Is there really a film festival “season” anymore? Sure, there are a ton of important events in the fall, as we enter the annual awards season, but there are some high profile film festivals all throughout the year, including right around the corner from now. That’s where we find the Berlin International Film Festival, which has finally announced the films that will be competing for the Golden Bear award.
According to the Berlin International Film Festival, 19 films are competing this year for the prestigious awards offered by the event. Perhaps headline the affair is “Blue Moon,” the newest film from acclaimed filmmaker Richard Linklater and starring Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale, and Andrew Scott. There’s also the newest film from legendary Korean filmmaker Hong Sangsoo, titled “What Does That Nature Say to You.” And another high profile feature is “Dreams” from director Michel Franco and starring Jessica Chastain, Isaac Hernández, Rupert Friend, and Marshall Bell.
READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2025
“We’re fiercely proud of the films in this year’s Competition; they showcase the breadth of cinema and offer fascinating glimpses into different lives and places,” said Festival Director Tricia Tuttle. “There are intimate dramas that ask us to understand our human fragilities and strengths; there is gentle comedy but also the sharpest, blackest satire; there are films that pay homage to cinematic greats and ones that use the art form’s fullest canvas. Each of these singular works shows filmmakers at the top of their craft. From these deserving ranks, we look forward to discovering what Todd Haynes’ jury pick as the winners of Berlinale Golden and Silver Bears.”
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Overall, the 19 films selected include 17 world premieres, one first feature, and one feature documentary. There are 26 countries represented and eight films were directed or co-directed by women. Not bad statistics.
The Berlin International Film Festival begins on February 13. You can see the full competition lineup below:
COMPETITION
“Ari”
by Léonor Serraille | with Andranic Manet, Pascal Rénéric, Théo Delezenne, Ryad Ferrad, Eva Lallier Juan
France / Belgium 2025
World premiere
“Blue Moon”
by Richard Linklater | with Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Scott
USA / Ireland 2025
World premiere
“La cache” (“The Safe House”)
by Lionel Baier | with Dominique Reymond, Michel Blanc, William Lebghil, Aurélien Gabrielli, Liliane Rovère
Switzerland / Luxembourg / France 2025
World premiere
“Dreams”
by Michel Franco | with Jessica Chastain, Isaac Hernández, Rupert Friend, Marshall Bell
Mexico 2025
World premiere
“Drømmer” (“Dreams (Sex Love)”)
by Dag Johan Haugerud | with Ella Øverbye, Selome Emnetu, Ane Dahl Torp, Anne Marit Jacobsen
Norway 2024
International premiere
“Geu jayeoni nege mworago hani” (“What Does That Nature Say to You”)
by Hong Sangsoo | with Ha Seongguk, Kwon Haehyo, Cho Yunhee, Kang Soyi
South Korea 2025
World premiere
“Hot Milk”
by Rebecca Lenkiewicz | with Emma Mackey, Fiona Shaw, Vicky Krieps, Vincent Perez
United Kingdom 2025
World premiere | Debut film
“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”
by Mary Bronstein | with Rose Byrne, A$AP Rocky, Conan O’Brien, Danielle Macdonald, Ivy Wolk, Delaney Quinn
USA 2024
International premiere
“Kontinental ’25”
by Radu Jude | with Eszter Tompa, Gabriel Spahiu, Adonis Tanța
Romania 2025
World premiere
“El mensaje” (“The Message”)
by Iván Fund | with Mara Bestelli, Marcelo Subiotto, Anika Bootz, Betania Cappato
Argentina / Spain 2025
World premiere
“Mother’s Baby”
by Johanna Moder | with Marie Leuenberger, Hans Löw, Claes Bang, Julia Franz Richter
Austria / Switzerland / Germany 2025
World premiere
“O último azul” (“The Blue Trail”)
by Gabriel Mascaro | with Denise Weinberg, Rodrigo Santoro, Miriam Socorrás, Adanilo
Brazil / Mexico / Chile / Netherlands 2025
World premiere
“Reflet dans un diamant mort” (“Reflection in a Dead Diamond”)
by Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani | with Fabio Testi, Yannick Renier, Koen De Bouw, Maria de Medeiros, Thi Mai Nguyen
Belgium / Luxembourg / Italy / France 2025
World premiere
“Sheng xi zhi di” (“Living the Land”)
By Huo Meng │with Wang Shang, Zhang Chuwen, Zhang Yanrong, Zhang Caixia, Cao Lingzhi
People’s Republic of China 2025
World premiere
“Strichka chasu” (“Timestamp”)
by Kateryna Gornostai | with Olha Bryhynets, Borys Khovriak, Mykola Kolomiiets
Ukraine / Luxembourg / Netherlands / France 2025
World premiere | Documentary form
“La Tour de Glace” (“The Ice Tower”)
by Lucile Hadžihalilović | with Marion Cotillard, Clara Pacini, August Diehl, Gaspar Noé
France / Germany 2025
World premiere
“Was Marielle weiß” (“What Marielle Knows”)
by Frédéric Hambalek | with Julia Jentsch, Felix Kramer, Laeni Geiseler, Mehmet Ateşçi, Moritz Treuenfels
Germany 2025
World premiere
“Xiang fei de nv hai” (“Girls on Wire”)
by Vivian Qu | with Liu Haocun, Wen Qi, Zhang Youhao
People’s Republic of China 2025
World premiere
“Yunan”
by Ameer Fakher Eldin | with Georges Khabbaz, Hanna Schygulla, Ali Suliman, Sibel Kekilli, Tom Wlaschiha
Germany / Canada / Italy / Palestine / Qatar / Jordan / Saudi Arabia 2025
World premiere