Many of us have been wondering if “Bel Ami” will make its festival debut at the Berlin Film Festival in February. Our good friend to the site @larry411 did some research into how the rules could play out with “Bel Ami” being shown in Belgium today and tomorrow. Here are some of the things he shared,

@Suziekew I don’t read reviews before I see films anyway. But it seems a bit odd to me. The whole deal does, actually.

@Suziekew In the sense that the film is supposed to have its premiere at a festival, rumored to be Berlin, in this case.

@Suziekew As far as I know Berlin (or any other fest I’m aware of) will not boook a film if it’s already playing in theaters somewhere.

@Suziekew That’s what I don’t get. This whole thing has seemed odd to me from the start. Ladies previews?

@Suziekew Normally a film premieres at a festival, with reviews being embargoed until after the premiere (in most cases).

@Suziekew I’ve never heard of a film released in public screenings, and then having a festival premiere. They’re mutually exclusive.

@Suziekew It is possible that Berlin may have given a waiver for a limited number of ‘special” screenings. Still odd, though.

@PattinsonPost Let’s just say I don’t know of any film premiering in Berlin weeks after it’s been released theatrically.

@PattinsonPost@Suziekew I’m not saying it can’t happen. But it would be a first, as far as I know. Unless someone can find an instance.

@Suziekew I’ve been trying to find this out for several months (or since it was first announced).

@PattinsonPost They announced a bunch today. Last year the main lineup was announced Jan 17-18.

@Suziekew I haven’t been stonewalled. I was told this was a special Ladies night event or whatever they called it. I mean about Berlin.

@Suziekew I was told this was not being considered an official theatrical release. Because, like I said, I believe that would disqualify it

@Suziekew from festivals. But Berlin keeps everything close to the vest (as do most fests) and certainly aren’t saying anything.

@Suziekew@pattinsonpost 10 were announced Dec 19, 20 more today. Officially they are saying “mid-January” for next bunch & “end” for rest.

@Suziekew That’s what I was saying the last few wks, if this is considered to be more test screenings than public that Berlin might allow it

@Suziekew All sections of Berlin have in their requirements, “World premieres are given priority.” Now, I can’t see any definition of world

@Suziekew premiere that would allow for a previous theatrical run. It doesn’t say “excluded” but how can any film expect to get in after

@Suziekew having been exhibited when there are likely thousands of submissions that have not? Then again, the filmmakers were likely

@Suziekew notified prior to the Belgium decision, so they may have asked Berlin if they could do it. The rules do explicitly state that

@Suziekew once the festival begins they cannot show it outside the festival. But it does not explicit state anything about prior except no

@Suziekew exhibition is allowed over the internet or on TV.

@Suziekew I don’t see anything that explicitly states that after a film is accepted that it cannot play theatrically between then & fest.

@Suziekew But that applies to what I’d call a public theatrical run. Would a small handful of screenings limited to a specific audience

@Suziekew be considered a theatrical release? Not in my book.

@Suziekew This is my feeling on it. I think it got into Berlin (just a feeling). And I believe they got permission for a few previews.

@Suziekew The festival DOES accept films that have had a theatrical release in the COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.

@Suziekew German films HAVE to be world premieres.

@Suziekew So the theatrical release rules DO allow for a film to have played already only in the country of its origin.

@Suziekew So if it was a Belgian film it would be allowed into Berlin after playing in Belgium.

@Suziekew Now…there are SOME sections of Berlin that DO allow theatrical release outside its country of origin but ONLY outside Europe.

@Suziekew So it COULD play in America, for example. and still be eligible. Belgium is still in Europe, I believe.

@Suziekew Soo..I don’t see any way a film is allowed if it is a European film that exhibited in Europe outside its own country.

@Suziekew But that applies to “public screenings.” It’s POSSIBLE these screenings were not considered “public.”

Woah, that is A LOT to take in, I know! However, it is still a lot to consider as to whether or not we will see “Bel Ami” at the Berlin Film Festival. The way Larry talks, we will know likely before the end of January. Here’s hoping folks!

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