Berlin International Film Festival will world premiere Onward, the new Pixar animated tentpole. Besides it has various films across the globe in the lineup

The much-awaited Berlin Film Festival’s 70th edition is set to kick start on February 20th and will go on till March 1st. besides the interesting line up of some amazing films, the film festival holds a special place this year around, as it is going to be held under the management of brand new duo, artistic director Carlo Chatrian and executive director Mariette Rissenbeek, who have replaced festival director Dieter Kosslick, who ran the event
from 2001-2019.

Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons will serve as president of the international jury. Helen Mirren is set to receive a lifetime achievement Golden Bear at this year’s event.

Another big thing in store for all the film buffs is the world premiere of Onward, the new Pixar animated tentpole from director Dan Scanlon, under ‘Gala’ presentation. The urban fantasy includes the voices of Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia-Louis Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer, Mel Rodriguez, Kyle Bornheimer, Lena Waithe, and Ali Wong.

The festival, will screen 18 films in competition, including movies from Kelly Reichardt, Eliza Hittman and Sally Potter, starring Javier Bardem, Elle Fanning and Salma Hayek, and is one of the few star-studded entries in competition this year. Six films out of the lot, are from female directors.

US titles in Competition this year include Kelly Reichardt’s new feature First Cow, which premiered last year at Telluride; and Siberia, a non-narrative drama starring Willem Dafoe and directed by Abel Ferrara.

While Korean auteur Hong Sangsoois making a comeback at Berlin with his latest, The Woman Who Ran; Christian Petzold will mark his fourth film in Berlin Competition with Undine. Additionally, There Is No Evil from Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, who is not allowed to work legally in his home country, is set to be one of the most political titles of this year’s lineup.

Other highlights include Delete History from French helmers Benoit Delepine and Gustave Kerven; Bad Tales; and The Salt of Tears from Philippe Garrel, marking the French director’s first film in Competition at Berlin.

The 70th edition of the Berlinale will open with Philippe Falardeau’s anticipated “My Salinger Year,” featuring a powerful female duo, Sigourney Weaver and Margaret Qualley.