Tom Tykwer's The Light to open Berlin Film Festival

Lars Eidinger starrer offers portrait of a modern family put to the test

by Amber Wilkinson

The Light
The Light Photo: Courtesy of Berlinale

The world premiere of Tom Tykwer’s latest feature film The Light (Das Licht) will open the 75th Berlin International Film Festival on February 13 as an out-of-competition title.

Tim (Lars Eidinger, Dying), Milena (Nicolette Krebitz), their twins Frieda (Elke Biesendorfer) and Jon (Julius Gause) and Milena's son Dio (Elyas Eldridge) are a family that lives more side by side than together and nothing holds them together until the housekeeper Farrah (Tala Al-Deen) enters their lives. The mysterious woman from Syria puts the Engels’ world to an unexpected test and brings to light feelings that have long been hidden.

Incoming festival director Tricia Tuttle said: "We knew as soon as we saw The Light that we wanted to have it open the 75th Berlinale. Tom Tykwer finds beauty and joy in our often fractured and challenging world, and magically captures the essence of our modern life on screen."

Tykwer has opened the Berlinale twice previously: in 2002 with his first international production Heaven and in 2009 with the political thriller The International.

The director said: “I’m over the moon to open next year’s Berlinale. The Berlinale is the festival of my life. The city is my destiny. This film is my longing.”

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.

Das Licht (The Light) will be released in German cinemas on March 20, 2025 by X Verleih and distributed by Warner Bros. Beta Cinema is handling world sales.

Share this with others on...
News

Sensorial cinema Miguel Gomes on Somerset Maugham and updating the travelogue in The Grand Tour

Having the final say Sinéad O’Shea on Blue Road: The Edna O’Brien Story

Band of brothers Petra Seliškar on capturing a way of life in the Macedonian mountains

For all your supernatural elimination needs Interview with Claire Bueno about Cleanin' Up The Town: Remembering Ghostbusters and her book

Keeping the spaghetti flying Michelle Danner on family life, Ang Lee and making The Italians

Cantet and Campillo take opening slot in Directors’ Fortnight Act of friendship and artistic endeavour headlines a diverse Cannes selection

More news and features

We're bringing you news, reviews and more from Visions du Réel and Fantaspoa.



We're looking forward to Queer East.



We've recently brought you coverage of the Overlook Film Festival, BFI Flare, the Glasgow Short Film Festival, South by Southwest, the Glasgow Film Festival, the Berlinale, Sundance, Palm Springs and DOC NYC.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

More competitions coming soon.