This year festival was not only marked by a selection of films with a political and inclusive tinge, but also by presenting itself as a goodbye party around its Director, Dieter Kosslick.

After 18 years the Berlinale is loosing its greatest mentor and celebrating him with a parade of celebrities and artists on the red carpet throughout the week to say goodbye to a great friend, a confidant, a film critic who took over the task of growing the festival and positioning it as one of the most important film festivals in Europe.

Under his direction the Berlinale created a new series of film projections, bringing to the city young directors, culinary cinema, German retrospective, independent artists and documentaries from every corner of the globe and especially cinema with a social and political message.