As Berlin annually transformed into the center of German cinema for the Berlinale, Cartier equipped some of the most celebrated stars with its iconic creations. From red carpet appearances to exclusive industry events, the jewelry house played a defining role in elevating the elegance of the Berlinales most notable attendees.

Hannah Herzsprung captivated in timeless earrings rings, their bold design perfectly complementing her sophisticated ensemble. Actress, and now also director, Lisa Vicari embraced classic luxury with a stunning bracelet and an exquisite Cartier necklace that added a striking touch to her look. Jerry Hoffmann embodied effortless refinement, accessorizing with a sleek watch, a signature of understated luxury. Meanwhile, Jannik Schümann completed his red carpet presence with some earrings, adding a modern yet elegant accent to his ensemble.

Beyond the jewelry itself, Cartier’s presence at the Berlinale underscored its deep connection to the world of film, with stars and industry figures alike embracing the brand’s heritage of craftsmanship and sophistication. As filmmakers and actors gathered to celebrate storytelling and artistry, Cartier’s shimmering designs remained a constant, highlighting the festival’s enduring romance with luxury and cinema.

Just like the other girls in her group, Maria’s dream to escape is exploited, funneled into something darker than she had thought to have signed up for. The girls are prepared for one of the biggest casting events in the region. We are shown how brutal the competitive spirit of the industry can become. Maria and Kristina relentlessly push themselves to abuse their bodies in increasingly extreme ways.

Saulė Bliuvaitė strips the modeling industry of all its glamour and shows its rawest form. The exploitative nature of these schools and casting events is presented through the director’s personal experience. The female body is manipulated and objectified to a point where it acts as a currency. In this way, Maria and every girl going through these trajectories are stripped of their personhood. Here, Bliuvaitė highlights the importance of human connection and a sisterhood among women.

We are thrown back to 2021, when the UK had just entered its third lockdown in January. It was the time when many of us indulged in online realities to escape the isolation they were facing the real world. Somewhere in the midst of this, actors Sam and Mark similarly find their escape in the online world of Grand Theft Auto V. They rummage through the crowded city, blow up some vehicles, and maybe run over a few civilian NPCs… The digital city of ‘Los Santos’ is powered by total chaos and anarchy. But in the midst of all the explosions, heists, and hit-and-runs, the actors come up with an idea: to bring Shakespeare’s classic ‘Hamlet’ to life while using GTA as their stage.

Similar to the unruly 16th-century theater, the actors face the challenge of orchestrating a play on a stage dominated by chaos and a constantly changing dynamic. Except here, the classic theater structure is replaced by a detailed cityscape, and the crowd that is typically separated from the actors now runs wild with rocket launchers in their back pockets. Bringing a serious play to life in a world where every player is a trigger-happy maniac proves to be no easy task.

The prestigious festival, that serves as a global stage for groundbreaking films, where visionary storytellers and talented filmmakers converge to showcase their craft.

Honey Bunch is a forthcoming Canadian thriller written and directed by Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli. Starring Grace Glowicki, Ben Petrie, Jason Isaacs, Kate Dickie, and India Brown, the film is set to debut at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival as part of the Berlinale Special program. The story follows Diana, who awakens from a coma with fragmented memories. As a means to aid her recovery, she is taken by her husband to a remote experimental trauma center. She doesn’t know why she’s there, but as pieces of her past slowly fall into place, she begins to unravel chilling and sinister secrets about her marriage.

Ato Noturno (international title: Night Stage) is a 2025 Brazilian feature film directed by Marcio Reolon and Filipe Matzembacher. This erotic thriller follows the intertwined lives of an aspiring actor and a politician, both drawn to the thrill of public sexual encounters. Starring Gabriel Faryas and Cirillo Luna in the lead roles, the film will premiere at the Berlinale. Ato Noturno is a story about the risk, secrecy, and ambition surrounding Matias, an aspiring actor who just moved to Porto Alegre to pursue his career. When he secures a spot in an esteemed theater company, he soon finds himself tangled in a professional rivalry with a fellow actor and ensemble member named Fabio. Meanwhile, Matias is forced to conceal his sexuality in hopes of landing the role of a traditionally masculine, heterosexual lover. Amidst this pressure, Matias crosses paths with Rafael, a politician, and the two embark on a secret affair. Their mutual attraction extends beyond romance, as they share a risky desire for public sex. However, as their careers ascend, so does their recklessness.

Köln 75 tells a true story from the life of Vera Brandes, a Cologne-based music producer and concert promoter who achieved great success in the 1970s. Directed by Ido Fluk, who also wrote the screenplay, the film features cinematography by Jens Harant, a score composed by Stefan Rusconi, and editing by Anja Siemens and Hubert Walkowski. Mala Emde portrays 18-year-old Vera Brandes, who independently organized a concert for jazz pianist Keith Jarrett at the Cologne Opera on January 24, 1975—despite her parents’ disapproval and the risks involved. However, a series of logistical and technical issues nearly led to the event’s cancellation.  Frustrated, Jarrett even threatened to pull out of the performance. But through sheer determination and persistence, Brandes managed to salvage what would become one of the most iconic solo concerts in music history—the legendary and highly acclaimed Cologne Concert.

Other People’s Money is a gripping series that delves into Europe’s largest tax fraud case, exposing how a network of wealthy investors, bankers, and lawyers orchestrated a €146 billion ($153 billion) scheme to siphon funds from European taxpayers. The show is helmed by creator and showrunner Jan Schomburg, and will have it’s premiere at the Berlinale. The cast features Lisa Wagner, Karen-Lise Mynster, Justus von Dohnányi, Niels Strunk, David Dencik, and Fabian Hinrichs. Inspired by the CumEx-Files investigation by European media outlets, the series unveils the complex global financial network that drained billions from state treasuries, impacting every European citizen. Across eight episodes, it follows both the masterminds behind the scheme and two women from different countries fighting to expose the truth—despite fierce opposition from governments and banks determined to shut them down.

Ich will alles is a documentary film by Luzia Schmid, based on the life and career of German actress and chanson singer Hildegard Knef. The film is set to have its world premiere as part of the Panorama section at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. Hildegard Knef was a world-renowned actress, singer, and author whose career spanned over six decades. She achieved international acclaim, faced significant setbacks, and consistently reinvented herself, maintaining her dignity and humor throughout. The documentary portrays her as a resilient and ambitious woman, offering a cinematic autobiography that showcases her unwavering spirit and artistic brilliance through rare archival footage.

The Old Woman with the Knife (Korean: Pa-gwa) is an upcoming South Korean action thriller directed by Min Kyu-dong, adapted from Gu Byeong-mo’s novel of the same name. The film is slated for its world premiere in February 2025 at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, featured in the Berlinale Special section. The main cast consists of Lee Hye-young, Kim Sung-cheol, Yeon Woo-jin, Kim Moo-yul, and Shin Si-ah. The narrative centers on Hornclaw, a legendary assassin in her 60s who specializes in eliminating society’s undesirables. Accustomed to loss, she finds renewed purpose upon meeting Bullfight, a promising young killer eager to collaborate with her.

Atardecer en América (English: Sunset over America) is an upcoming short documentary directed by Chilean filmmaker Matías Rojas Valencia. The film is set to have its world premiere at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, featured in the Generation 14Plus section. The documentary takes place on the Altiplano plateau, recognized as one of the most perilous migration routes in Latin America. A teenage girl recollects the night she traversed this treacherous terrain, during which she felt accompanied by a spiritual presence that wandered like the wind. This documentary offers a poignant look into the challenges faced by migrants in Latin America, blending personal narrative with broader socio-political themes.

An upcoming experimental documentary by American filmmaker James Benning. Little boy will premiere in the Forum section at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. James Benning is renowned for his minimalist and contemplative filmmaking style, often exploring themes related to American landscapes and history. As a companion piece to Benning’s earlier work, American Dreams (lost and found) (1984), this film reflects on the past to warn about the future, told from a young boy’s perspective.

An upcoming Australian drama miniseries by filmmaker Justin Kurzel, The Narrow Road to the Deep North will premiere as a Berlinale Special at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. Kurzel is acclaimed for his intense and immersive storytelling, often delving into historical narratives and complex characters. These characters are portrayed by Jacob Elordi, Ciarán Hinds, Odessa Young, Olivia DeJonge, and Simon Baker. Adapted from Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize-winning novel, this series explores the harrowing experiences of a World War II hero haunted by his time in a Japanese prisoner of war camp and a poignant pre-war love affair. The narrative reflects on the enduring impact of past traumas and the complexities of memory and survival.

An upcoming science fiction black comedy by South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, Mickey 17 will premiere in the Berlinale Special section at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. Bong Joon-ho, renowned for his genre-blending narratives and incisive social commentary, has previously struck us with the Academy Award-winning Parasite. Now, he directs this adaptation of Edward Ashton’s 2022 novel Mickey7. The film stars Robert Pattinson as Mickey Barnes, an “expendable” clone worker on a human colony, who confronts existential dilemmas upon discovering a subsequent iteration of himself. This narrative delves into themes of identity, mortality, and the ethical complexities of cloning.

Academy Award®-nominated director Joshua Oppenheimer exposes an ugly truth with “The End”. The film is a clear mirror to the current state of our world. Even while Earth is burning, sincere warnings of climate change and failing ecosystems are still largely ignored. Often disregarded as mere myth or conspiracy. The idea of losing our only home can be a paralyzing thought. Upholding a sense of safety, even if it is only fantasy, is a natural response for many.

The characters, masterfully portrayed by Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton), Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals, Revolutionary Road), George MacKay (1917) and Moses Ingram (Lady in the Lake, The Queen’s Gambit), highlight a sorry trait that resides in all of us. It is within human nature to lie, to others but also ourselves. In “The End”, the act of lying upholds a shield. It protects us when the truth is deemed too menacing to handle. But to truly move forward, it is a necessity to face the bleak truth.

As Karoline’s initial hope turns to unease, a shocking revelation forces her to confront the fine line between compassion and exploitation in a world bereft of kindness. With stunning cinematography by Michał Dymek and an evocative score by Frederikke Hoffmeier, writer-director Magnus von Horn crafts a visually striking gothic fable inspired by true events. Nominated as Denmark’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, this gripping drama features gripping performances by Vic Carmen Sonne and Trine Dyrholm, making The Girl with the Needle both a chilling period piece and a raw reflection on timeless themes of humanity.