Berlinale 2025: Tilda Swinton honoured, Todd Haynes leads jury, new films from Lucile Hadžihalilović, Michel Franco and Bong Joon Ho

The 75^th Berlinale is setting the stage for a landmark edition, embracing its political and social DNA more than ever. “Cinema helps us see the world through other people’s eyes,” says festival director Tricia Tuttle, who promises a programme that spans the full spectrum of storytelling – from sharp political commentary to genre delights.

The star-studded lineup is impossible to ignore. Todd Haynes, the pioneering director behind Carol and May December, takes the reins as jury president, bringing his signature curiosity about identity and power dynamics. Meanwhile, Tilda Swinton will be honoured with the Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement, celebrating a career that has seen her collaborate with auteurs from Bong Joon Ho (Snowpiercer), Jim Jarmusch (Only Lovers Left Alive), to Pedro Almodóvar (The Room Next Door).

Hollywood heavyweights are also arriving with buzzy films. Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon, starring Ethan Hawke and Margaret Qualley, is among the competition standouts, while Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17, featuring Robert Pattinson, lands in the Berlinale Special Gala. Other must-sees include James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown with Timothée Chalamet, and Tom Tykwer’s Das Licht, which opens the festival.

The Competition slate features 19 films vying for the Golden Bear, with a strikingly international mix of auteurs. Michel Franco (Dreams), Hong Sangsoo (What Does That Nature Say to You?) and Lucile Hadžihalilović (The Ice Tower) bring their singular visions, alongside rising voices like Rebecca Lenkiewicz, whose debut Hot Milk stars Emma Mackey and Vicky Krieps.

With Berlinale’s long-standing reputation as a festival of provocation, Radu Jude’s Kontinental ’25 and Gabriel Mascaro’s O Último Azul are expected to push boundaries, while the Ukrainian war-torn narrative Timestamp, a documentary by Kateryna Gornostai, brings a deeply personal perspective to the ongoing crisis.

For those craving adrenaline, the Retrospective turns a spotlight on wild, weird and bloody German genre films from the 1970s, proving that cult cinema was alive and well in West and East Germany. Speaking of genre, Alex Russell’s Lurker promises a horror-thriller debut to watch, while Vivian Qu’s Girls on Wire explores a psychological landscape that fuses neon noir with social realism.

With an ever-expanding global film industry, the European Film Market (EFM) is doubling down on innovation, launching a dedicated Innovation & Producers Hub. Netflix-backed BAFTA Breakthrough talents will be making waves, while the inaugural EFM Distributor Award recognises the unsung heroes of indie film circulation.

Meanwhile, Berlinale Series Market celebrates the small screen, showcasing highly anticipated projects like Justin Kurzel’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North, starring Jacob Elordi, and Fernando Meirelles’ new project Miami Wildlife.

As Berlinale marks its 75^th anniversary, Tuttle reflects on its founding mission: “In 1951, it was a festival for people to connect across cultures. Today, that’s more vital than ever.” From calls to action against global injustice to deeply personal narratives of resilience, the Berlinale remains at the beating heart of cinematic change.

For cinephiles and industry insiders alike, Berlinale 2025 promises a thrilling collision of art, activism and storytelling at its most daring.

The editorial unit

Berlin Film Festival 2025 will take place from 13^th to 23^rd February 2025. For more information, visit the Berlinale website here.