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Max Mueller Bhavan | India

Berlin International Film Festival 2025

Berlinale 2025 has come to a close, but the stories continue off-screen. Our blogger Prathap Nair was on the ground capturing behind-the-scenes moments and conversations with filmmakers, actors, and fellow cinephiles. With the red carpet rolled up, you can now explore our curated reviews and discover what to queue up for your next binge!

Berlinale Blogger*innen 2025 © Tobias Schrank

India on Berlinale Screen

Indie Films, New Talents, and a Festival Darling

Indian Filmmakers Shine Bright on the 75th Berlinale

Berlinale 2025 has started with a bang! Prathap Nair reports on what we can expect from this year's festival edition, giving a peek at India's brilliant contributions.

An audience, a brilliant red light © Berlinale © Berlinale

Berlinale | Video Interview

“Being at Berlinale is an Honour.”

Rima Das, director of Village Rockstars 2, and a veteran Berlinale filmmaker speaks about her latest film and what Berlinale means to her with our Berlinale Blogger Prathap Nair.

The director Rima Das © Goethe-Institut Indien / Max Mueller Bhavan © Goethe-Institut Indien / Max Mueller Bhavan

Berlinale | The Teddy Awards

A Cinematic Manifest of Queer Existence

Combining immigrant dramas, queer coming-of-age stories and big-ticket entrants, the 39th Teddy Award presents an eclectic mix of feature films, shorts and documentaries.

A film still from the movie "Ata Noturno" © Directors: Marcio Reolon, Filipe Matzembacher; Production: Vulcana Cinema, Avante Filmes © Directors: Marcio Reolon, Filipe Matzembacher; Production: Vulcana Cinema, Avante Filmes

Berlinale | Indian Cinema Beyond Bollywood

Harsh Reality of Life on the Fringes

The films “Vaghachipani”, “Baksho Bondi” and “Village Rockstars 2” provide a realistic glimpse of life among the economically disadvantaged in India.

A still image from the movie "Vaghachipani" (Tiger's Pond). © Director: Natesh Hegde, Producers: Hegde, Ranjan Singh, and Anurag Kashyap © Director: Natesh Hegde, Producers: Hegde, Ranjan Singh, and Anurag Kashyap

Indian Films at the 75th Berlinale

  • Generation 14plus

    Village Rockstars 2

    In her new film, Rima Das follows Dhunu’s journey from Village Rockstars seven years on, as she faces harsh realities but refuses to give up on music.

    Village Rockstars 2 © Rima Das © Rima Das

  • Perspective

    Baksho Bondi

    In Baksho Bondi (Shadowbox) Maya struggles to support her family. This intensifies when her husband Sundar, suffering from PTSD, disappears and becomes a suspect in a murder investigation.

    Baksho Bondi © Saumyananda Sahi / Moonweave Films © Saumyananda Sahi / Moonweave Films

  • Forum

    Vaghachipani

    Vaghachipani (Tiger’s Pond) by Natesh Hegde explores faith, caste, and political power in a fear-driven village where defiance threatens to upend the feudal order.

    Vaghachipani (Tiger’s Pond) © Flip Films - Kadalivana © Flip Films - Kadalivana

Spotlight on World Cinema

Berlinale | Award Ceremony

Celebration of Classic Narrative Cinema

The anniversary edition of the Berlinale was marked by challenging circumstances – but director Tricia Tuttle excelled in her role. This time, the focus was on the films rather than debates about the Israel-Gaza war. The Golden Bear was awarded to a Norwegian coming-of-age drama.

Their film “Drømmer“ (Dreams) won the Golden Bear. Director Dag Johan Haugerud and the actresses Selome Emnetu and Ella Øverbye Photo (detail): © Richard Hübner / Berlinale 2024 Photo (detail): © Richard Hübner / Berlinale 2024

  • Berlinale | Film review “Yunan”

    Memory and Connection

    Ameer Fakher Eldin weaves a profound philosophical tale in his film “Yunan,” which explores themes of existence and death, with the film standing as the only Arab entry in the official competition of the Berlinale 2025.

    Scene from the movie "Yunan" by director Amir Fakhr Eldin. In picture Georges Khabbaz and Hanna Schygulla Photo (detail): © 2025 Red Balloon Film, Productions Microclimat, Intramovies Photo (detail): © 2025 Red Balloon Film, Productions Microclimat, Intramovies

  • Berlinale | Interview with Gabriel Mascaro

    “Thinking Politically About the Aging Body”

    For his film “O último azul,” Brazilian director Gabriel Mascaro received the Grand Jury Prize at the Berlinale. It presents a dystopian story about the life prospects of older people.

    “O último azul” (The Blue Trail). Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Netherlands 2025. Director Gabriel Mascaro. Pictured: Denise Weinberg. Berlinale Competition Photo (detail): © Guillermo Garza / Desvia Photo (detail): © Guillermo Garza / Desvia

  • Berlinale | Film review “Das Licht”

    In Search of Redemption

    Tom Tykwer is back on the big screen. In “Das Licht,” the director addresses the state of the world through the example of a Berlin family and their Syrian housekeeper. Valérie Catil reflects on the characters' interactions, on clichés, and the function of a magic lamp.

    Lars Eidinger and Tala Al Deen in “Das Licht”. Director Tom Tykwer Photo (detail): © Frederic Batier / X Verleih AG Photo (detail): © Frederic Batier / X Verleih AG

  • Berlinale | Movies from Latin America

    Memories From the Archives

    South American films use archive material to tell stories of a past that has not yet been overcome. This still determines the power dynamics established in the region today.

    Zizi (ou oração da jaca fabulosa) / Zizi (or Praying to a Fabulous Tree). Brazil 2025. Director Felipe M. Bragança. Berlinale Forum Expanded Photo (detail): © Duas Mariola Filmes Photo (detail): © Duas Mariola Filmes

  • Berlinale | Film review “Was Marielle weiß”

    What We Prefer Not to Reveal

    What happens when your child suddenly develops psychic abilities? The film “What Marielle knows” plays this out – and surprises with a successful mixture of lightness, humour and profound storytelling.

    Laeni Geiseler in „Was Marielle weiß“. Director Frédéric Hambalek Photo (detail): © Alexander Griesser Photo (detail): © Alexander Griesser

  • Berlinale | Kino International in Berlin

    A Cinema Landmark Gets a Makeover

    Eye-catcher and architectural jewel: Berlin's “Kino International”. After 60 years of cinema operation, renovations are due. Valérie Catil on the past and future of a cultural icon.

    Kino International in Berlin Photo (detail): © picture alliance/dpa | Alexandra Schuler Photo (detail): © picture alliance/dpa | Alexandra Schuler

  • Berlinale | Film review “Köln 75”

    Crazy About Jazz

    “Köln 75” portrays the music promoter Vera Brandes, who organised Keith Jarrett's famous “Köln Concert” in 1975, with great enthusiasm and humour.

    Mala Emde in “Köln 75“. Director Idu Fluk Photo (detail): © Wolfgang Ennenbach / One Two Films Photo (detail): © Wolfgang Ennenbach / One Two Films

  • The Forum Section

    A Festival within a Festival

    Step into the Berlinale Forum, the festival’s hub for bold and unconventional cinema. Our author, a program advisor, takes you through the 2025 lineup - where the unexpected meets the provocative. As Forum enters its 55th year, it remains as insightful, edifying, and young as ever.

    In the cinema hall of the Neue Kammerspiele. © Berlinale © Berlinale

  • Berlinale | Interview With Claudia Schramke

    Poster art in motion

    For the 75th anniversary of the Berlinale, graphic designer Claudia Schramke revives the old magic of cinema. With a moving key visual, she focuses on the combination of tradition and innovation – and tells Sofia Kleftaki how she managed to unite analogue nostalgia with modern animation.

    To be seen everywhere in the city: the current Berlinale poster by designer Claudia Schramke Photo (detail): © Claudia Schramke Photo (detail): © Claudia Schramke

  • Interview With Tricia Tuttle

    “It Will Be Very Exciting and Fun”

    Tricia Tuttle is directing the Berlinale for the first time – and commutes between Berlin and London. In this interview, she talks about life between two cities, the international significance of the festival and its 75th anniversary highlights.

    Tricia Tuttle, Festival Director Photo (detail): © Richard Hübner / Berlinale 2024 Photo (detail): © Richard Hübner / Berlinale 2024

  • 75th Berlinale 2025

    Film Art, Debate Culture and a New Female Boss

    For the 75th anniversary of the Berlinale, Tricia Tuttle is relying on a tried-and-tested mix of arthouse cinema and international stars. But it's not just films – political debates are also part of the festival's DNA.

    Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet in „A Complete Unknown“ (Like a Complete Unknown). Director James Mangold Photo (detail): © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved Photo (detail): © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved

  • Berlinale | Retrospective

    German Cinema Could Once Make Genre Films

    Under the lurid motto “Wild, weird, bloody”, the retrospective presents German genre cinema from the 1970s.

    “Jonathan" – vampir film from 1970. Director: Hans W. Geißendörfer Photo (detail): Kinowelt, © Beta Film Photo (detail): Kinowelt, © Beta Film

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