Berliners, Sabine ‘Bee’ Koch writes, were very much looking forward to this year’s Berlinale 2025. After five years the not-so-dynamic duo of Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian who, in my opinion, never connected with the festival, the city, and foremost its people, have handed over the reins to London Film Festival alumni Tricia Tuttle. While the […]
Film: “Time Travel is Dangerous” British Star-studded Sci-fi Mockumentary
March 7, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Best friends Ruth Syratt and Megan Stevenson run the vintage shop ChaChaCha in Muswell Hill, north London bringing a real-life documentary element to this sci-fi mockumentary. Stumbling across a time machine by the local bins, it occurs to them that stock could be much cheaper if they ‘borrow’ from the past (well, it’s free actually). […]
Documentary: Studio One Forever – America’s First Gay Disco
September 30, 2024 by
STUDIO ONE FOREVER the story of America’s first gay disco, is a kaleidoscopic excursion into LGBTQ+ history through the lens of this groundbreaking club. From 1974 to 1994, Studio One in Los Angeles and its adjoining live music venue, The Backlot, became symbols of hope and community for gay men. Amidst the rise of gay rights, […]
“Let’s get together” Berlinale 2023
March 21, 2023 by
Bee takes another bite of the Berlinale – her informed and inimitable take on the 73rd annual Berlin International Film Festival in 2023. After being very successful last year, this year’s Berlinale upped the ante and went to 100% capacity. The audiences lapped it up with most screenings selling out and people congregating just like […]
Berlinale 2020 – A Mirror of the 21st Century
March 11, 2020 by
Berlinale 2020 – One Year After Kosslik The charismatic head of the Berlinale, Dieter Kosslik left after 18 years with amazing successes attached to his name but also growing criticism about the programming of the festival. Instead of finding another Jack of all trades, the Berlinale decided to split the position into artistic director (Carlo […]
Movie Review: Berlinale 2019 Top 3 Picks – Bee’s Bunch of the Best
February 25, 2019 by
This year’s Berlinale marked the swan song for Dieter Kosslick, the outspoken and celebrity-friendly festival director. After 18 years he is giving up his reigns and although he has been criticised by some over the last years, his contribution in making the Berlinale one of the top 5 film festivals of the world and the […]
Movie Review: Berlinale 2016
March 8, 2016 by Leave a Comment
In February there is one unmissable thing in Berlin – the Berlinale. As usual, this film festival is about being eclectic and not all about ‘the competition.’ So the 16 films our reviewer, Sabine ‘Bee’ Koch, got to see, ranged from Japanese thrillers, Iranian ghost stories and the very first queer movie – 1919’s silent […]
