Berlin, January 23: Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has made it to the international jury of the 61st Berlin film festival to be held next month.
Although his film ”Peepli Live” is out of the Oscar race, the 45-year-old actor himself is going places. He is now one of the seven jury members who will pick the winner of the prestigious Golden and Silver Bear prizes at the festival to be held here from February 10 to 20.
Lead by Italian-American actress Isabella Rossellini, the jury also includes Australian film producer Jan Chapman, German actress Nina Hoss, Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin, Oscar-winning costume designer Sandy Powell and Iranian director Jafar Panahi.
Since Panahi has been sentenced six years imprisonment in December and banned from filmmaking for the next 20 years, his place on the jury will be left symbolically empty.
“There has been worldwide protest against this verdict that violates the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The Berlinale is holding a place open in the Jury for Jafar Panahi and in doing so wants to signalize its support for his struggle for freedom,” said the Berlinale website.
The festival features 22 films in the main programme including 16 in competition. One of the world”s top film festivals, Berlinale will open with a remake of the classic ”True Grit” by Oscar-winning brothers Joel and Ethan Coen.
——–PTI