Tom Tykwer’s ‘The Light’ to Open 2025 Berlin Film Festival
Tom Tykwer is returning to the Berlinale.
The acclaimed German director of Run Lola Run, Cloud Atlas and Drei will open the 75th Berlin International Film Festival with his new feature, Das Licht (The Light).
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Tykwer’s first feature since 2016’s A Hologram for a King is a family drama set in modern-day Germany featuring Lars Eidinger, Nicolette Krebitz and Tala al Deen. It tells the story of the Engels family, parents Tim (Eidinger) and Milena (Krebitz), their twins Frieda (Elke Biesendorfer) and Jon (Julius Gause) and Milena’s son Dio (Elyas Eldridge). The family has been growing apart for years before housekeeper Farrah (Al-Deen), a mysterious woman from Syria, enters their lives, bringing to light feelings that have long been hidden. Farrah is pursuing a plan all of her own that will fundamentally change the family’s life.
“We knew as soon as we saw Das Licht (The Light) that we wanted to have it open the 75th Berlinale,” said Berlinale Festival Director Tricia Tuttle. “Tom Tykwer finds beauty and joy in our often fractured and challenging world, and magically captures the essence of our modern life on screen. It is our great pleasure to welcome Tom back to the Berlinale.”
Das Light will screen out of competition as a Berlinale Special Gala.
“I’m over the moon to open next year’s Berlinale with Das Licht (The Light),” Tykwer said. “The Berlinale is the festival of my life. The city is my destiny. This film is my longing.”
This is the third time Tykwer has opened the Berlinale. He kicked off the 2002 festival with Heaven and opened the Berlinale with The International in 2009.
Das Licht (The Light) was produced by X Filme Creative Pool, in co-production with ZDF, ARP Séléction, Gold Rush Pictures, Gretchenfilm and B.A. Filmproduktion. X Verleih and Warner Bros. Germany will release the film in German cinemas on March 20, 2025. Beta Cinema is handling world sales.
The 75th Berlinale runs Feb. 13-23, 2025. Carol and Far From Heaven director Todd Haynes will head up the 2025 international jury.
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