Politics Take Center Stage at the Berlinale as Social Media Backlash Looms
As press conference remarks are clipped and amplified online, some filmmakers worry that speaking freely could invite instant backlash.
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Dua Lipa Surprises Berlin Film Festival as Callum Turner’s Valentine’s Day Date to ‘Rosebush Pruning’ Premiere
Dua Lipa made a surprise appearance at Berlin Film Festival on Saturday night to accompany her fiancé, Callum Turner, at the world premiere of his new film “Rosebush Pruning.” The couple celebrated Valentine’s Day on the red carpet, looking so in love as they posed for
Kate Hudson Reflects on Wanting “Something Different” After Years of Rom-Coms and Being Told She Was “Too Old” to Start a Music Career
The 'Song Sung Blue' Oscar nominee was honored with the Arlington Artist of the Year Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Friday.
‘Rosebush Pruning’ Review: Callum Turner Broods on the Fringes of a Toxic Family in Karim Aïnouz’s Sleek, Silly but Seductive Provocation
When the time came for Karim Aïnouz to direct his first English-language feature a few years ago, few would have bet on it being “Firebrand.” A historical drama based on the life of Henry VIII survivor Catherine Parr, it was handsome, well-acted and directed with complete
Sean Baker on His ‘Instantaneous Connection’ With Michelle Yeoh on Set of Short ‘Sandiwara’ and His Next Film: ‘My Love Letter to Italian Sex Comedies of the ’60s and ’70s’
Just 24 hours after Sean Baker arrived in Penang, Malaysia, to shoot “Sandiwara” — the Oscar-winning director’s new short film starring Michelle Yeoh — he threw his initial script out the window. “It was ridiculous,” Baker tells Variety in a quiet corner of the Ritz Carlton in
Canada Showcases Latest Animation, From the ‘Deep, Darkly Funny’ ‘Fifteen Dogs’ to Family Friendly ‘Eliak’ and YA Medieval Fantasy ‘Beshader’
“Animation is no longer the very interesting but a bit eccentric cousin you don’t want to invite at a filmmaker’s wedding. Not only are we now invited to the wedding, we’re setting the guest list.” With this opening punchline, Kaboom Artistic Director and Berlin EFM Animation
Trump Slams Bill Maher as a ‘Highly Overrated Lightweight’ and Calls Their White House Dinner a ‘Complete Waste of Time’: ‘He Is No Different Than Kimmel, Fallon, or Colbert’
Donald Trump posted a lengthy message to Truth Social on Saturday morning in which he recalled his White House dinner with “Real Time” host Bill Maher. The president called the evening a “total waste of time” and said Maher is “no different” than his more liberal leaning
Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan Sundance Drama ‘Josephine’ Sells to Sumerian Pictures in Seven-Figure Deal
“Josephine,” a psychological thriller starring Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan and newcomer Mason Reeves, has been acquired for the U.S. by Sumerian Pictures in a competitive seven-figure deal. Sumerian, which was founded by Ash Avildsen as an artist-led independent creative studio
No Arrests Made After Three People Detained in Nancy Guthrie Case
"Just tracking down leads. No arrests. And no signs of Nancy," Pima County Sheriff says after Friday night SWAT operation at Tucson home less than two miles from Guthrie's residence
‘Heysel 85’ Review: A Real Soccer Riot Becomes a Tense Political Metaphor
Intense and intently observed, Teodora Ana Mihai’s “Heysel 85” chronicles the eruption of violence before a major soccer match in Brussels. Its setting is the real Heysel Stadium disaster of 1985, but it presents its drama through fictionalized reporters and local leaders, and
Catalonia Pushes Beyond Arthouse
Ian de la Rosa’s “Iván & Hadoum,” world premiering in Panorama at this year’s Berlinale, is the most visible evidence of a wave of Catalan first features that has been nurtured by development labs, shorts programs and an institutional infrastructure now bearing fruit. De la
‘Iván & Hadoum,’ ‘Ravalear: Not for Sale’ Lead Catalonia’s Varied Slate
Catalonia arrives at this year’s Berlinale with its broadest spread of selections in years — including a Panorama feature debut, “Iván & Hadoum,” a buzzy Max series about Barcelona’s gentrification crisis, a returning shorts director and a Latin American minority co-production
Allan Deberton and Lázaro Ramos Discuss Tender Brazilian Queer Youth Drama ‘Gugu’s World,’ Launch Clip Ahead of Berlin Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)
Under the scalding hot sun of the Brazilian northeast, a group of young boys kicks dirt up while running over a football. All but one, Gugu, whose energy is directed elsewhere: a pompous dance number by the sidelines of the improvised field. Allan Deberton’s “Gugu’s World,”
Director Ulrike Ottinger on Turning Isabelle Huppert Into a Baroque Vampire in ‘The Blood Countess’: ’She Is Despotic’
Renowned German New Wave artist and filmmaker Ulrike Ottinger returns to the Berlin International Film Festival — where she received an Honorary Golden Bear in 2020 — with a film that took decades to get made. Premiering in the Berlinale’s Special Gala section, “The Blood
Food Network Unveils 2026 Hot List of Chefs and Culinary Content Creators, Including Nick DiGiovanni, Lorenzo Espada, Tini Younger and More
Food Network has revealed its 2026 Hot List, which is made up of 11 notable chefs and culinary content creators, including Nick DiGiovanni, Lorenzo Espada and Tini Younger. The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned cable channel defines the list as a set of honorees that bring “a unique
‘Children are Filmmakers by Nature,’ Says Fernando Eimbcke Whose ‘Flies’ Competes for the Golden Bear in the Berlinale, Unveils Clip (EXCLUSIVE)
“Working with kids in movies is a lesson in not quite improvisation, but in adaptation,” says Mexico’s Fernando Eimbcke who first captivated audiences with his acclaimed feature film debut “Duck Season” (“Temporada de patos”). “They are filmmakers by nature,” he mused, “They’re
Box Office: ‘Wuthering Heights’ Falls for $11 Million on Opening Day; ‘GOAT’ Takes Second With $7.1 Million
The Friday box office fell in love with Emerald Fennell’s sexy literary drama “Wuthering Heights,” which won out over fellow newcomers “GOAT” and “Crime 101” to claim the No. 1 spot. Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic gothic romance earned $11 million from 3,682
Rupert Grint Quizzed on Rise of Fascism in the U.K. at Berlin ‘Nightborn’ Presser: “I’m Against It… But I Choose My Moments When to Speak”
'Nightborn' director Hanna Bergholm was also asked about donning a watermelon pin, telling journalists at the film festival: "I think we have a responsibility to speak up... not speaking up is also a choice."
Rupert Grint on the Rise of Fascism: ‘Obviously, I’m Against It’
“Harry Potter” star Rupert Grint has become the latest celebrity at the Berlin Film Festival to be asked to speak on the rise of fascism and far-right politics. “Obviously, I’m against it,” the British actor — famed for his role in the “Harry Potter” film franchise — said
Jimmy Fallon Cancels Line of Pasta Sauces With Tommy Mottola Over Epstein Friendship
Late-show host and music mogul were reportedly partnering on sauce line before Mottola's correspondence with convicted sex offender was revealed in the Epstein Files
‘Silence of the Lambs’ Team Reckons With Transphobia Criticism: “There’s Regret”
As the hit movie turns 35, Ted Levine opens up to The Hollywood Reporter about complicated feelings over playing Buffalo Bill and the representation of gender: "It's unfortunate that the film vilified that, and it's f***ing wrong."
‘Harry Potter’ Star Johnny Flynn on Lucius Malfoy, J.K. Rowling Debate and His Berlinale Western ‘A Prayer for the Dying’
The British actor-musician is just about everywhere right now. This week, he's in Berlin for the premiere of Dara Van Dusen's drama with John C. Reilly, and anticipates getting emotional: "It's been such a powerful experience."
Berlinale Competition Film ‘Yellow Letters’ From ‘The Teachers’ Lounge’ Director Sparks European Buying Spree (EXCLUSIVE)
Brussels-based Be for Films has unveiled a first round of international deals for “Yellow Letters,” İlker Çatak’s follow-up to “The Teachers’ Lounge,” which won a prize at the Berlin Film Festival in 2023 and went on to earn an international Oscar nomination. Prior to its world
‘Wuthering Heights’ Breakout Charlotte Mellington on Playing Young Cathy, Word Games With Jacob Elordi and the ‘Creepy’ Prop Emerald Fennell Gave Her
Playing Emily Brönte’s tragic heroine Cathy in “Wuthering Heights” is, for many actors, the dream screen role. For Charlotte Mellington, it’s the first. But that’s not all. Alongside playing the teenage version of the famed literary figure in the Warner Bros. feature, she’s
Charli xcx Jokes She Went ‘Method From the Day I Was Born’ for ‘The Moment’ Role: ‘Have I Had a Breakdown While Smoking a Million Cigarettes? Yes’
Charli xcx reflected on playing a heightened version of herself in “Brat” mockumentary “The Moment” at its Berlin Film Festival press conference, joking that she went “Method from the day I was born” for the role. “The Moment” stars Charli as an alternate-reality version of
Charli xcx Brats Up Berlin: ‘The Moment’ Star Applauds the Fest for “Not Shying Away From Political Films,” Declares Brat Era “Over”
"I feel like I'm only just starting out," the Brit superstar said about crashing Hollywood with her mockumentary film.
Jamie Adams on Directing Quentin Tarantino, Simon Pegg and Charlotte Gainsbourg in ‘Only What We Carry’ — and Shooting the Movie in Six Days (EXCLUSIVE)
When prolific Welsh indie director Jamie Adams went looking for his next film, he didn’t start with a famous name in mind. He started with an epiphany. For years, he’s had a drawer full of ideas — loose outlines waiting for the right moment. “Only What We Carry” was one of
‘Dao’ Review: French-Senegalese Master Alain Gomis Builds a Swirling, Ecstatic Family Epic From One Wedding and a Funeral
“Dao” opens with onscreen text defining its title as “a perpetual and circular movement which flows in everything and unites the world” — one way to articulate that famously intangible, widely traveled philosophical concept, and the one that works best for French-Senegalese
Berlin According To: Alexander Rodnyansky
The Academy Award-nominated producer and director offers his Berlin tips, including how to stay warm, healthy and why you should see as many films as possible.
Tracy Letts Says Wealth Disparity “Probably Creates Fascism,” and Callum Turner Addresses Bond Rumors in Berlin: “I’m Not Going to Comment”
Some great Letts jokes landed as the stars of Karim Aïnouz's 'Rosebush Pruning,' including Pamela Anderson, Jamie Bell and Lukas Gage, gathered for the film's press conference on Saturday.
Callum Turner Immediately Asked About James Bond Rumors in Berlin: ‘I’m Not Going to Comment’
Journalists at Berlin Film Festival wasted no time asking Callum Turner about rumors that he’s the next James Bond at the press conference for his new film “Rosebush Pruning.” The 35-year-old British actor — whose name has been swirling as Denis Villeneuve preps his first Bond
As Hollywood Shoots Like ‘The Odyssey’ Sail to Morocco, Local Films Venture Into International Waters: ‘We Are a Country of Stories’
Moroccan talent will step into the spotlight at this year’s EFM, crowning a generational growth spurt for the country’s film industry. Long prized for its stability, infrastructure and natural locations, Morocco’s production sector shifted into a new gear in 2018 with the
‘Felicité’ Director Alain Gomis on His Berlinale Competition Comeback ‘DAO’ Set Between France and West Africa
Nine years after winning the Silver Bear for “Félicité,” French director Alain Gomis is returning to the Berlin International Film Festival with “DAO,” his most personal work yet — a three-hour family saga set between France and West Africa. The helmer, who has Bissau-Guinean
Ukrainian Skeleton Racer Vladyslav Heraskevych Loses Appeal in Olympic ‘Helmet of Memory’ Dispute
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych’s appeal against his disqualification from the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, upholding a ruling that barred him from competing over a helmet honoring victims of Russia’s
‘Sholay’ Studio Sippy Films Maps Character IP Rollout Across Animation, Microdramas, Gaming (EXCLUSIVE)
India’s Sippy Films is rolling out its legacy IPs including “Sholay” and “Shaan” across animation, microdramas, gaming and merchandising in a multi-format strategy backed by investor Kuberans Tech Ventures, custodian Shehzad Sippy and Kuberans director Jeet Wagh tell Variety.
‘Lust’ Is a Coming-of-Mid-Age Psychodrama About Unsettled Control (Exclusive Berlin Trailer)
In her sophomore feature, premiering in the Berlinale's Forum program. Ralitza Petrova observes "the emptiness left by absent fathers, and how daughters carry that weight."
Same-Sex Japanese Dating Reality Show ‘The Boyfriend’ Leads Netflix Japan’s Unscripted Global Push
The breakout success of LGBTQ+ dating series “The Boyfriend” has turbocharged Netflix’s Japanese unscripted slate, with Ota Dai, who oversees the streamer’s Japan unscripted division, crediting a deliberate rejection of conventional reality television formulas for its
Ursula Corberó Set to Star in Jaume Balagueró’s Next Feature, and Other Highlights at Berlin’s Spanish Producers Showcase (EXCLUSIVE)
Úrsula Corberó, the breakout star of Netflix’s “Money Heist,” is set to topline Spanish horror maestro Jaume Balagueró’s next feature, “There’s Someone in the Garden” (“Hay alguien en el jardín”), produced by Kowalski Films, one of the Spanish companies pitching at the Spanish
Chile’s Maite Alberdi Re-Visits the Docu-Fiction Format in ‘A Child of My Own’
Chile’s much-lauded documentarian Maite Alberdi, after making her first fiction feature “In Her Place,” has returned to her roots with her latest opus, “A Child of My Own” (“Un hijo propio”). Not unlike her Oscar-nominated “The Mole Agent,” Alberdi toys with the docu-fiction
’17’ Director Kosara Mitic on Exploring the Silence of Trauma and Unspoken Female Solidarity in Her Debut (Exclusive Berlin Clip)
The writer-director says about her first feature, debuting in the Perspectives section: "Realism comes from restraint. I deliberately avoided dramatic cues that would tell viewers how to interpret a scene."
‘The Loneliest Man in Town’ Is Playing, and Living, the Blues (Exclusive Berlin Competition Clip)
Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel's new feature, world premiering in the Berlinale's competition lineup, has sold to France, Switzerland, the Baltics, and Israel.
Nancy Guthrie: ‘Law Enforcement Activity Is Underway’ at a House in Her Neighborhood, Police Say
A house in Nancy Guthrie’s Arizona neighborhood is being investigated in connection to her disappearance, police said late Friday night. Nancy, the mother of “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for nearly two weeks. “Law enforcement activity is underway at a
AI Adoption Rises Among Indian Screenwriters as Pay, Credit Gaps Persist, Tulsea–Ormax Report Finds (EXCLUSIVE)
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used by Indian screenwriters in their work even as long-standing concerns around pay, credit and professional recognition continue to dominate sentiment, according to “The Right Draft: 2026,” a new industry research report released
‘Mouse’ Review: A Touching Bond Forms Between a North Little Rock Teen and Her Late Friend’s Mom
A mousy teenager with curly hair and a face full of acne, Minnie is the farthest thing from cool — even if the actress who plays her, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, has charisma to spare. Minnie is practically invisible to most of the students at North Little Rock High School,
UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping on Thriller ‘Atlas King,’ Producing and Filming Fight Scenes: ‘It’s Got to Be Believable’
With “Atlas King,” Michael Bisping plays a role close to home. The UFC Hall of Famer and first British champion in UFC history embodies the titular role as a former fighter skirting the edges of organized crime in a twisty action thriller centered on the world of mixed martial
FilmSharks Boards Warner Bros. Spain Romantic Drama ‘All That We Never Were’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Buenos Aires-based FilmSharks has snagged international sales rights to the feature film adaptation of romantic bestseller “All That We Never Were” “(“Todo lo que nunca fuimos”) by Spanish author Alice Kellen. Directed by Jorge Alonso, the film stars Maxi Iglesias (“The Cook
‘Lady’s’ Nigerian Stars Slam ‘Dehumanizing’ Trump Travel Ban, Praise ‘Sisterhood’ Behind Sundance Prizewinner and Berlin Player
It’s a high-stakes gambit to assemble a cast of relative newcomers for a first feature film — especially when that film is set against the sprawling, kinetic, unpredictable backdrop of the Nigerian megacity of Lagos. But if early returns are anything to go by, British Nigerian
India Expands Berlinale Footprint With Six Films, Strategic Market Push
India is mounting its most comprehensive presence at the Berlinale in recent years, with six films screening across the festival’s Generation, Forum, Forum Expanded and Classics sections while the National Film Development Corporation of India deploys a strategic market
‘The River Train’ Directors on Their Contemplative Argentinian Coming-of-Age Tale (Exclusive Berlin Trailer)
The feature debut of actor Lorenzo Ferro and Lucas A. Vignale, premiering in Berlin's Perspectives section, brings us a non-professional actor as its star, Malambo, and a trip into the big city and solitude.
Film Factory Nabs Rights to ’Torrente for President,’ Spain’s Biggest Comedy Bet for 2026 (EXCLUSIVE)
In a bold move to take Spain’s biggest comedy franchise to the world, Film Factory has secured international sales rights to “Torrente for President,” created, directed and starring Santiago Segura as the perpetually drunk, self-centered sexist, and racist scumbag ex-cop
