23/01/2003 - Ten Euro-films (plus three co-coproductions) were selected for competition in Berlin: Winterbottom, Chéreau & Salvatores & Kramer's German debuts

22 films were selected for competition at the forthcoming Berlinale (6-16 Feb). Dieter Kosslick is scheduled to announce the programme at the official press conference on 28 January. The selectors’ choice includes 5 titles to be screened out-of-competition and a series of special sidebar screenings. Two gala screenings are scheduled for Lola in honour of Anouk Aimée and Tokyo Monogatari, which is part of the retrospective celebrating the 100th birthday of Yasujiro Ozu.
The 53rd edition of Germany’s premier film event includes 10 world premieres (many of which in competition) as well as a numerous European contingent.

Mang Jing (Blind Shaft) by Li Yang (Germany, China)
The directorial feature debut by Chinese documentary-maker portrays the tough everyday lives of a group of miners in northern China.

My Life Without Me by Isabel Coixet (Spain, Canada)
is the story of a young woman whose illness makes her take stock of her life.

In This World by Michael Winterbottom (United Kingdom)
The trials and tribulations of a young Afghan immigrant to Britain, starring Jamal Udin Torabi, Enayatullah and Imran Paracha.

Ja zuster, nee zuster (Yes Nurse, No Nurse by Pieter Kramer (Holland)
This directorial debut is a musical comedy based on a popular Dutch Tv series that aired in the 60s, and it stars Loes Luca, Paul de Leeuw and Paul R. Kooij.

Good bye, Lenin! by Wolfgang Becker (Germany
A farsical comical tragedy starring the Oscar-winning Daniel Brühl and Katrin Saß.

Der alte Affe Angst (Angst) by Oskar Roehler (Germany)
A love story that sees a couple’s relationship threatened by death and betrayal. Starring Marie Bäumer, André Hennicke and Vadim Glowna.

Lichter (Distant Lights) by Hans-Christian Schmid (Germany)
Five inter-connecting stories about fear, sexual problems, desire and hope of people who live on the Polish-German border. The cast includes August Diehl, Herbert Knaup, Devid Striesow and Maria Simon.

Rezervni Deli (Spare Parts) by Damjan Kozole (Slovenia)
A world premiere. The expedients used by unscrupulous contrabandeers who exploit the desperation of illegal immigrants. With Peter Musevski, Aljosa Kovacic and Aleksandra Balmazovic.

Io non ho paura by Gabriele Salvatores (Italy)
The Oscar-winning director tells an adult story from a child’s point of view. Set in the south of Italy and starring Aitana Sanchez-Gijon, Diego Abatantuono, Dino Abbrescia and a number of young non-professional actors.

La Fleur du mal (The Flower of Evil) by Claude Chabrol (France)
An upper-middle class French family must face up to long-hidden guilt. The cast is headed by Nathalie Baye, Benoit Magimel, Suzanne Flon and Bernard Le Coq.

Son Frère by Patrice Chéreau (France)
Leconte – who won the Golden Bear in 2001 – is back with the story of two brothers who meet up after many years when one of them falls seriously ill. The cast includes Bruno Todeschini, Eric Caravaca and Maurice Garrel.

Petites Coupures by Pascal Bonitzer (France)
Bordering on comedy, this film is about a notorious serial killer’s ongoing search for new victims. It stars Daniel Auteuil, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ludivine Sagnier and Jean Yanns.

The Life of David Galeby i Alan Parker (UK- Usa)
An extreme opposer of the death penalty is himself condemned to death for murder. He gives a journalist his version of what happened a few hours prior to his execution. Starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet.

The programme also inclues Six Special Screenings, two of which are Danish:
It’s all about Loveby Thomas Vinterberg (Denmark)
The latest from the Dogma-director is a blend of romantic comedy, thriller and sci-fi starring Joaquin Phoenix, Claire Danes and Sean Penn.

Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself by Lone Scherfig (Denmark)
Scherfig, who won the Silver Bear in 2001 with Italian for Beginners, went to Scotland for this tale of a man who is fed up with life. The film stars Jamie Sives, Adrian Rawlins and Shirley Henderson.

La petite prairie aux bouleaux (A Birch Tree Meadow) by Marceline Loridan-Ivens
The widow of world-famous documentary-maker Joris Ivens, relives her journey to Auschwitz in this directorial debut starring Anouk Aimée – one of the special guests of the 53rd Berlinale.

Ararat by Atom Egoyan
A special tribute to this year’s president of the jury. The story of the genocide of the Armenian people during WWI. The film stars Arsinée Khanjian, David Alplay and Charles Aznavour.

Babij Jar by Jeff Kanew (Germany, Russia)
The tragic story of two families’ desperate attempts to avoid dying in the Holocaust. This film is dedicated to the memory of Artur Brauner, one of Germany’s most important film producers.

Three Days of Rain by Michael Meredith
A first-time film inspired by six short stories by Anton Chekhov about the everyday lives of ordinary people and how they react to drastic change. The film is presented by Wim Wenders.