TEDDY TODAY: 14th of February 2025

Welcome back to the second day of the 75th Berlinale and its queer program! Today you can expect numerous premieres of fascinating queer films as well as the TEDDY Jury Reception. You can find more information about the event here.

INTERVIEWS:

Ato noturno (Night Stage)

An actor and a politician start a secret affair and together discover their fetish for having sex in public places. The closer they get to their dream of fame, the more they feel the urge to put themselves at risk. 

Premiere: 14.02./21:00, Zoo Palast 1

More information about the film can be found here

Kein Tier. So Wild. (No Beast. So Fierce.)

After a bloody gang war, Rashida, the youngest daughter of the Yorks, rises to become the leader of the Berlin underworld. Shakespeare’s “Richard III” is retold in the here and now as the story of an Arab gangster queen.

Premiere: 14.02./20:30, Haus der Berliner Festspiele

More information about the movie can be found here

Peter Hujar’s Day

A 1974 conversation between photographer Peter Hujar and his friend Linda Rosenkrantz provides a glimpse into the New York downtown art scene of the time and the personal struggles and epiphanies that define an artist’s life.

Premiere: 14.02./18:30, Zoo Palast 1

More information about the movie can be found here

Sirens Call

In this feature-length debut, nomadic siren Una journeys through postmodern reality, navigating survival, identity and belonging. A dive into the merfolk subculture between self-care and political activism, a hybrid of science fiction and documentary.

Premiere: 14.02./17:45, Delphi Filmpalast

More information about the movie can be found here

PREMIERES:

A natureza das coisas invisíveis (The Nature of Invisible Things)

Directed by: Rafaela Camelo
Chile, Brazil, 2025, 90′

During the summer holidays, the paths of two ten-year-old girls cross in a hospital and they form an unexpected bond. Their connection leads them on a bittersweet journey of loss, farewells and quiet discoveries about life. 

SCREENING TIMES:

14.02./15:30 HKW 1 – Miriam Makeba Auditorium

Ato noturno (Night Stage)

Directed by: Marcio Reolon, Filipe Matzembacher
Brazil, 2025, 119′

An actor and a politician start a secret affair and together discover their fetish for having sex in public places. The closer they get to their dream of fame, the more they feel the urge to put themselves at risk. 

SCREENING TIMES:

14.02./21:00, Zoo Palast 1

Die Zärtlichkeit der Wölfe (Tenderness of the Wolves)

Directed by: Ulli Lommel
Federal Republic of Germany, 1973, 82′

Ulli Lommel’s film about a serial killer in the early post-war era echoes the real story of “wolf man” murderer Fritz Haarmann. A mix of Fritz Lang’s M and Hitchcock’s Psycho that follows in the tradition of Weimar cinema.

SCREENING TIMES:

14.02./20:30, Deutsche Kinemathek / E-Werk

Extra Life (And Decay)

Directed by: Stéphanie Lagarde
France, Netherlands, 2025, 21′

A polyphonic narrator – filmmaker, parent, forest, insects, fungi, childcare worker – declares their absolute refusal of labor exploitation, and their necessity to join collective bodies in resistance. 

SCREENING TIMES:

14.02./16:00, Arsenal 1

Hot Milk

Directed by: Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Great Britain, 2025, 92′

Rose and her daughter Sofia journey to a Spanish seaside town to meet an enigmatic healer. As Sofia embraces an affair with an alluring stranger, tensions with her overbearing mother threaten their fragile bond.

SCREENING TIMES:

14.02./22:00, Berlinale Palast  

Kaj ti je deklica (Little Trouble Girls)

Directed by: Urška Djukić
Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, Serbia, 2025, 89′

During a weekend of rehearsals with the school choir at a convent, an introverted teenager begins to view the world from a new perspective. New desires, beliefs and values emerge, and this awakening threatens to disrupt her friendships and the choir. 

SCREENING TIMES:

14.02./18:30, Stage Blumax Theater

Kein Tier. So Wild. (No Beast. So Fierce.)

Directed by: Burhan Qurbani
Germany, Poland, France, 2025, 142′

After a bloody gang war, Rashida, the youngest daughter of the Yorks, rises to become the leader of the Berlin underworld. Shakespeare’s “Richard III” is retold in the here and now as the story of an Arab gangster queen.

SCREENING TIMES:

14.02./20:30, Haus der Berliner Festspiele

Peter Hujar’s Day

Directed by: Ira Sachs
USA, Germany, 2025, 75′

A 1974 conversation between photographer Peter Hujar and his friend Linda Rosenkrantz provides a glimpse into the New York downtown art scene of the time and the personal struggles and epiphanies that define an artist’s life.

SCREENING TIMES:

14.02./18:30, Zoo Palast 1

RAPTURE

Directed by: Alisa Berger
France, Germany, 2025, 37′

A diptych about the exiled Ukrainian vogue dancer Marko and his abandoned apartment in Donbas, Ukraine. Marko embarks on a VR experiment, visiting his inaccessible home, recreated through 3D scans and original photographs from the occupied area.

SCREENING TIMES:

14.02./19:00, Betonhalle@Silent Green

Sirens Call

Directed by: Miri Ian Gossing, Lina Sieckmann
Germany, Netherlands, 2025, 121′

In this feature-length debut, nomadic siren “Una” journeys through postmodern reality, navigating survival, identity and belonging. A dive into the merfolk subculture between self-care and political activism, a hybrid of science fiction and documentary.

SCREENING TIMES:

14.02./17:45, Delphi Filmpalast

RERUNS:

Ato noturno (Night Stage)
14.02./21:00, Zoo Palast 2

Das Licht (The Light)
14.02./18:00, Uber Eats Music Hall 

TEDDY TODAY: 13th of February 2025

The time has finally come! the 75th Berlinale starts today!
If you don’t want to miss a single moment of the LGBTQIA+ film premieres, you’ve come to the right place. Every day we will keep you up to date with the latest information on the films and their screening times. You can also look forward to exciting interviews with the filmmakers, which will be published over the next ten days. Stay tuned and experience the Berlinale first-hand!

For more insights and more information about the interviews and other queer highlights this year, follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Grab your ticket quickly, get the perfect snack and immerse yourself in an unforgettable movie experience!

PREMIERES:

Das Licht (The Light)

Directed by: Tom Tykwer
Germany, 2025, 162′

Tim Engels, his wife Milena, their twins Frieda and Jon, and Milena’s other son Dio, are a complex modern family living in a Berlin apartment. Their habits enable them to keep their lives separate even as they move through the shared spaces of their home. It is not until the enigmatic Farrah – recently arrived from Syria – is placed in their home as the new housekeeper, that their world is put to the test and hidden feelings come to light. It is an experience that expands and alters the lives of the family in unexpected ways as Farrah sets a plan in motion that will bring a new dimension to how they experience and understand the human condition.

SCREENING TIMES:

13.02./19:00, Berlinale Palast 

RERUNS:

Das Licht (The Light)
13.02./19:00, Uber Eats Music Hall

The DJs of the 39. TEDDY AWARD After Show Party

The TEDDY AWARD ceremony 2025 will not only shine with extraordinary films – we can also expect musical party highlights! We are delighted to introduce you to the DJs who will be creating a great atmosphere this year. Look forward to the unique sets of DJ Trust.The.Girl, DJ Miro Von Berlin and DJ Marie Leão.

DJ Trust.The.Girl

Trust.The.Girl is resident dj in Berlins fabulous queer club SchwuZ

She defines herself as an open format dj and loves to play with different genres to bring the dance floor to a boil. 

DJ Miro Von Berlin

Multifaceted artist Miro Von Berlin emerged from Berlin nightlife, driven by cathartic dance floor experiences and desire to create space where the curious ones can wander. Preferred not to be genre-defined or categorized, Miro is elegantly gliding between dance-inducing grooves and cosmic soundscapes, keeping the surprise factor not just for the audience but also for oneself. Whatever the setting may be, one is in for a spellbinding journey when Miro is behind the decks, serving electronic mutations from beyond.
Miro has been honing skills at Berlin’s well-known venues: RSO, About blank, Ohm, Kitkat, Aeden, Oxi, and has played cult queer parties Gegen and Weeeirdos, for latter of which there was also Hör Berlin appearance. Performances also include sets at Glitch and Sonus Festival, adding to a growing presence on the international techno circuit. As a co-creator of party series GRAVE in Croatia, Miro has been meticulously curating line-ups since 2019, inviting established and emerging techno artists – Ellen Allien, Etapp Kyle, Philippa Pacho, Blue Hour, Lolsnake, Deepneue etc.

DJ Marie Leão

Marie Leão is the co-founder and booker of the queer-feminist party-collective ¡MASH-UP! Multigender Multiworld.  

Her musical reach goes from electronic music to pop, from punk to pinky queer tunes, from disco to indie-rock. She also has tons of hits and evergreens on offer. 

The musical highlights of the 39th TEDDY AWARD Ceremony

The TEDDY AWARD Ceremony 2025 will introduce you to outstanding artists whose music and performances will celebrate the diversity and creativity of the queer art scene.

Mariybu

She is the queen bee of German hyperpop: The Berlin-based artist Mariybu has made a name for herself in recent years as a visionary singer and producer, as well as an empowering role model, far beyond the queer scene. Sometimes strong and combative, sometimes sweet and playful, but always unapologetically herself — this is how the musician presents herself on stage. The fact that she also makes space for other female and genderqueer talents (e.g. jolle, Angel Rider, Lil’ Lil’) perfectly sums up Mariybu’s artistic DNA: It’s about mutual empowerment in an industry that still gives FLINTA* individuals too little space. While Mariybu may be a self-producing artist with a freshly founded independent label, she doesn’t just break down the walls of the industry for herself — but always also for others.
Mariybu released her album “ein tag göttin” on February 14, 2025, which captures the atmosphere of the vibrant Berlin nights. It’s about escapism & ecstasy, queerness, and breaking down patriarchal structures. Musically, it falls within the realm of technoid hyperpop with rave-pop elements. Starting in April 2025, Mariybu will be on tour with her album. Tickets are available at Mariybu-shop.de.

Please note: We are very sad to announce the cancellation of Ebow’s upcoming performance due to illness. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to see them back on stage soon. Get well soon!

Jade Pearl Baker & The Pearls

Jade Pearl Baker & The Pearls sing an anthem to Berlin’s drag culture.

Jade Pearl Baker, “Berlin’s most exciting drag voice”, is the star of the queer Berlin revue DRAG.GLAM.BERLIN. at Berlin’s BKA Theater together with her three “Pearls”. In 2017, she caused a nationwide sensation with her goosebump-inducing performances on the Pro7 show The Voice of Germany. In recent years, she has impressed in a wide variety of stage productions, including as one of the protagonists in Bastian Kraft’s play Ugly Ducklings, which has been celebrated far beyond the queer community since 2019.

Jade Pearl Baker, whose drag career began at the BKA Theater, is now celebrating great success there with DRAG.GLAM.BERLIN. in her first full-length show. She is supported in her dancing and singing by three brilliant drag colleagues, the “Pearls”. Her first single, which she will present at the Teddy Award, also comes from this revue:

“Celebrate the Queens” is a party anthem with political aspirations. The song celebrates Berlin’s legendary drag culture, but is also a warning. 

Jade Pearl Baker:“Berlin drags, no matter what they called themselves, have changed our society and continue to do so today. But the wind is getting rougher again for queer people – we can feel that in Berlin too. The reactionary forces that are attacking liberal societies worldwide have chosen drag queens as a target for their fight. We have to fight back against this, we all have to protect our drag culture together. And the best way to do that is by celebrating it.”

“Celebrate the Queens” was written by Johannes Kram and Florian Ludewig, who are also the authors of the long-running operetta for two gay tenors, which also premiered at the BKA Theater. DRAG.GLAM.BERLIN. is back on the program there from 4 June.

Barbara Hammer

Barbara Hammer (1939–2019) was a groundbreaking pioneer of lesbian cinema and is considered one of the most important experimental filmmakers of her generation. Her works revolutionized the portrayal of lesbian bodies and love in film and remain an essential part of queer cinema today. Over the course of her career, she was honored with three TEDDY AWARDS.


This year’s Berlinale Forum Expanded will showcase three of her films: A Horse is Not a Metaphor, Maya Deren’s Sink, and Generations. Her early short films, including Dyketactics and Menses (both from 1974), are now regarded as classics of queer cinema.


Over five decades, the activist filmmaker not only created groundbreaking works but also dedicated herself as a mentor, teacher, and advocate for young filmmakers. Her works have been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide. After her cancer diagnosis in 2006, Hammer radically integrated her illness into her artistic practice, creating deeply moving works on the subject of mortality.
Barbara Hammer was a trailblazer in the male-dominated world of experimental cinema, bringing queer perspectives into both feminist and cinematic discourse. In the 1980s, she explored abstract forms and worked with found footage, writing a manifesto on the “politics of abstraction,” which emphasized the formal queerness of cinema.
With Nitrate Kisses in the 1990s, she delved into the queer archive and created one of her most significant feature-length films. She explored the fragile traces of queer life before Stonewall and countered the invisibility of these stories with powerful imagery. Her work became a living archive of queer memory—and an enduring inspiration for future generations.

A Horse Is Not a Metaphor (2008)

A Horse Is Not a Metaphor, Copyright: Berlinale
A Horse Is Not a Metaphor, Copyright: Berlinale

Filmmaker Barbara Hammer fights ovarian cancer with visions of horseback riding and river swimming in her experimental film, A Horse Is Not a Metaphor.  

As a “cancer thriver” rather than “survivor,” Barbara Hammer rides the red hills of Georgia O’Keefe’s Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, the grassy foothills of the Big Horn in Wyoming, and leafy paths in Woodstock, New York, changing illness into recovery. 

The haunting and wondrous music of Meredith Monk underscores and celebrates in this experiential/experimental film that lifts us up when we might be most discouraged. 

Maya Deren’s Sink (2010)

Maya Deren’s Sink, Copyright: Berlinale
Maya Deren’s Sink, Copyright: Berlinale

This evocative tribute to the mother of American avant-garde film calls forth the spirit of one who was larger than life, as recounted by those who knew her. Friends and contemporaries float through Maya Deren’s homes, recalling in tiny bits and pieces words of her architectural and personal interior space. Clips from Deren’s films are projected back into the spaces where they were originally filmed. Fluid light projections of intimate space provide an elusive agency for a filmmaker most of us will never know.

Generations  (2011)

Generations, Copyright: Berlinale
Generations, Copyright: Berlinale

Generations is a film about mentoring and passing on the tradition of personal experimental filmmaking. Barbara Hammer, 70 years old, hands the camera to Gina Carducci (today Joey Carducci), a young queer filmmaker. Shooting during the last days of the amusement park Astroland at Coney Island, New York, they find that the inevitable fact of ageing echoes in the architecture of the amusement park and in the emulsion of the film medium itself. Editing completely separately both picture and sound, the filmmakers join their films in the middle when they’ve finished, making a true generational and experimental experiment.