Spotlight on diversity, politics and Nazi past at Berlinale

Diversity, politics and revelations from the Nazi era will dominate the agenda as the Berlin film festival launches its 70th edition in the heart of the German capital on Feb. 21.

One of Europe's biggest cinema events alongside Cannes and Venice, the Berlinale will this year showcase female directors and political films from across the globe while also confronting hard truths about its own murky history.

Following furious debate in Hollywood about the dominance of white and male nominees at recent award shows, the Berlinale's new directors have claimed the 11-day festival will represent the "diversity" of cinema.

"My goal is to ensure a platform for the films. We want to give room to diversity," said co-director Carlo Chatrian. "I don't say that we are presenting perfect films... but films that represent cinema in its diversity."

New chiefs Chatrian and Mariette Rissenbeek take charge of the festival for the first time this year, after former boss Dieter Kosslick ended an 18-year spell at the helm in 2019.

Last year, Kosslick signed a "50/50" pledge to commit the festival to gender parity in future, calling for transparency in selection and an even gender ratio in top management.

At a recent press conference, Rissenbeek pointed out that the majority of section directors were now women after a reorganization of the festival structure.

Yet only six of the 18 films in the running for this year's "Golden Bear" are directed by women, one fewer than in 2019.

They include British director Sally Potter's "The Roads Not Taken", starring Javier Bardem and Salma Hayek, and "First Cow" by U.S. indie director Kelly Reichardt.

A number of high-profile female figures are also set to grace the red carpet this year.