The Berlin International Film festival is Berlins biggest cultural annual event.
This festival is an important gathering of global film industry officials.
It ranks in importance to other film festivals in Venice and Cannes.
During the Berlin International Film Festival, there are over 500 films that get screened and over 150,000 tickets are sold for these screenings.
The event also attracts many spin off or associate parties and gatherings every year.
As opposed to Cannes, the Berlin International Film Festival is more public friendly.
Most screenings at the Berlin Film Festival are open to the public and tickets are affordable.
There are two categories of film, the "International Forum of Young Film" and the "Berlinale Panorama"(films not registered in the competition).
Usually there is around twenty to thirty films that compete for the Golden and Silver Bears.
Also referred to as the Berlinale, the Berlin International Film Festival was founded in 1951.
In 1978, the festival became an annual event.
The European Film Market runs simultaneous to the Berlin International Film Festival.
This simultaneous event is a major gathering of international film talent and is also held annually.
This trade fair serves co-production agents, financiers, producers, film buyers and distributors.
This along with the Berlinale partner to help develop and educate upcoming film artists and talent.
It has become a forum for young filmmakers from all over the world.
Combined the Berlin International Film Festival and the European Film Market attract more than 20,000 professionals from the film industry all from over 110 countries.
There is more than 4000 journalists as well that come to these events.