Sep 14, 2023
Berlinale Spotlight: Generation in Japan

For many years, the Berlinale has been present around the world with specially curated programmes. The Berlinale Spotlight extends the festival period, and thus, makes the activities of the Berlinale visible throughout the entire year.

Under the title Berlinale Spotlight: Generation, the Berlinale section Generation will once again present a programme which is curated jointly with the Nara International Film Festival, and will consist of entries both from the 2023 Generation Kplus and the Generation 14plus competitions.

The Nara International Film Festival (NIFF) will be held in Nara, Japan, running from September 16 to 28, 2023. The festival director and Japanese filmmaker Naomi Kawase focusses specifically on the participation of young cineastes. From September 16 to 18, the NIFF is dedicated to the young audience. As part of the Berlinale Spotlight: Generation, a five person youth jury will view and discuss the selected films and ultimately confer the Crystal Shika Award. From September 19 to 25, the festival will present programmes organised by a team of the NIFF youth jury.

“From Indigenous land in Australia to the Mexican-American border, the five films in this year's Berlinale Spotlight selection jump through a wide range of places in a precariously balanced world where young people are searching for ways to assert themselves against the state of things. We are very pleased to be able to once again continue our collaboration with NIFF as part of a cross-frontier, participatory young film culture that also sees cinema as a place to change the way we think about the world”, says Sebastian Markt, section head of Generation.

The following films will be presented as part of Nara International Film Festival:

L’Amour du monde by Jenna Hasse
Switzerland 2023
Special Mention of the International Jury of Generation Kplus 2023

Sweet As by Jub Clerc
Australia 2022
Crystal Bear for the Best Film Generation Kplus 2023

Desperté con un sueño by Pablo Solarz
Argentina / Uruguay 2022
Generation Kplus 2023

Hummingbirds by Silvia Del Carmen Castaños and Estefanía “Beba” Contreras
USA 2023
Grand Prix of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the Best Film

Sica by Carla Subirana
Spain 2023
Generation 14plus 2023

More information about the Nara International Film Festival: https://nara-iff.jp

Press Office
September 14, 2023