Ukraine's President Zelensky to open Berlin Film Festival

Filmmakers from the world over gathered in Berlin for the city's venerable film festival, which is due to be opened later on Thursday with a video address by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Now in its 73rd year, the festival will see films hailing from Mexico to Australia competing for a coveted Golden Bear trophy that will be awarded by a jury chaired by US actor Kristen Stewart.

"Full disclosure: I'm kind of shaking," the "Twilight" and "Spencer" star told a news conference to introduce the jury when asked how she felt about adjudicating at the most overtly political of the world's major film festivals.

Zelensky's appearance reflects the organisers' focus this year on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and on pro-democracy protests in Iran. Films from and about both countries are prominent, while films supported by the Iranian and Russian governments are banned.

"This year with Iran, the earthquake, with Ukraine — it feels like the world is disintegrating," said French-Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani, another jury member.

Outside the main competition, films will tackle topics from race in America to gender transition and sexuality, while high-profile visitors will include director Steven Spielberg and singer Bono, attending a documentary about U2's legendary 1997 post-siege concert in Sarajevo.

Anne Hathaway, who stars in the festival's opening film "She Came to Me" as a therapist whose life is no more ordered than her patients', welcomed the participation of Zelensky.

Cast member Marisa Tomei attends a photocall to promote the movie 'She Came to Me' at the 73rd Berlinale International Film Festival. Reuters

Speaking at a pre-premiere press conference, she described him as "a hero of our times" whose inclusion "amplified the message of Ukraine, which is the almost universal desire for peace."

Reuters