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FILM

Navigating the Berlinale with The Local

The Berlinale, while offering a bounty of great films, can be logistically challenging. But fear not, The Local has a few tips on keeping any funny business from blocking your escape into show business.

Navigating the Berlinale with The Local
Get in line! Photo: DPA

Get organised:

Plan ahead if you want to make the most of the Berlin International Film Festival’s unique offerings! The Berlinale website offers a wealth of information for curious festival-goers – in English. The best feature is “My Daily Planner,” where you can add your programme picks to create the ideal itinerary without accidental scheduling overlaps, and then print it out to take to the box office, or order select tickets online. You’ll also find English-language film and section descriptions to prepare you for the inevitable post-picture coffee Klatsch.

Know when tickets go on sale:

Berlinale ticket sales are tricky – not only do you have to find films that fit into your schedule before tickets go on sale, you also have to find time to order and pick them up before they’re gone.

Tickets go on sale online starting February 7 and cost between €8-12. They are available three days prior to regular shows, and four days ahead of competition film screenings. They sell out quickly!

A limited number of tickets are available online for payment by credit card only, but you still have to pick them up at the Potsdamer Platz Arkaden ticket counter location. An extra processing fee of €1.50 per ticket will be applied. Those who miss out on the online ticket sales should head to one of the three main ticket offices, which are open daily from 10 am to 8 pm. We suggest arriving as early as possible to join the queue, where the inconvenience will be tempered by plenty of time to observe a fascinating selection of fellow film fans.

Central ticket sales are at one of three locations: the atrium of the Arkaden at Potsdamer Platz, the lovely Kino International at Karl-Marx-Allee 33, and the Urania at An der Urania 17.

Procrastinators may also be able to get tickets at box offices just before films start, but their lack of organisation will cost an extra €2. This is also the only time that Berlinale offers discounts (half-price) to students, the unemployed, the military and the disabled.

Consider the venue:

There are 21 venues screening films for this year’s Berlinale, several of which are located on and around Potsdamer Platz and the Sony Center. That’s a shame, because art house films are best enjoyed in charming vintage theatres, not the Cinemaxx with two x’s. Lucky for the purists, there are several lovely old classics with a full line-up of films. If you’re having trouble choosing a flick, why not let the cinema dictate your choice?

The Local’s favourite cinema in town is the Kino International, a stunning specimen of East German Modernism on the famous Karl Marx Allee, complete with a glittering gold curtain.

Another gem, the pre-war Kino Babylon, received a national award for architectural preservation in 2002 after a meticulous two-year restoration, and has the added benefit of being in the heart of the central Mitte district.

There’s also the chic Cinema Paris, lovingly maintained since opened in 1950 in the then French-occupied zone of Charlottenburg at Kurfürstendamm 211.

Construction of the Delphi Filmpalast began in 1947 out of a ruined dance hall and still has that special shabby black-and-white charm.

Get tech savvy:

For the second year in a row, the Berlinale is offering a mobile website at m.berlinale.de for use on smart phones and mobile phones. The new feature allows visitors quick access to information on programmes and venues.

Language considerations:

This is your big chance to avoid suffering through the German dubbing that the Teutons still insist upon. Every film at the Berlinale runs in its original language with English subtitles. For non-German speakers interested in keeping up with German cinema, this is a special opportunity to see (and understand) the films all of your friends will be raving about once they’re released to the general public.

Be flexible:

When surrounded by film hipsters who take themselves a bit too seriously, waiting in long lines for tickets you might not get, it helps to keep things in perspective. Film festivals are supposed to be about fun and discovery, so if you don’t get tickets to that premiere you’re dying to see, just pick something else. It could be the best film you’ve ever seen, and if not, you’ll have a good story to tell.

For members

STUDYING IN GERMANY

What’s it like to study abroad in Berlin?

Picking the right city to study abroad in Germany can be a tricky decision, and there are numerous factors to consider. Freya Jones shares her experience of doing a year abroad in the capital and explains why Berlin could also be the right choice for you.

What's it like to study abroad in Berlin?

Five months after moving to Berlin for my year abroad (a compulsory part of my German degree from the UK) the German capital is certainly a destination I’d recommend. 

Although it’s less “traditionally German” than many other corners of the country, and simultaneously more comparable to the blanket big city experience worldwide, Berlin’s unique history and culture make it a great place to explore – and unsurprisingly very popular with international students. 

Like all capitals, it has its pros and cons, so here’s what stood out to me during my experience so far.

Arrival

You’ve probably heard horror stories about the Berlin housing market, and from experience I can say they’re largely true. Finding an apartment here before moving to the city is notoriously difficult, and more expensive than in other parts of Germany. 

What you should bear in mind, however, is that unlike other German cities, Berlin doesn’t impose fines if you’re unable to secure a registration appointment within two weeks of arrival (three months if you already have a visa). This makes searching for a good WG, Studentenwerk, or other rental far easier post-arrival if your first stop is a homestay or somewhere else temporary. 

Blocks of rental flats in Berlin.

Blocks of rental flats in Berlin. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Monika Skolimowska

Despite a recent wave of strikes and construction work, transport links in Berlin are still very strong. If you’re enrolled as a student during your year abroad, you’ll be entitled to a discounted pass for city transport, including a number of tram, bus and train options that run all the way to the city’s outskirts and even into Brandenburg (Zone C).

What’s more, direct trains from Berlin’s BER Airport make it more accessible than more remote locations in Germany when you arrive equipped with a year’s worth of luggage.

English

My German tutors in the UK were slightly concerned when I chose Berlin, because they didn’t think I’d have much opportunity to practise my German. Looking back, this worry wasn’t without cause, and if your primary goal is German language improvement, it may be worth considering somewhere more rural or less international. 

Unlike small towns I’ve visited elsewhere in Germany, where many people speak little to no English, it’s everywhere in Berlin. Because the international population is so large, new friends from any country are likely to speak it by default.

However, this can obviously be mitigated by signing up for German-only university classes, as I’ve done as an exchange student at Humboldt University, or finding a German language job. And on the flip side, if you’re here to study a discipline other than German, the ubiquity of English in Berlin has you covered.

READ ALSO: The top German cities for international students in 2024

Cultural Experiences

Unsurprisingly, Berlin offers no end of unique cultural experiences. For new arrivals, there’s plenty to fill your time with, and I’d really recommend “playing the tourist” for a couple of weeks while you settle in. 

Bucket-list locations include the National Gallery and museums on Museuminsel, the Berlin Wall memorial, the Brandenburg Gate, and the site of the Berlin airlift at Tempelhof. And beyond this, there’s never a shortage of things to do – walks around Tiergarten and the customary Sunday flea markets (Flohmarkt am Mauerpark being the most famous) are popular with visitors and locals alike.

A skateboarder performs tricks on Tempelhofer Feld

A skateboarder performs tricks on a former runway at Berlin’s Tempelhofer Feld, a popular meeting place in Berlin-Neukölln. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Soeder

Something I’ve also really enjoyed after being here for a while is noticing the small details which differentiate the former East and West Berlin sectors, such as different traffic lights and types of transport. While much of the architecture is admittedly stark, grey and not as pretty as other parts of Germany, the way in which present-day Berlin is a visible product of its recent history makes it a fascinating place to live.

READ ALSO: How do I get a student visa for Germany and what does it let me do?

Pros & Cons

Any culture shock inevitably comes with both positives and negatives, and these are a few which particularly struck me after moving to Berlin from the UK. 

Cons: many shops refuse to take card payment and only accept cash; all shops and supermarkets close on Sundays; there’s no guarantee of being let into a club or bar on a night out, and the traffic lights genuinely seem to conspire against drivers and pedestrians alike. (Also, the weather in winter really will destroy your soul, and this is a Brit talking…)

Pros: the quality of food is much better here than in the UK, and cheaper; the cost of alcohol is much lower; public transport is cheaper and more efficient than in London; work-life balance and mental wellbeing are taken very seriously; and finally, there’s a far less visible “class system” than in the UK, possibly due to the greater access and affordability of German universities.  (This is really nice, especially if you’re coming from a UK university where socio-economic prejudice is very common.)

READ ALSO: How to stay in Germany after graduating from a German university

Overall, Berlin has been a vibrant place to spend my exchange semester. Not only has it given me insights into the most significant shifts in recent German history, but it also offers the archetypal experience of living in a bustling, multicultural city. So while it’s distinctly different to anywhere else in Germany you might be considering, the variety of things to see and do in Berlin will keep you engaged for your full year abroad.

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