Berlinale proud to showcase best films of time

Berlinale cherishes its long tradition of highlighting the highbrow's artistic films and is always committed to showcasing the best films of the time, the Berlinale director said.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Dieter Kosslick, the perennial director who has been reigning the Berlin Film Festival since 2001, said that "Berlinale has been a champion of provocative work, some may be literary."

"We are proud to be showcasing what is the best of the time." Kosslick said.

Kosslick said that Chinese films already become one of staples of international film festivals. With more and more Chinese movies are gaining international recognition and acclaims, Chinese films are eagerly grabbing the limelight for international recognition.

"I am very happy and proud of Chinese filmmaker friends for their achievements", Kosslick said, adding that Chinese cinema has evolved quite a bit to the world over the past 30 years.

With consistent efforts by Chinese cineastes, Kosslick believed Chinese cineastes' keen desire is nothing typical in terms of gripping with its own empowerment, "it is just a manifestation of Chinese public's growing fascination of its own place in the world."

"I am very pleased to be running an European film festival that was the first to give the first prize to a Chinese film," Kosslick said, recalling Zhang Yimou's winning of the Golden Bear in 1988 for "Red Sorghum"("Hong Gaoliang" in Chinese).

Since then, there were many more Golden Bear winners from China.

In response to the selection of Hong Kong movie director Wong Kar Wai as this year's Berlinale jury president, Kosslick called the Shanghai-born film director as one of the most recognized Chinese filmmakers in the western world, as his films influence a whole new generation of cineaste, so "we are very pleased to welcome back Wong Kar Wai to Berlin."

"I am particularly happy to have him back to Berlin not only as the Jury President but also to open the festival with his new film - a martial arts film," Kosslick said, expressing his belief that the highprofile participation of this notable Hong Kong director is "thrilling."

Asked to draw a clear line of criterion in judging the Chinese movie to contend ardently for the international acclaim and prize-winning, the Berlinale director stressed that from the cineaste's point of view, the jury are looking at films beyond merely its theme.

"What attract us to the work is not only its cinematic treatment and its use of image and sound, but also it has to be a very cinematic film which we Europeans can admire," Kosslick reaffirmed.

"Making a good film is a truly cinematic experience!" Kosslick added.