Berlinale 2006

Murder, rape, drugs... and soccer: the 19 movies set to show in competition at the 56th Berlin International Film Festival promise a dose of edgy reality--plus a special focus on the national sport, unavoidable during a World Cup year. Marc Evans's drama "Snow Cake," starring Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman, will open the festivities on Potsdamer Platz tomorrow.

While some of the films already opened in the U.S. ("Capote," "Syriana," Terrence Malick's "The New World"), others are eagerly awaited on both sides of the ocean, such as Robert Altman's "A Prairie Home Companion," starring Meryl Streep, Woody Harrelson and Lindsay Lohan, Michael Winterbottom's "The Road to Guantanamo," and the latest by Claude Chabrol, "Comedy of Power." The most anticipated German film is "Elementarteilchen" with Moritz Bleibtreu and Franka Potente.

Comic book fans everywhere are excited about the Wachowski-produced Alan Moore adaptation "V for Vendetta," starring Natalie Portman, who is expected to attend. Other stars who can't wait to get their pictures in Bild include George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Heath Ledger (who appears in "Candy"), and the recipients of lifetime achievement awards, Ian McKellen and Andrezej Wajda. The jury, presided over by Charlotte Rampling, will pick the winner of the Golden Bear on February 29. The fest will be Berlin's biggest ever, and industry insiders with an eye on deals are hoping that the event is shaping up as "the February version of Cannes." The official site offers live video streams. [posted by Jurgen]