The first major film festival in Europe kicks off next month, just four weeks after the Golden Globes and finishing a week ahead of the Oscars. Opening February 11, the 66th Annual Berlin Film Festival –better known simply as “Berlinale” – almost has as much Hollywood presence lined up as those two most prestigious of Los Angeles ceremonies.Running until February 21, Berlinale will open with the latest from the Coen Brothers. “Hail, Caesar!” is a parody of 1950s Hollywood, and tells the story of a “fixer” working forced to search for a cast member who disappears from a film set. To say it boasts an all-star cast is an understatement – Joel and Ethan’s follow-up to the melancholic “Inside Llewyn Davis” (2013) features Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Jonah Hill, Ralph Fiennes, Channing Tatum, Tilda Swinton and Scarlett Johansson, plus numerous cameos. The main competition, of which only five films have so far been confirmed, features Jeff Nichols’ latest, “Midnight Special,” starring Kirsten Dunst and Michael Shannon. Michael Grandage’s first feature “Genius” will see its world premiere at the event. Starring Colin Firth, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Guy Pearce, the story of book editor Max Perkins is one of the most hotly anticipated of the festival. The Golden Bear “Best Film” and Silver Bear category winners will be selected by a jury led by this year’s Jury President, three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep.Two very different documentaries have been confirmed to screen, with Michael Moore’s latest “Where to Invade Next” and Morgan Neville’s “The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble” both set for their European premieres.Two Czech films have also been announced, including the debut by Czech filmmakers Petr Kazda and Tomáš Weinreb. “I, Olga Hepnarová” is based on the story of Czech mass murderer Olga Hepnarová, responsible for the deaths of eight random people in 1973. Director Petr Oukropec, a previous winner of the Czech Lion for “The Idiot Returns” (1999) will present his latest, “In My Dreams.”Berlinale Competition Section 2016 (more TBC) Boris sans Béatrice (Boris without Béatrice)CanadaBy Denis Côté (Vic+Flo Saw a Bear)With James Hyndman, Simone-Elise Girard, Denis Lavant, Isolda Dychauk, Dounia SichovWorld premiere GeniusUnited Kingdom / USABy Michael GrandageWith Colin Firth, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Laura Linney, Guy Pearce, Dominic WestWorld premiere - first feature Alone in BerlinGermany / France / United KingdomBy Vincent Perez (The Secret)With Brendan Gleeson, Emma Thompson, Daniel Brühl, Mikael PersbrandtWorld premiere Midnight SpecialUSABy Jeff Nichols (Mud, Take Shelter)With Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, Jaedan Lieberher, Sam ShepardWorld premiere Zero Days - documentaryUSABy Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side)World premiere
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