Belarus Selects Vadim Perelman’s ‘Persian Lessons’ for International Feature Film Oscar Race (EXCLUSIVE)

The Berlin Film Festival on Thursday unveiled major changes to its 71st edition, which will see it split into two stages, with the first stage shifting online because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. "Berlinale 2021 Will Be a Festival in Two Stages: Industry Online Offer in March/Public Event in June," organizers said in the headline of a statement.

What was reported earlier this week has come true—the 2021 Berlin Film Festival is going virtual in March with a (planned) in-person “celebration” in June. This hybrid strategy is something that differentiates it from the upcoming Sundance Film Festival and this year’s TIFF and Venice festivals.

coronavirus pandemic and split into two parts later in 2021, organizers said Friday.The “Berlinale” had been scheduled for February in the German capital but cannot go ahead due to the likelihood that coronavirus restrictions on large gatherings will continue, organizers said.To give the film industry a venue to market their products in the first quarter, however, a virtual Berlinale will be held online in March.

The Berlin Film Festival is rethinking its offering in 2021 due to the pandemic.

Berlin Film Festival has confirmed it is canceling its physical event in February. Instead, from March 1-5, Berlin’s official selection will be presented to the film industry, and the European Film Market will run in a virtual format, with a physical edition of the festival for the public planned for June, as revealed exclusively by Variety on Wednesday.The festival was scheduled to run as a physical event from Feb.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentFor his debut edition earlier this year, Berlin Film Festival artistic director Carlo Chatrian was, in hindsight, quite fortunate. The 70th edition of the Berlinale and the European Film Market took place without a hitch Feb.

At one point, the 71st Berlin Film Festival was planning on being held as planned. An in person festival, held in February, was always a long shot, but hope sprung eternal.

With 2020 basically canceling much of the film festival season, or at least forcing many to go digital, the hope was that 2021 would be different. Well, COVID-19 doesn’t care about what the film industry wishes would happen.

Berlin Film Festival, one of the world’s leading gathering points for the international film industry, is set to radically alter its 71st edition, Variety has learned exclusively.The festival was originally scheduled to run as a physical event from Feb. 11-21, but rising COVID-19 infections in Germany have forced a rethink.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired North American rights to Bassam Tariq’s “Mogul Mowgli,” co-written, starring and produced by Riz Ahmed. The movie world premiered at the Berlin Film Festival where it won the Fipresci International Critics’ Prize.Produced by Thomas Benski, CEO of Pulse Films, and Ahmed’s Left Handed Films banner, “Mogul Mowgli” recently received seven British Independent Film Award nominations.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentBrussels-based company Best Friend Forever has acquired “Mother Schmuckers,” which will world premiere at Sundance. The film marks the feature debut of Lenny and Harpo Guit, and is the first Belgian movie set to play in Sundance’s midnight section.Set in contemporary Brussels, the film tells the story of two brothers in their twenties, supremely stupid and never bored.

straight to your inbox every day for free Ex Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini is selling his plush Worsley home. The Belgian star has relisted the £2 million mansion in the prestigious Roe Green village - knocking £200,000 off the original asking price.

Also Read: 5 Things to Worry About This Oscar Season, From Virtual Ceremonies to Awards BoredomNonfiction director Mark Cousins was given the first EFA Award for Innovative Storytelling for his 14-hour, 40-chapter documentary “Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema.”The ceremony took place as a series of virtual events from Tuesday through Saturday, including a finale broadcast live from Berlin on Saturday, but without a live audience, and with nominees watching from remote locations.

Hello readers and welcome to International Insider, Jake Kanter here. In the week Britain started getting vaccinated for coronavirus, here’s a recap of all the global film and TV news you need to know. Any tips or stories can be sent to [email protected], or my DMs are open. And sign up here to get this delivered to your inbox every Friday.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired all North American rights to Agnieszka Holland’s critically acclaimed “Charlatan” from Berlin-based company Films Boutique.“Charlatan” competed at the Berlin Film Festival this year in the Special Gala section, and was most recently selected at Telluride.

Italian drama Hidden Away, German literary adaptation Berlin Alexanderplatz, and Spanish sci-fi horror ThePlatform are among the winners in the technical categories of this year's European Film Awards. Hidden Away, Giorgio Diritti's portrait of self-taught Italian painter Antonio Ligabue, won European Film honors for best cinematography (for cameraman Matteo Cocco) and for Ursula Patzak for best costume design.

Rumours have been swirling in Europe this week that the Berlin Film Festival will be postponed amid continuing high coronavirus numbers in Germany and across the continent.

Tripping with Nils Frahm.The German contemporary composer’s double release is set to be premiered in Australia and New Zealand cinemas later this month.

Vivienne Chow A selection of prominent films that debuted in this year’s real-world festivals Berlin and Venice, or were presented under the so-called ‘Cannes Label 2020,’ make their Southeast Asian premiere over the next week at the 31st Singapore International Film Festival. Among the highlights is the Venice Golden Lion-winning title “Nomadland” directed by Chloe Zhao.The film festival, which runs from Nov.