Berlin Festival Adds 3 Films to Berlinale Specials Lineup, Including Omar Sy Starrer

The 2024Berlin Film Festival has added Brandt Andersen’s refugee drama The Strangers’ Case, featuring French superstar Omar Sy (Lupin) to its official lineup. The drama, about a tragedy that strikes a Syrian family in Aleppo, triggering a chain reaction of events that impact five different families across four countries, will screen in the Berlinale Special sidebar at this year’s festival, which runs Feb. 15-25. Jason Beghe and Yasmine Al Massri co-star in the film’s ensemble cast.

Berlin on Thursday also added two mid-length Japanese films to its Berlinale Specials lineup: Chime by Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Tokyo Sonata) and August My Heaven by Riho Kudo (Orphan’s Blues). Chime follows a student at a culinary school who begins to hear voices and becomes convinced half of his brain has been replaced by a machine. August My Heaven centers on Joe, a professional stand-in actor who is hired by clients to play their friend, relative or lover at formal occasions. But an event at a funeral gig makes it harder for Joe to keep professional and private lives separate.

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Among the other highlights of the Berlinale Specials program, already announced, include Rose Glass’ crime actioner Love Lies Bleeding starring Kristen Stewart, which premiered in Sundance; the Korean thriller The Roundup: Punishment from director Heo Myeong-haeng and starring Train to Busan and Eternals actor Don Lee; and the documentary Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger, directed by David Hinton and narrated by Martin Scorsese.

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