Berlin film fest announces remaining Golden Bear contenders

Organizers of the Berlin International Film Festival have announced the remaining films for its competition lineup, with many of the titles dealing with themes of political, personal and societal conflict.

Francois Ozon's Angel, which tells the story of a humble, young Englishwoman's rise into high society during the early 20th century, will compete for the festival's top honour, the Golden Bear, and close the Berlinale, which runs Feb. 8-18.

Also joining the competition program are:

• O ano em que meus pais sairam de ferias (The Year My Parents Went on Vacation) - about a child whose parents are forced to "go on a trip" by Brazil's military dictatorship during the 1970s (Brazil/Argentina).
• El otro - which follows a man who decides to change his identity (Argentina/France/Germany).
• Beaufort - a story about the last Israeli military unit stationed in Lebanon prior to the country's withdrawal of troopsfrom the country (Israel).
• Hyazgar (Desert Dream) - a film about a woman fleeing North Korea who crosses paths with a soldier in a Chinese-Mongolian border village (Korea/France).
• Tu ya de hun shi (Tuya's Marriage) - a drama about a woman seeking a new husband who will care for both her and her ill ex-husband (China).
• Ping Guo (Lost in Beijing) - the story of several Bejing residents who share their experiences of life in the rapidly changing city (China).
• When a Man Falls in the Forest - a drama about rural villagers dealing with isolation and loneliness (U.S.-Canada).
• Hallam Foe - a tale of a young Scottish boy who flees his family and home for the big city after the death of his mother (U.K.).

Previously announced films in the 26-title competition lineup include Robert De Niro's The Good Shepherd, Steven Soderbergh's The Good German and Bordertown, a film starring Jennifer Lopez as a U.S. reporter sent to Mexico to investigate the killings of women in the city of Ciudad Juarez.

Screening out of competition in Berlin will be 300, U.S. director Zack Snyder's retelling of the ancient battle of Thermopylae, and British psychological drama Notes on a Scandal, based on the Zoe Heller novel and starring Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett.

Meanwhile, Canadian director Bruce McDonald's The Tracey Fragments, a look into the "fragmented emotional world" of a teenage girl, will open the festival's Panorama program on Feb. 8. The program typically highlights more art house-type films.

Telefilm Canada also announced on Wednesdaynine Canadian feature films and two shortswill be added to the Berlin lineup. The festival will screen some of Canada's more prominent recent films, such as Clement Virgo's Poor Boy's Game, Sarah Polley's Away From Herand Guy Maddin's Brand Upon the Brain.

In conjunction with the festival,Telefilmwill sponsor the series Perspective Canada — Berlin, which will showcase 13 titles. The series will includesuch Canadianfeatures asManufactured Landscapes, Fido and How She Move, which were well-received at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Berlin organizers will also pay homage to U.S. director Arthur Penn, who will receive an honorary Golden Bear trophy for lifetime achievement.

The festival program will also a program screening 10 of Penn's films, including Bonnie and Clyde, The Miracle Worker and The Chase.

Along with Cannes, Venice and Toronto, Berlin's annual festival is considered one of the world's premiere film events.

Led by director Paul Schrader, this year's Berlinale jury includes actors Gael Garcia Bernal, Willem Dafoe, Hiam Abbass and Mario Adorf, producer Nansun Shi and film editor Molly Malene Stensgaard.

La Vie en Rose, a biopic about iconic French chanteuse Edith Piaf, will open this year's 57th annual event on Feb. 8.