Berlinale Bloggers

Berlinale Blogger*innen 2025 © Tobias Schrank

Already the 75th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival! A good reason to celebrate. The city is also delighted to welcome the new Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle. The festival presents films from all over the world in its usual variety, attracting countless film fans to the German capital. In the cinema audience: our Berlinale bloggers. Look forward to their texts!

Berlinale | Award Ceremony

Celebration of Classic Narrative Cinema

The anniversary edition of the Berlinale was marked by challenging circumstances – but director Tricia Tuttle excelled in her role. This time, the focus was on the films rather than debates about the Israel-Gaza war. The Golden Bear was awarded to a Norwegian coming-of-age drama.

Their film “Drømmer“ (Dreams) won the Golden Bear. Director Dag Johan Haugerud and the actresses Selome Emnetu, Ella Øverbye, Ane Dahl Torp and Anne Marit Jacobsen Photo (detail): © Richard Hübner / Berlinale 2025 Photo (detail): © Richard Hübner / Berlinale 2025

75th Berlinale 2025

Film Art, Debate Culture and a New Female Boss

For the 75th anniversary of the Berlinale, Tricia Tuttle is relying on a tried-and-tested mix of arthouse cinema and international stars. But it's not just films – political debates are also part of the festival's DNA.

Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet in „A Complete Unknown“ (Like a Complete Unknown). Director James Mangold Photo (detail): © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved Photo (detail): © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved

Berlinale | Retrospective

German Cinema Could Once Make Genre Films

Under the lurid motto “Wild, weird, bloody”, the retrospective presents German genre cinema from the 1970s.

“Jonathan" – vampir film from 1970. Director: Hans W. Geißendörfer Photo (detail): Kinowelt, © Beta Film Photo (detail): Kinowelt, © Beta Film

Berlinale | Interview With Tricia Tuttle

“It Will Be Very Exciting and Fun”

Tricia Tuttle is directing the Berlinale for the first time – and commutes between Berlin and London. In this interview, she talks about life between two cities, the international significance of the festival and its 75th anniversary highlights.

Tricia Tuttle, Festival Director Photo (detail): © Richard Hübner / Berlinale 2024 Photo (detail): © Richard Hübner / Berlinale 2024

Contributions of our bloggers

Collège Maisonneuve film students introduce themselves

Off to the Berlinale!

Every year, the Goethe-Institut collaborates with students from Collège de Maisonneuve who attend the Berlinale festival and send us their film reviews and impressions.

Les étudiantes et étudiants du Collège Maisonneuve © Stéphanie Boutin © Stéphanie Boutin

"What Marielle Knows"

Acting without listening

For Collège Maisonneuve's Berlinale bloggers, Ophély Coallier and Clémence Lallier-Lafleur describe their impressions of Frédérick Hambalek's competition film, “Was Marielle weiss”, previewed at Berlinale 2025.

Laeni Geiseler : Marielle © Alexander Griesser © Alexander Griesser

Looking back at the 75th Berlinale

“Traveling the world a little”

Ophelia Lalande and Angel Gabriel Fermin Lara report on their trip to Berlin for the Berlinale 2025.

Tatouage Berlinale © Ophélie Lalande / Angel Gabriel Fermin Lara © Ophélie Lalande / Angel Gabriel Fermin Lara

EFM 2025

Six days behind the scenes

Collège Maisonneuve students tell us about their experience as Telefilm Canada representatives at the EFM (European Film Market). An interesting story of resourcefulness and behind-the-scenes discoveries!

EFM © Abdelaziz Benazzouz © Abdelaziz Benazzouz

Yunan

A film of hope

Collège Maisonneuve students Kelly-Anne Vargas and Colin St-Jean on the film “Yunan” by Ameer Fakher Eldin.

Berlinale | Film review “Was Marielle weiß”

What We Prefer Not to Reveal

What happens when your own child suddenly develops psychic abilities? The film “What Marielle weiß” plays this out – and surprises with a successful mixture of lightness, humour and profound storytelling.

Laeni Geiseler in „Was Marielle weiß“. Director Frédéric Hambalek Photo (detail): © Alexander Griesser Photo (detail): © Alexander Griesser

"Welcome Home Baby"

A painful return to the roots

Kelly-Anne Vargas and Colin St-Jean, students at Collège Maisonneuve, on the film “Yunan” by Ameer Fakher Eldin.

Julia Franz Richter in "Welcome Home Baby" © Lotus Filmproduktion, Senator Film Produktion © Lotus Filmproduktion, Senator Film Produktion

Conference

Halima Elkhatabi at the Canadian Embassy

Ozan Abdelhafidi and Elyes Chafia tell us about their encounter with Halima Elkhabati and their enthusiasm for her inspiring work.

Restrospective

Berlin, as seen by a Montreal CEGEP student

Collège du Maisonneuve student Marwan Benyamina reflects on his stay in Berlin for Berlinale 2025

is programme curator for the Goethe-Institut Toronto.

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Philipp Bühler has been reporting on the Berlinale as a freelance film critic since 2000.
Valérie Catil is an editor for taz zwei, the society and media section.
is a film scholar, curator, critic, and co-host of the film podcast Reel Chats.
is a screenwriter and director for film and television.
is a Culture Editor at the Goethe-Institut Athens and a freelance journalist for online media and television.

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Prathap Nair
India
is a film critic, film festival programmer and holds many offices in the Egyptian film industry. He has served on film festival juries and writes regularly about cinema and the entertainment industry.
Abdelhafidi Ozan, Benazzouz Abdelaziz, Benazzo, Benyamina Marwan, Chafia Elyes, Coallier Ophély, Fermin Lara, Angel Gabriel, Herce Stella, Lake Raphaël, Lalande Ophélie, Lallier-Lafleur Clémence, Larivière Myakim, Legault Sarah-Lune, Miron Théa Maria, Nichols-Pétel Gabriel, Ramsay Marie-Luce, Reimer Marion, Ross Vincent, Saint-Jean Colin, Sambor Marion, Vargas Kelly-Anne
Stéphanie Boutin : sboutin@cmaisonneuve.qc.ca
Olivier Belleau : obelleau@cmaisonneuve.qc.ca