The Berlinale, the first major cinematographic event of the year in Europe, salutes the “stunning scope of the work” of the 64-year-old star, who brings “so much humanity, compassion, intelligence, humor and style in cinema.
The festival takes place in the German capital from February 13 to 23, and will open with the new film by German director Tom Tykwer, made famous by the feature film “Run, Lola, Run” (1998).
“Das Licht” (The Light) is about the arrival of a Syrian woman as governess in a German family.
Alabaster skin and green eyes
Short hair highlighting her enigmatic face, alabaster skin, green eyes, Tilda Swinton saw her career take off late in life, winning the 2008 Oscar for best supporting actress for her character as an icy businesswoman in “Michael Clayton” by the American Tony Gilroy with George Clooney.
This Scotswoman began by working on demanding, even experimental films, in collaboration with the independent British director Derek Jarman (“Edward II”, “Caravaggio”).
Since 2000, Hollywood cinema has opened its doors to the woman who has shared the bill in big-budget feature films alongside stars like Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Beach” (2000), Tom Cruise in “Vanilla Sky” (2001) , Keanu Reeves in “Constantine” (2005) or Brad Pitt in “War Machine”.
More recently, she notably filmed with Wes Anderson in “Asteroid City” (2023) or Pedro Almodovar in “The Room Next Door”, Golden Lion in Venice in 2024.
One of the idols of modern cinema
“Tilda Swinton is one of our idols of modern cinema and has also been part of the Berlinale family for a long time,” said the festival’s new director, American Tricia Tuttle, in a statement.
“The Berlinale is the first film festival I attended,” said Tilda Swinton. It was in 1986 with Caravaggio, inspired by the life of the Italian baroque painter Caravaggio, the actress's very first film, winner of a Silver Bear in Berlin.
During the 74th Berlinale, it was American director Martin Scorsese who was awarded an honorary Golden Bear for his entire career.
