Melissa Leo’s ‘Francine,’ Paul Dano-starrer ‘For Ellen’ In Berlin’s Forum
Berlin’s sidebar for experimental cinema includes 26 world premieres.
BERLIN – Francine, a drama about a recently released convict starring Oscar-winner Melissa Leo (The Fighter) will have its world premiere at the Berlin film festival’s Forum sidebar for independent and experimental cinema. The drama from directors Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky also stars Keith Leonard and Michael Power.
For Ellen from director So Yong Kim starring Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood) as a struggling musician fighting his wife for custody of his young daughter, will also screen in the Forum line up in its international premiere.
Other Forum highlights include the Swedish thriller Avalon from director Axel Petersen, which won the international film critics Discovery award in Toronto last year and Kid-Thing from Austin-based helmer David Zellner, which premieres in Sundance.
In total, Berlin will screen 38 films in its Forum sidebar, 26 of them world premieres. The 62nd Berlin international film festival runs Feb. 9-19.
The 2012 Forum Lineup
The Last Friday, dir. Yahya Alabdallah , Jordan / United Arab Emirates
The Woman in the Septic Tank, dir. Marlon N. Rivera, The Philpines
Avalon, dir. Axel Petersen, Sweden
Bagrut Lochamim (Soldier / Citizen), dir. Silvina Landsmann , Israel
Bestiaire, dir. Denis Côté, Canada/France
Beziehungsweisen (Negotiating Love), dir. Calle Overweg , Germany
La demora (The Wait), dir. Rodrigo Plá, Uruguay/Mexico/France
Escuela normal (Normal School), dir. Celina Murga , Argentina
Espoir voyage, dir. Michel K. Zongo, France/Burkina Faso
For Ellen, dir. So Yong Kim , USA
Formentera, dir. Ann-Kristin Reyels, Germany
Francine, dir. Brian M. Cassidy & Melanie Shatzky, USA/Canada
friends after 3.11, dir. Iwai Shunji , Japan
Living / Building, dir. Clemence Ancelin , France
Hemel, dir. Sacha Polak, The Netherlands/Spain
Winter Nomads, dir. Manuel von Sturler , Switzerland
Jaures, dir. Vincent Dieutre, France
Choked, dir. Kim Joong-hyun, Republic of Korea
Our Homelan, dir. Yang Yonghi , Japan
Kid-Thing, dir. David Zellner, USA
The End of Puberty, dir. Kimura Shoko , Japan
Condition, dir. Thomas Heise, Germany
No Man's Zone, dir. Fujiwara Toshi , Japan /France
Nuclear Nation, dir. Funahashi Atsushi , Japan
Parabeton - Pier Luigi Nervi and Roman Concrete, dir. Heinz Emigholz, Germany
Modest Reception, dir. Mani Haghighi, Iran
A Night Too Young, dir. Olmo Omerzu , Czech Republic / Slovenia
Revision, dir. Phil Scheffner, Germany
Salsuedes, dir. Mariano Luque, Argentina
Secret, dir. Przemysław Wojcieszek , Poland
Sleepless Knights, dir. Stefan Butzmühlen/Cristina Diz, Germany
Golden Slumbers, dir. Davy Chou, France/Cambodia
Spaindir, dir. Anja Salomonowitz , Austria
Beyond the Hill, dir. Emin Alper , Turkey / Greece
Keep Me Upright, dir. Zoé Chantre , France
Everybody in Our Family, dir. Radu Jude , Romania /The Netherlands
What Is Love, dir. Ruth Mader, Austria
Tomorrow, dir. Andrey Gryazev , Russia