“I stroke it lucky” I thought, entering the Sillie Suite at the Ritz Carlton Potsdamer Platz, 8th floor. By chance I had met Julia Kaiser, a journalist who covers the Berlinale for radio stations, but also attends for us Young Journalists. She asked me if I would like to join her on an interview she was just heading for. A minute later I met Luis Mandoki and Oscar Torres, whose Film „Innocent Voices“ will open this year’s 14Plus Festival.
That’s one of the best things the Berlinale gives to you, apart from all these movies you that might never make it into the cinemas: You meet people you know from last year’s festival. Either members of the press, interested festival visitors or staff of the Berlinale. There is so much to be seen and you want to be at several places at once. The question might be, if you want to join the screening of „Hotel Rwanda“ or else would prefer fight your way into the crowded press conference with Keanu Reeves.
Of course, as Young Journalists we only experience this by a fraction. But despite of the age limit at the Kinderfilmfest and 14Plus lowers, you feel part of the Berlinale glamour. This year, stars wie Robert Carlyle, who already acted in Kinderfilmfest-winner „There’s just one Jimmy Grimble“ four years ago. Or Gillian Anderson, whom most of you will probably know as Agent Scully from the “X-Files”.
If the stars do come or not (which in my opinion is quite unimportant). One is for sure in the end. The movies will be shown and that alone is reason to visit the festival again this year. And for those, who haven’t got to know Kinderfilmfest and 14Plus by now: It is really worth coming.