special berlin film festival edition of talking movies. this year, the berlin film festival was a film institution with a mission, leading us out of the darkness, determined that the festival should take place despite calls from some critics who said it was a foolhardy undertaking in the midst of an omicron wave. one of the biggest american names at berlin this year was film—maker m night shyamalan, president of the jury, who was a steadfast supporter of the festival organisers and their desire to forge ahead with an in—person event. when i was talking to them about it they were expressing the importance of culture and the importance of art and what it means for us, that it gives us hope and inspires us to go forward in a responsible way, i think is a great way to go. berlin is one of europe's top film festivals and despite this year's constraints, its reduced line—up was populated by the kinds of films that have, over the decades, defined this festival.