
USA 2008, Berlinale Special
© Participant Media/River Road Entertainment

Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Berlin Alexanderplatz: Remastered by Rainer Werner Fassbinder
DEU 2007, Berlinale Special

The Day After Tomorrow by Roland Emmerich
USA 2004, Berlinale Special

Ed Sheeran
Songwriter by Murray Cummings
GBR 2017, Berlinale Special
© Murray Pictures Limited 2018

Where To Invade Next by Michael Moore
USA 2015, Berlinale Special
© Dog Eat Dog Films

John Berger, Tilda Swinton
The Seasons in Quincy: Four Portraits of John Berger by Colin MacCabe, Christopher Roth, Tilda Swinton, Bartek Dziadosz
GBR 2015, Berlinale Special
© Sandro Kopp
Berlinale Special
Glamour and popular films in the Gala Premieres, in-depth debates at the panel discussions, a spotlight on current topics, unusual formats and the honouring of extraordinary film personalities – Berlinale Special is one of the festival’s most versatile programmes.
Footloose and fancy-free, spontaneous and up-to-date – a diversity of forms shines in the Berlinale Special. Originating from the special screenings which became affiliated with the Competition in 1984, from 2004 the section has offered an abundant and colourful selection of films and events and it uncovers many treasures every year. Berlinale Special is flexible and also characterised by its unusual venues: even the Brandenburg Gate can be transformed into a cinema.
Over the years, Berlinale Special has also established itself as a space for reflection on film, its history and adjacent art forms. Many films in the programme explore the origins of particular film trends, focus on film history or portray directors and other artists. And, with the films in Berlinale Special, the Berlinale honours great film personalities whose work is particularly close to the festival’s heart.
The Berlinale Special is curated by the Artistic Director of the Berlinale, Carlo Chatrian, supported by a selection committee.
Films in the Berlinale Special can be nominated for the Berlinale Documentary Award, funded by rbb and endowed with 40,000 Euros.
Press Conferences for the Gala Premieres are streamed live and then available on-demand.

Series from recent editions

Aldís Amah Hamilton
Svörtu sandar | Black Sands by Baldvin Z
ISL 2021, Berlinale Series
© Juliette Rowland / Glassriver

Anne Beaudry, Kathleen Stavert, Micheline Lanctôt, Ellen David, Paul Doucet, Nicole Leroux
Le temps des framboises | Last Summers of the Raspberries by Philippe Falardeau
CAN 2022, Berlinale Series
© Lou Scamble

Sofie Gråbøl, Pål Sverre Hagen
Ellas vagt | The Shift by Søren Balle, Ole Christian Madsen, Lone Scherfig
DNK 2022, Berlinale Series
© Rolf Konow

Entre hombres | Amongst Men by Pablo Fendrik
ARG 2020, Berlinale Series
© WarnerMedia

Tom Schilling, Katharina Schüttler
Ich und die Anderen | Me and the Others by David Schalko
AUT, DEU 2021, Berlinale Series
© Superfilm

Karine Teles
Os últimos dias de Gilda | The Last Days of Gilda by Gustavo Pizzi
BRA 2020, Berlinale Series
© Marcinho Nunes

Larry Krasner
Philly D.A. by Ted Passon, Yoni Brook
USA 2021, Berlinale Series
© Yoni Brook

Ardalan Esmaili
Snöänglar | Snow Angels by Anna Zackrisson
SWE, DNK 2021, Berlinale Series
© Johan Paulin / SVT 2020

Olly Alexander, Callum Scott Howells
It’s a Sin by Peter Hoar
GBR 2020, Berlinale Series
© RED Production Company, all3media international

Jason Segel, Eve Lindley
Dispatches From Elsewhere by Jason Segel, Wendey Stanzler
USA 2019, Berlinale Series
© 2019 AMC Film Holdings LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Amandla Stenberg, André Holland
The Eddy by Damien Chazelle, Houda Benyamina, Laila Marrakchi, Alan Poul
FRA 2019, Berlinale Series
© Lou Faulon

Cate Blanchett
Stateless by Emma Freeman, Jocelyn Moorhouse
AUS 2019, Berlinale Series
© Ben King

Thalissa Teixeira, Ariane Labed, Gary Carr
Trigonometry by Athina Rachel Tsangari, Stella Corradi
GBR 2020, Berlinale Series
© House Productions Ltd.

Philipp Hochmair, Ella Rumpf, Anja Kling
Freud by Marvin Kren
AUT, DEU, CZE 2020, Berlinale Series
© Jan Hromadko/SATEL Film GmbH/Bavaria Fiction GmbH

Natalie Dormer
Picnic at Hanging Rock by Larysa Kondracki
AUS 2017, Berlinale Special
© FremantleMedia Australia

Jeff Daniels, Tahar Rahim
USA 2017, Berlinale Special
© Legendary Television

Albrecht Schuch, Mai Duong Kieu, Barry Atsma
Bad Banks by Christian Schwochow
DEU/LUX 2017, Berlinale Special
© Letterbox / Sammy Hart

Jonathan Banks, Bob Odenkirk
Better Call Saul – Season 2 by Thomas Schnauz
USA 2016, Berlinale Special
Ben Leuner © 2015 AMC Network Entertainment LLC and Sony Pictures Television Inc.
Berlinale Series
Berlinale Series offers an exclusive first look at outstanding new series productions from around the world. The programme presents works of creators who consistently use the creative freedom of serial storytelling and complement the variety of formats with relevant and contemporary narratives.
With the establishment of Berlinale Series in 2015, the Berlinale, as the first A-festival worldwide, did justice to changing viewing habits and the growing significance of serial storytelling acknowledging the many important aesthetic-artistical, dramaturgical and formal developments of audiovisual storytelling taking place in this field. Creative visions, budget and the talent involved are already on a par with film productions.
The Berlinale Series Award, inaugurated in 2023 in cooperation with "Deadline", is the further development of this appreciation for serial formats. The first prize to be awarded specifically for a series at an A festival will be chosen by a jury of three from the six to eight nominated series in the programme.
The home of Berlinale Series is the Zoo Palast in the heart of the city. Here, the Red Carpet is rolled out for world and international premieres to pay tribute to cast and crews. Over the course of three days, established names meet undiscovered talents who together present ambitious and innovative series of all genres to the festival audience.
Taking place alongside the festival premieres is the “Berlinale Series Market”, a conference platform and marketplace for industry professionals which goes hand in hand with Berlinale Series.

Festival photos from previous editions

Julia Fidel, Sofia Helin, Anja Lundqvist, Julia Dufvenius, Elin Klinga, Sandra Harms
The head of Berlinale Series in conversation with the actors and the producer.
Lust · Berlinale Series · Feb 14, 2022

Dario Argento, Asia Argento
Father and daughter together on the Red Carpet.
Occhiali neri · Berlinale Special · Feb 11, 2022

Film team
High spirits on the n the Red Carpet.
Gangubai Kathiawadi · Berlinale Special · Feb 16, 2022

Inside Friedrichstadt-Palast
Emma Thompson can’t wait to get to the cinema.
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande · Berlinale Special · Feb 12, 2022

Daniel Burman
The creator of the Argentine series.
Iosi, el espía arrepentido · Berlinale Series · Feb 11, 2022

Clara Rugaard, Nenda Neururer, Matthew McNulty, Solly McLeod, Robyn Cara
The actors at the Photo Call.
The Rising · Berlinale Series · Feb 16, 2022

Long-shot
It’s a Sin · Berlinale Series · ARTE Sommerkino Schloss Charlottenburg · Jun 11, 2021

Nicole Salazar
At the interview.
Philly D.A. · Berlinale Series · ARTE Sommerkino Schloss Charlottenburg · Jun 10, 2021

Visitors
It’s a Sin · Berlinale Series · ARTE Sommerkino Schloss Charlottenburg · Jun 11, 2021

Tom Schilling, David Schalko
The actor and the creator during the Q&A before the screening.
Ich und die Anderen · Berlinale Series · ARTE Sommerkino Schloss Charlottenburg · Jun 09, 2021

Elizaveta Maximová, Anna Fialová
The two actors in the open-air cinema.
Je suis Karl · Berlinale Special · Freiluftkino Friedrichshain · Jun 19, 2021

Amandla Stenberg, André Holland
The actors signing autographs.
The Eddy · Berlinale Series · Feb 27, 2020

Ariane Labed, Gary Carr
Premiere in the Zoo Palast.
Trigonometry · Berlinale Series · Feb 25, 2020

Nina Terese Rask, Jonathan Bergholdt Jørgensen, Asta Kamma August, Amalie Næsby Fick, Clara Mendes
Premiere in the Zoo Palast.
Sex · Berlinale Series · Feb 26, 2020

Jason Segel
The creator and main actor with fans at the Red Carpet.
Dispatches From Elsewhere · Berlinale Series · Feb 24, 2020

Wayne Blair, Warwick Thornton
The directors on stage.
Mystery Road 2 · Berlinale Series · Feb 25, 2020

Group photo
The team at the Photo Call.
Stateless · Berlinale Series · Feb 26, 2020

Julia Fidel, Cate Blanchett
The section head wit the actress, who also invested as co-creator and executive producer in the project.
Stateless · Berlinale Series · Feb 26, 2020

Natalie Dormer
Picnic at Hanging Rock · Berlinale Series · Feb 19, 2018

Jeff Daniels
The Looming Tower · Berlinale Series · Feb 20, 2018

Mai Duong Kieu
Bad Banks · Berlinale Series · Feb 21, 2018

Sienna Miller
The Lost City of Z · Berlinale Special · Feb 14, 2017

Robert Pattinson
The Lost City of Z · Berlinale Special · Feb 14, 2017

Sonia Kennebeck
The director in the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.
National Bird · Berlinale Special · Feb 14, 2016

Don Cheadle
Miles Ahead · Berlinale Special · Feb 18, 2016

Bartek Dziadosz, Colin MacCabe, Tilda Swinton, Christopher Roth
Prominent friends of John Berger, who visited the British writer, painter and art critic in the French Alps.
The Seasons in Quincy: Four Portraits of John Berger · Berlinale Special · Feb 13, 2016

Dane DeHaan, Anton Corbijn, Robert Pattinson
Arrival at the the Zoo Palast.
Life · Berlinale Special · Feb 09, 2015

Natalie Portmann, Maryanne Redpath, Jack Pettibone Riccobono, Shane Omar Slattery-Quintanilla
The executive producer, the section head of NATIVe - A Journey into Indigenous Cinema, the director and the producer on the podium of the panel discussion.
The Seventh Fire · Berlinale Special · Haus der Berliner Festspiele · Feb 07, 2015

Joshua Oppenheimer, Werner Herzog
After the premiere there was a talk between the director and the executive producer.
The Look of Silence · Berlinale Special · Feb 08, 2015

Martin Scorsese
The director of the film.
Untitled New York Review of Books Documentary · Berlinale Special · Feb 14, 2014

Christian Bale
The actor on the Red Carpet.
American Hustle · Berlinale Special · Feb 07, 2014

Anne Hathaway
Before the screening in the Friedrichstadt-Palast the actress was celebrated frenetically.
Les Misérables · Berlinale Special · Feb 09, 2013

Keanu Reeves
A face in the crowd.
Side By Side · Berlinale Special · Feb 15, 2012

Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt
In the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.
In The Land Of Blood And Honey · Berlinale Special · Feb 11, 2012

Friedrichstadt-Palast
Festive atmosphere at the premiere of the restored version of the classic.
Oktjabr · Berlinale Special · Feb 10, 2012

Helena Bonham Carter
The actress in the Friedrichstadt-Palast.
The King’s Speech · Berlinale Special · Feb 16, 2011

Salma Hayek
“Oh my god, it is really me!” – the actress on the Red Carpet.
La chispa de la vida · Berlinale Special · Feb 15, 2012

Metropolis
The world premiere of the almost completely reconstructed original version of Fritz Lang’s classic at the Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin was simultaneously projected onto a screen at the Brandenburg Gate.
Metropolis · Berlinale Special · 2010

Paul Schrader
The screenwriter at the screening of Taxi Driver.
Taxi Driver · Berlinale Special · Feb 17, 2011

Ed Sheeran
The musician with fans at the Red Carpet.
Songwriter · Berlinale Special · Feb 23, 2018