The Berlin International Film Festival (also known as the Berlinale) has always been preferred by our Calcutta film-makers; in the past several directors (Mrinal Sen was a regular in the 1970s and 1980s) have shown their films at this festival, and also to get a glimpse of what the rest of the world has to offer.
More recently, several Indian film-makers, critics and other creative people have been invited to participate in the various editions of the festival, in particular by the Forum section which shows alternative cinemas of different genres and vintages.
Aamir Khan on the jury of Berlin Film Festival – First Indian Jury at a Foreign Film Festival
This is an event that will make every Indian proud. Aamir Khan is the first Indian actor to be on the international jury of the Berlin Film Festival.
Aamir Khan, has made a name for himself as one of the most bankable Bollywood stars on and off screen, shunning the conveyor belt of song and dance-laden films for more contemporary themes and unconventional subject matter.
He is the only Asian on the distinguished international jury. The other jury members are actress and director Isabella Rossellini, Jury President, Iranian director Jafar Panahi (who could not be present as he has been imprisoned by the Iranian government), Canadian director Guy Maddin, Australian producer Jan Chapman, German actress Nina Hoss and costume designer Sandy Powell. The international jury was headed by actress Isabella Rossellini.
Berlin Festival director Dieter Kosslick said that “We are very privileged to have Aamir Khan on the International Jury this year. We had already presented Peepli Live, which he produced, in the Berlinale Special last year.
Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao made a big splash on the red carpet on the opening night. Aamir, who wore a black sherwani on the opening night, was accompanied by his wife, director Kiran Rao, who also went ethnic for the red carpet. And the actor was almost unrecognizable on the red carpet. He traded in his clean shaven look for a beard.
While Aamir was required to see all the films in its entirety at the festival, Kiran had more options. Though she watched several films, she also took time out to explore Berlin with friends.
