The festival shows extraordinary new productions under the auspices of the Berlinale Special. Its function is to honour great cinema personalities by showing their films and to immerse audiences in cinematic history by screening film classics. Films which deserve special attention due to current events can also be shown as part of the Berlinale Special.

Furthermore the programme presents films in honor of those who receive a Berlinale Camera, films by or about outstanding persons of film whom the festival feels especially attached to. The Berlinale Special films are selected by the festival director Dieter Kosslick.

 

The main venue for screening this innovative and experimental programme is the Filmpalast on Kurfürstendamm. This is one of Berlin’s classic movie theatres. Its red carpet and art deco interior serve to highlight the Berlinale Special's exclusive nature. The Berlinale Palast as well as concert or theatre halls can also be used as venues for this programme, depending on what sort of film is being screened and how it is best presented.