The annual International Film Festival, the Berlinale, will be held in Berlin, Germany on February 9th through February 19th, 2012. Berlin, a cosmopolitan, exciting city, a capital of culture with international appeal will be the protagonist of this event; the Berlinale, represents, in fact, not only the city’s largest cultural event, but also one of the most important appointments in the international film industry. However, the Berlinale is also a festival of encounters and discussions, as the event also offers interaction and gatherings to talk about the movies presented. For 10 days, art, glamour, parties, and business meetings at the Berlinale!

Up to 400 films are shown every year as part of the Berlinale's public program, the large majority of which are world or European premieres. Films of every category, length, and format can be submitted for consideration. The Berlinale is divided in different parts, each with its own unique profile: the sections include the big international movies in the Competition, independent and art-house productions in Panorama, movies specially for a young audience in the Generation section, the most exciting German cinema productions in Perspektive Deutsches Kino, an in-depth look at films from “distant” countries and experimental forms in the Forum, in addition to an investigation of diverse cinematic possibilities in the Berlinale Shorts. The program is completed by a thematic Retrospective and a Homage, whose focal point is the lifework of a great cinema personality. Both of these portions focus to place contemporary cinema within a historical context.

The European Film Market (EFM), the film trade fair integrated into the Berlinale has turned into one of the most important events for the international film business. The Berlinale and EFM, form together a unique network of formal and informal connections.

For additional information about the event visit the official website www.berlinale.de.