58th Berlinale 2008 – back on track?

After last years’ prolonged suffering and many complaints about an allegedly sagging programme, especially in the main competition, this latest edition fared rather well with the critics. Myself, I can hardly tell how good it’s really been. After all, there just wasn’t enough time for me to meaningfully survey not even all that interested me in the first place, much less every film that seemed promising. So I’ll abstain from passing judgment, but simply take those assessments as they come; and they are mostly quite positive.
In 2008 the Berlin International Film Festival saw a re-accentuation of its political (if not moral) agenda with “Tropa de elite” by José Padilha (Brasil) bagging the festival’s top prize: the Golden Bear for best feature. There has also been a record-breaking turnout (again), indicating that Berlin indeed is the place for all film to go! Documentaries have been very strong once more and well received by audiences; short films have finally been curated as befits an event of this standing; and formal accuracy and a sense of creative (self-)control also figured prominently this year, it seems. No real trend, then, but certainly many valuable ideas and points to pick up and explore further. Let’s see what happens next…

(pic©berlinale.de)