The Berlin Film Festival has suffered the withdrawal of two jury
members just hours before its opening on Thursday evening.
"With profound regret, Susanne Bier and Sandrine Bonnaire have
announced at the last moment they will be unable to participate on
the jury," said Berlinale organizers on Thursday.
Danish director Susanne Bier said she is leaving for the United
States immediately due to unforeseen circumstances related to her
next film.
"The bags were already packed, however an unforeseen occurrence
demanded my immediate professional presence elsewhere," said Bier.
"I am very sad about this."
French actress and director Sandrine Bonnaire also quit due to
family reasons.
Organizers said she will be unable to stay in Berlin for the
entire length of the festival and thus has to resign as jury
member.
"For me it was a great honour to have been appointed to the
Berlinale jury and I was looking forward to enjoying the ten-day
cinematic journey. However, for family reasons, I've been forced to
cancel and ask everyone involved for their understanding," Bonnaire
said.
The jury, which will award the top prizes of the film festival
at a ceremony on Feb. 16, is presided over by Greek-born director
Constantin Costa-Gavras and includes actress Shu Qi from China's
Taiwan as well as German actress Diane Kruger.
Also joining the jury are U.S. film editor Walter Murch, Russian
film producer Alexander Rodniansky and German production designer
Uli Hanisch.
The 58th Berlin Film Festival, one of the world's top three of
its kind, is scheduled to open here Thursday evening with a gala
featuring the world premiere of Oscar-winning director Martin
Scorsese's concert movie about the legendary rock group The Rolling
Stones.
During the 10-day film festival about 400 films are to be
screened in different sections.
One year after Tuya's Marriage was crowned with the coveted
Golden Bear award, this year's competition section again features
two Chinese films: Wang Xiaoshuai's Zuo You (In Love We Trust) and
Hong Kong director Johnnie To's Sparrow (Man Jeuk).
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(Xinhua/Agencies February 8, 2008)