"Berlinale" has become one of the leading international film festivals alongside Cannes and Venice. The festival in Berlin rolled out the red carpet to films from all over the world on 9th February for 12 days. The city of Berlin sparkled and shimmered for the 56th edition of the international film festival. It was a significant event not only for the public at large but also for local and international filmmakers. International stars like George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Robert Altman, Claude Chabrol, Isabelle Huppert graced the red carpet during last 12 days at Berlinale.

Approximately 3500 journalists from over 80 countries covered the event in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. The public film screenings alone attracted over 450, 000 visitors. This year there were over 1000 films shown at the Berlinale.

There were 26 films in the main competition category. Some 60 short films were divided in the 'Competition', 'Panorama', 'Perspektive Deutsches Kino' and 'Kinderfilmfest' sections.

The opening film was Syriana (USA), directed by Stephen Gaghan, is a political thriller with a star-studded cast. The movie takes a look at the global oil trade. In one of the leading roles George Clooney plays a CIA agent who is sent on a mission to the Middle East.

The Road to Guantanamo, a co-production, of UK, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan was screened at the festival as well. The film criticises the US administration for ill-treatment of detainees at the Guantanamo camp.

For the last five years Berlinale has been operation a programme called "Talent Campus" which aims to promote young filmmakers and actors. The "Berlinale Talent Campus" has also become a platform where young talents and experienced professionals come together and share views.

With 530 emerging filmmakers, actors, technicians from 90 countries and a total of 80 international experts this year, "Berlinale Talent Campus" is turning into the school for those wanting to make it in the film business. This year two young filmmakers from Bangladesh have participated at the "Berlinale Talent Campus". One of them is Zahirul Islam and who screened his experimental film Children of Paradise.

John and Jane, a documentary film about Indian call centre employees on the frontlines of globalisation, made waves at the festival. Director Ashim Ahluwalia, followed the lives of six Indian call centre agents trying to sell American everything from cheaper phone call rates to emergency medical systems. The film's protagonists take on pseudonyms such as John and Jane and work nights to cater to the demands of a market half a world away.

Since 1951, Berlinale has honoured a number of brilliant directors and films that went on to become parts of the film history. Award-winners at the Berlin International Film Festival include Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Michelangelo Antonioni, Jean-Luc Godard, Ingmar, Bergmann, Sidney Lumet, Robert Altman, Claude Chabrol, Roman Polanski, Satyajit Ray, Carlos Saura, Ang Lee, Zhang Yimou, John Cassavetes and many others.

The festival's main prizes are the Golden and Silver Bears.

The International Jury was led by Charlotte Rampling. The English character actress, who resides in France, is one of the most important international stars of contemporary cinema. Matthew Barney (multi-media artist, USA), Yash Chopra (producer-director, India), Marleen Gorris (director, Netherlands), Janusz Kaminski (cinematographer, Poland), Lee Young-ae (actress, Republic of Korea), Armin Mueller-Stahl, (actor, Germany) and Fred Roos (producer, USA) formed the jury.

The inaugural speech by festival director Dieter Kosslick truly resonated the approach and sentiments of the festival: "The 56th Berlinale intends to blend silver-screen glamour with an unflinching look at issues ranging from the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay to women's rights in Iran."

The author is the editor of Asia Today, a business journal