OREANDA-NEWS. February 04, 2016. Watch movie stars on the red carpet, take a peek behind the scenes and rub shoulders with prominent guests: Audi is offering some one-of-a-kind experiences at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival. With the “Berlinale Open House” series, the Audi Berlinale Lounge will present visitors with a multifaceted program of events. One particular highlight this year are the “Berlinale Lounge Nights,” when the lounge will transform into a club where prominent personalities from the film industry provide the right music.

The Audi Berlinale Lounge, located directly on Marlene-Dietrich-Platz, offers the best view of the red carpet. During the opening and award ceremonies and during competing premieres, live commentary in the Berlinale Palast will accompany the meticulous choreography of the red carpet and reception of the stars. Cinema experts Ute Soldierer and Steven G?tjen moderate the Berlinale Open House discussion series here. During the discussions, topics from the Berlinale will be examined from widely varying perspectives and there will be opportunities for special encounters between artists and visitors. “The Berlinale inspires people through its films, stars, stories and fans. As a partner to the film festival, we network these elements even more intensively with each other,” said Wayne Griffiths, Head of Audi Sales Germany. “Our Audi Berlinale Lounge is the central venue where visitors can recover from the festival marathon and learn about films and what goes on in the background. They can enjoy the view of the red carpet and listen to cool musicians in the evening, together with other film buffs.

”In keeping with the “Cinema meets music” motto, the Berlinale Lounge Nights start each day at 8 p.m. in the Audi Berlinale Lounge. In a relaxed club atmosphere, well-known personalities from the film industry provide music for the evening. Actors Jasmin Tabatabai, Meret Forster and Tom Schilling will for example be performing live in the lounge together with their bands.

“Audi is a very strong partner through which we are able to very quickly realize joint projects that meet our mutual requirements. With the Audi Berlinale Lounge, we have created an interface between fans and the film industry that is the only one of its kind in this form. With its diverse program, it allows even more fans of the cinema to have direct access to the Berlinale and produces unforgettable experiences,” said Dieter Kosslick, Director of the Berlin International Film Festival. The Audi Berlinale Lounge has meanwhile established itself as an important meeting place for those producing the films as well as the people who enjoy them. It is open daily from February 11-20 from 2 p.m. to midnight (except for February 20, when it closes already at 8 p.m.). The entire program of events and other information can be found at www.berlinale.de/berlinaleopenhouse.

This year the three-member Berlinale Shorts jury panel will award the Audi Short Film Award for the second time. The award carries a € 20,000 prize and honors the particular artistic signature of the director. “Our involvement goes far beyond normal sponsorship,” Griffiths said. “We also seek to promote talent and this year will be presenting the Audi Short Film Award for the second time. In this way, we will be supporting an exceptional filmmaker and an innovative format.”

As the most important accessory of the film festival, the Berlinale bag that Audi provides to accredited visiting professionals is also a must-have item in 2016. This year it is made in trendy felt with an imprint in five different colors.

Audi City Berlin, one of the official places to purchase Berlinale tickets, will be open daily starting February 8 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.: http://www.audi-city.com/berlin/berlinale/.

And even the hometown of the brand with the four rings will be getting that Berlinale feeling. The Audi Cinema Program in the Audi Forum Ingolstadt – which has repeatedly been honored with the Cinema Program Prize – will show selected films from the Berlinale (www.audi.de/programmkino) from February 11-21.