HAIL, CAESAR! To Open Berlinale 2016, MIDNIGHT SPECIAL And WHERE TO INVADE NEXT Premiering

Berlinale 2016 will open with what looks to be a hilarious bang with Hail, Caesar! The new film from Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, a hilarious spoof of the old Hollywood studio days, will premiere on February 11th, kicking off the European festival season.

The festival also announced the first round of films in competition and special screenings. Among the highlights are Jeff Nichols' new fantastical tale Midnight Special, starring Michael Shannon as a man protecting his possibly alien son; Michael Moore's latest documentary Where To Invade Next; Canada's own Denis Côté's Boris Without Beatrice; and Michael Grandage's Genius, starring Colin Firth, Jude Law, and Nicole Kidman, about book editor Max Perkins, who oversaw publication of books by Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The first nine films for the 66th Berlin International Film Festival Competition and Berlinale Special programme have been selected. Joining opening film Hail, Caesar! by Joel and Ethan Coen, which will be presented out of competition, five productions and co-productions from Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom and the US are the newest additions to the Competition programme.

 

As part of the official programme, Berlinale Special will feature current works by contemporary filmmakers, documentaries and unique formats. Three productions have already been invited.

 

More information regarding programme selections will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

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 - First Feature

 

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