<span>T</span><span>his week's Berlin film festival, Europe's first major cinema showcase in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein revelations, will shine a light on sexual misconduct in the industry, its director</span><span> says.</span> <span>Berlinale chief Dieter Kosslick </span><span>says that </span><span>screenings and guests from Hollywood and the global film industry at the event's 68th edition </span><span>will open </span><span>a long-overdue debate on rampant discrimination and abuse.</span> <span>"The international resonance of #MeToo quickly made clear that the problem isn't limited to Hollywood," he added as he announced the </span><span>400 or so films set to screen during the 11-day event, which starts on Thursday</span><span>. "The Berlinale sees itself as a forum where problems can be aired and it will host a range of events that should contribute to concrete change."</span> <span>He </span><span>says these </span><span>will include panel discussions on fighting sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry, generating financing for more female-led movies and getting more women into technical areas of filmmaking.</span> <span>Berlin ranks </span><span>alongside Cannes and Venice among Europe's top film festivals and is generally considered the most politically minded. Kosslick told a separate briefing </span><span>that he </span><span>has disqualified certain productions from participating this year – "less than five</span><span>" – because a director, screenwriter or star attached to the production was facing credible sexual-misconduct allegations. He declined to say which films were excluded. Kosslick added that four of the 19 films </span><span>vying for the Golden Bear top prize were directed by women – "not great, but there you go".</span> <span>The star-studded event will kick off </span><span>with the world premiere of Wes Anderson's <em>Isle of Dogs</em>, an animated feature voiced by stars including Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Greta Gerwig and Liev Schreiber – all expected to be on the Berlinale's red carpet.</span> <span>It will be Anderson's fourth turn in competition at the Berlinale, following </span><span><em>The Royal Tenenbaums</em></span><span>, </span><span><em>The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou</em></span><span>, and </span><span><em>The Grand Budapest Hotel</em></span><span>, which kicked off the festival in 2014.</span> <span>Steven Soderbergh is set to unveil </span><span><em>Unsane</em></span><span>, starring Claire Foy of </span><span><em>The Crown</em></span><span> in a psychological thriller about digital stalking filmed on an iPhone. Off-screen couple Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara are expected in the German capital to promote their latest feature, </span><span><em>Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot</em></span><span> by American director Gus Van Sant. It is based on a memoir by John Callaham about his experience turning to art after a car accident left him paralysed.</span> <span>Other contenders include Eva by French filmmaker Benoît Jacquot, starring Isabelle Huppert as a femme fatale who wreaks havoc in the life of a prominent writer. And Norwegian director Erik Poppe will present </span><span><em>U – July 22</em></span><span>, telling the story of the 2011 massacre committed by neo-Nazi Anders Behring Breivik, told from the perspective of his 77 victims.</span> <span>Willem Dafoe, currently nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for </span><span><em>The Florida Project</em></span><span>, will pick up an honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement.</span> _______________ Read more: <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/film/lady-bird-director-greta-gerwig-hollywood-will-shift-quickly-1.701930">Lady Bird director Greta Gerwig: Hollywood will shift quickly</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/despite-setbacks-women-are-closing-the-gender-pay-gap-but-there-s-still-plenty-to-fight-for-1.698549">Despite setbacks, women are closing the gender pay gap. But there’s still plenty to fight for</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/comment/why-unequal-pay-should-be-as-socially-unacceptable-as-sexual-harassment-1.695325">Why unequal pay should be as socially unacceptable as sexual harassment</a></strong> _______________ <span>Tom Tykwer, one of the German directors behind </span><span>blockbuster mini-series </span><span><em>Babylon Berlin </em></span><span>now </span><span>on Netflix, will lead a gender-balanced jury including Belgian actress Cécile de France (</span><span><em>The Young Pope</em></span><span>), </span><span><em>Moonlight</em></span><span> producer Adele Romanski, </span><span><em>Time</em></span><span> magazine critic Stephanie Zacharek, Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and Spanish film historian Chema Prado.</span> <span>Last year, Hungary's <em>On Body and Soul</em>, a tender love story set in a slaughterhouse, won the festival's Golden Bear top prize, and has now been nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. Wolverine franchise capper </span><span><em>Logan</em></span><span> and Chilean </span><span>drama</span><span><em> A Fantastic Woman</em></span><span>, which also </span><span>had premieres at last year's Berlinale, are </span><span>similarly in the running for the Oscars next month.</span>