Welcome to Berlinale – -the international Film Festival
Berlin is a multinational and cosmopolitan city and so is its film festival. Last year guests from over 120 different nations came to our enjoy Berlinale. It is also considered the largest publicly attended film festival worldwide. For 10 days you will have the possibility to spot your favourite directors and movie stars posing on the red carpet.
So, what should you know? Here’s your low-down
The Berlin Festival is divided into different film sections, each one with its own focus:
Competition: “Big” international movies are competing for the prestigious awards, the Silver and Golden Bear
Panorama: Independent art house productions and documentaries
German Kino: Latest productions from Germany, including feature and documentary films (all with English subtitles)
Forum: Experimental and cutting edge films, most of them from far-flung corners of the world
Generation: International film selection for kids and teenagers

Tickets:  Tickets may be purchased three days in advance. Tickets for repeat screenings of Competition movies may be purchased four days in advance. On the day of the screening, tickets are only available at the box offices of the cinemas themselves
Buy tickets at the central box offices
Potsdamer Platz Arkaden or Cinema International. Both are easily reachable with public transport
A limited amount of tickets can be also purchased online. Also 3 days in advance. Easiest is to print your tickets at our reception, alternatively you can pick them up  between 10.00 am and 7.30 pm ) at the Berlinale Internet Counter in the Potsdamer Platz Arkaden shopping centre by showing your printed confirmation and ID.
Tickets are between 9€ and  13€

There are numerous cinemas throughout the city screening movies. However I recommend the following for an unique experience:
Adria – built in the 50ies with an authentic style
Berlinale Palast – most prestigious red carpet, however a bit bleak and too modern
Delphi – very, very elegant, built 1949
Eiszeit – small, intimate. Located in a former squat
International – most probably the most beautiful cinema in Berlin
Zoo Palast – before reunification the center of Berlinale. Newly opened after 3 years of reconstruction