Berlin film festival program

The Berlin event, the first of the year's major European film festivals, runs from Feb. 5-15. Eighteen films will compete for the main Golden Bear prize, while another eight will show out of competition — including the Oscar-nominated Holocaust-themed drama "The Reader," starring Kate Winslet.

Festival director Dieter Kosslick said many films this year reflect the impact of globalization on people's lives.

He argued that the global economic crisis has given new relevance to films such as Tom Tykwer's "The International," starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts, which opens the festival next week and traces financial transactions that fuel war and terrorism.

"Many films suddenly reflect reality better than anything else," Kosslick said at a news conference. "Reality has caught up with fiction this year."

The festival program has a typically diverse geographical reach, including films from Iranian director Asghar Farhadi's "About Elly," ''The Milk of Sorrow" from Peruvian-born Claudia Llosa, and famed Chinese director Chen Kaige's "Forever Enthralled."

The latest movie from Stephen Frears, the British director of "The Queen," is set to make its debut. "Cheri," a romantic drama set in 1920s France, stars Pfeiffer and Kathy Bates.

France's Bertrand Tavernier is bringing a new U.S.-set drama, "In The Electric Mist," starring Jones, to the festival. Another Frenchman, Francois Ozon, is competing with "Ricky" and veteran Polish director Andrzej Wajda contributes his latest film, "Tatarak."

Dench stars alongside Jude Law and Steve Buscemi in Sally Potter's "Rage." Zellweger plays a 1950s divorcee embarking on a road trip in search of a wealthy husband in Richard Loncraine's "My One And Only."

Other U.S. entries in the competition come from Oren Moverman — "The Messenger," starring Woody Harrelson — and Mitchell Lichtenstein. He contributes "Happy Tears," starring Demi Moore.

Director Kosslick said he did not expect the global economic crisis to have any direct effect on the festival, which has not seen any sponsors depart.

The winner will be chosen by a seven-person international jury under British actress Tilda Swinton.

Last year's Golden Bear went to Brazilian director Jose Padilha's "Elite Squad."