Between 13 and 23 February 2025, the world’s cinematic spotlight turned to Berlin for its international film festival, the Berlinale. The acclaimed film festival serves as a meeting point for filmmakers, actors and other creative industry professionals.

A glamourous opening

On the first night, RTL Deutschland, UFA and Gala hosted the glamorous Berlin Opening Night for the tenth time. Around 800 prominent guests, including stars of the German acting scene and professionals from the media industry, celebrated the start of the film festival.

Two world premieres 

On Saturday 15 February, the feature film Paternal Leave celebrated its world premiere at the Berlinale. The film from Wildside, a Fremantle company, and The Match Factory, follows 15-year-old German Leo (played by Alissa Jung), who grew up without a father. When she discovers his identity, she sets off to the north Italian coast to meet her biological father Paolo (played by Luca Marinelli). Paternal Leave is about forming a bond between a teenage kid and her until-then absent father, discovering that they have much in common.

Beach House Pictures is one of Asia’s largest independent TV and film production companies, and has been part of Fremantle since February 2024, when Fremantle acquired a majority stake in the company. Through Your Eyes is a short film from Momo Film Co, part of Beach House Pictures, which also held its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film is set in the Hawaii Nite Club, a place time has forgotten, following guests and staff through the eyes of Poh Huat, who has returned to the club in the hope of finding his long-lost lover.

An exclusive screening 

Outside the festival, Fremantle and UFA presented four out of eight episodes of the highly acclaimed series Mussolini: Son of the Century. Produced by The Apartment Pictures and Sky Studios, the limited historical drama series focuses on the early political career of Italian dictator and former prime minister Benito Mussolini. The exclusive screening took place at Soho House, and was attended by a select audience of international journalists, film and industry professionals. Alongside the screening, the invited guests could also enjoy a Q&A with BAFTA-winning director Joe Wright and leading actor Luca Marinelli, moderated by Christian Vesper, CEO Global Drama and Film at Fremantle.