Director and producer M. Night Shyamalan will serve as president of the international jury at 72nd Berlinale next year.
“I’m pleased and honored that M. Night Shyamalan has accepted our invitation to serve as president of the jury,” said Berlinale artistic director Carlo Chatrian.
“Throughout his career he’s shaped a universe in which fears and desires stand side by side, where young people are not only the protagonists but also the driving force for overcoming dread. Within the U.S. movie business Shyamalan is a unique figure, a filmmaker that has remained faithful to his vision. This truthfulness to one’s ideal is also what we are looking for in our selection.”
Shyamalan added: “I have always felt like an independent filmmaker within the system of Hollywood. It is exactly those things in us that are different and unorthodox that define our voice. I have tried to maintain these things in myself and cheer others on to protect those aspects in their art and in themselves. Being asked to be a part of Berlinale is deeply meaningful to me. It represents the highest imprimatur for a filmmaker. Being able to support and celebrate the world’s very best talent in storytelling is a gift I happily accepted.”
After a pandemic affected hybrid version this year, the Berlin Film Festival will return to being an in-person event from Feb. 10-20, 2022. Parallel events, the European Film Market (Feb. 10-17), the Berlinale Co-Production Market (Feb. 12-16), Berlinale Talents (Feb. 12-17) and the World Cinema Fund will focus on on-site offerings and will also provide online formats. In addition, the Berlinale Series Market (Feb. 14-16) will host a selection of market screenings and a conference discussing high-end series.
Shyamalan’s latest film “Old,” starring Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps and Rufus Sewell was released internationally in cinemas over the summer. He is currently working on his next film, “Knock at the Cabin,” which is due a Feb. 2023 release.