Carla Simón is back in Berlin one year after collecting her historic Golden Bear for Alcarràs, her second feature film. And the Barcelonan director does it this time not to present a new film, but as a member of the jury of the official section, chaired by the American actress Kristen Stewart, and alongside colleagues such as the actress Golshifteh Farahani, the director and writer Valeska Grisebach, director and writer Radu Jude, casting director and producer Francine Maisler and Hong Kong director Johnnie To.
At a well-attended press conference this morning, the jury met to discuss their work at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. Stewart, 32, is the youngest president the pageant has had in her history. The actress, who wore a new look with darker hair, assures that she was in shock when they called her to propose the position. She says that she is surrounded by a magnificent team and that she is open to seeing new things that surprise her, in relation to the 19 productions that are going to contest and that she will have to assess. "I am trembling before so much talent", she has admitted.
Carla Simón has commented that she does not intend to "judge" any film, a word that she has defined as "strange" for her. "I think that what we are going to do is debate, right? And it is a huge responsibility also because I know what it means. And probably you too. A feeling that you never know where it will end when you receive an award like this. It goes everywhere, doesn't it? And it travels, and it goes far and further than you could imagine. Alcarràs has been seen in almost every country by many people and I think it's partly thanks to this award. So I think we have a responsibility to choose a film that resonates with us and in which we feel that this push can be good for the film and for the director, who will probably be someone we trust and want to continue seeing films from."
For her part, the Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani, who moved to France in 2008 and in 2012 posed nude for the French publication Le Figaro, in a protest against the repression of women in Iran, has referred to the current situation politics in his country and the need to make films as a symbol of freedom. "Although it seems that the world is disintegrating with what happens in Ukraine, Iran or the earthquake in Turkey, I am happy to celebrate cinema and freedom", she declared to the applause of those present.
And the Romanian Radu Jude, has been ironic when asked about his objectives as a member of the jury. "The film industry is a mixture of money and stupidity," he said, to continue that he still finds people asking him how "shit like that" could give him Gold in 2021. He was referring to his film Unlucky Fuck or crazy dust, a satire on double standards and viralized sex that won him the highest award.
The opening day of the Berlinale arrives today with the out-of-competition screening of She came to me, a romantic comedy directed by Rebecca Miller.
