The world premiere of “Das Licht (The Light),” the latest feature film from Tom Tykwer, will open the 75th Berlin International Film Festival on February 13, 2025. The German-French production will be presented as a Berlinale Special Gala out of competition in the Berlinale Palast.
“We knew as soon as we saw ‘Das Licht (The Light)’ that we wanted to have it open the 75th Berlinale,” the festival’s director Tricia Tuttle said in making the announcement. “Tom Tykwer finds beauty and joy in our often fractured and challenging world, and magically captures the essence of our modern life on screen. It is our great pleasure to welcome Tom back to the Berlinale with ‘Das Licht (The Light).’”
Tykwer has already opened the Berlinale — twice, as a matter of fact. In 2022 it was his first international production, “Heaven,” that had the honor. The director and screenwriter most recently opened the festival in 2009 with political thriller “The International.” And in 2018, he served as the Berlinale’s jury president.
“I’m over the moon to open next year’s Berlinale with Das Licht (The Light),” Tykwer said in a statement. “The Berlinale is the festival of my life. The city is my destiny. This film is my longing.”
So yeah, he’s pretty have to have the spot.
“Das Licht (The Light)” stars German actor Lars Eidinger (“Dying,” “About Joan,” “Babylon Berlin”) and actor and director Nicolette Krebitz (“A Cloud in Our House,” “A E I O U – A Quick Alphabet of Love”). The films tells the story of the Engels family, comprised of Tim (Lars Eidinger), Milena (Nicolette Krebitz), their twins Frieda (Elke Biesendorfer) and Jon (Julius Gause), and Milena’s son Dio (Elyas Eldridge). They pretty much just co-exist until a new housekeeper, Farrah (Tala Al-Deen), enters their lives. Farrah is described in the synopsis as a “mysterious woman from Syria” who “puts the Engels’ world to an unexpected test and brings to light feelings that have long been hidden.”
“In the process, [Farrah] pursues a plan all of her own that will fundamentally change the family’s life,” the official description continues.
“Das Licht (The Light)” was produced by X Filme Creative Pool, in co-production with ZDF, ARP Séléction, Gold Rush Pictures, Gretchenfilm, and B.A. Filmproduktion. It will be released in German cinemas on March 20, 2025 by X Verleih and distributed by Warner Bros.; Beta Cinema is handling world sales.
