TheBerlinFilm Festival officially kicked off Thursday evening with an eventful opening ceremony at theBerlinalePalast theater in the German capital.
Aftera divisive build-up to the fest, the opening ceremony was, in contrast, a relatively conventional affair.
What do we want it to be, Tesfai asked in her opening remarks.
Berlin International Film FestivalHannes P Albert/picture alliance via Getty Images.
So, we cannot afford to pretend this is none of our business.
Because it 100% is.
Tesfais monologue was met with rapturous applause from the audience members inside the theater.
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The Berlinale has a lot of space for dialogue between people and art.
But it has no space for hatred.
We are opposed to all forms of discrimination whether its anti-semitism or Islamaphobia, Rissenbeek continued.
They want to fragment and destroy our republic.
They want hate and hatred, Roth said.
Empathy and humanity is our response to counter their hatred and racism.
The filmmakers held up flashlights from their phones as the words Defend.
Democracy appeared on a large screen behind the red carpet.
The participants then proceeded to chant Democracy, defend.
The demonstration was mostly met with cheers from the surrounding crowds.
After a few moments, the demonstration ended and the carpet procession continued.
Outside the festival boundaries, a counter-protest was held by Hack!, a progressive collective of artists.
The group congregated opposite the carpet procession holding a sign that read No seats for fascists anywhere.
Neither in culture nor in the senate, another reference to the AfD.
Ive learned that Im the first Black [jury] president, Nyongo said addressing the Berlinale crowd.
This revelation forces him to confront some hard truths about the convent, his hometown and his own life.
TheBerlin Film Festivalruns February 15-25.
