If due to a series of very unfortunate events you had to miss going for the 61st edition of Berlin International Film Festival, you need not to worry as NISI MASA members are already on their way to promptly report the most exciting events and screenings happening during the upcoming 10 days.

We’ve infiltrated ourselves not only in the press department but also in the Berlinale Talent Campus (every film student’s 6-day dream workshop) where our spies are more than ready to absorb the advice of well-known film-makers and artists such as Isabella Rossellini, Susan Korda, Harry Belafonte, Ralph Fiennes, Istvan Szabo, Janus Metz, and Alex McDowell, and of course pass the tips to you. If this wasn’t enough, we’ve heard that the one and only Michael Nyman (ear-enchanter composer famous for his collaborations with Peter Greenaway) will be mentoring the Score Competition, meaning he will be within an arm’s grab for all the lucky Talent Campus participants. Shouldn’t be too jealous though, the 350 selected attendants had to fight their way through almost 4000 applications coming from 141 countries!

It will not however be all “bright and shiny” at Berlin. The jury presided by Isabella Rossellini will have to do without the input of Iranian director Jafar Panahi (winner in 2006 of the Silver Bear for Offside), who is currently sentenced to imprisonment for 6 years and banned from film-making for the next 20, because in his work he critically examines the social circumstances in his country. To signal the wrongdoings of the verdict which violates the right to freedom of expression, and to show its support for Panahi, the Berlinale will hold him a place open in the Jury. Unfortunate as it is, arts and politics are sometime inseparable, but the festival is planning to make the most of it and the 2011 edition of the Forum Expanded will focus precisely on films, videos and installations which challenge political thought in an aesthetic form.

It seems like nothing will rain on Berlin’s parade, not even the horrid looking B-poster which we’re bound to keep on seeing for the following days. We promise though we’ll spend as much time as possible in the cinemas and writing back to you, so that we make sure you get to taste a bit this German flavored film festival!