Berlin Film Festival Day 1: Todd Haynes Talks Trump Effect; New Berlinale Chief Outlines Vision; Johnny Flynn on ‘Prayer for the Dying’; Taiwan Brings Big Slate to EFM and More

The Berlin Film Festival kicked off its 75th edition Thursday with a lively conversation featuring filmmaker Todd Haynes and other members of the jury examining Donald Trump’s return to power and the impact that rising nationalist currents around the world will have on cinema.

Tricia Tuttle, the festival’s new director, outlined her vision for the enduring event, which is an important showcase of European film and has become a key sales and marketing launch pad for distributors in the U.S. and other territories. She addressed the challenges festivals face in dealing with intense political divisions that flare up around artistic expression and gatherings such as the Berlinale.

Variety will be on the ground in Berlin through the duration of the festival, which runs through Feb. 23. Follow our coverage and film reviews via Variety.com — all of our news coverage can be found here and reviews found here — and through our five show daily print editions published at the festival from Feb. 13-Feb. 17. Each festival daily issue is available online for Variety subscribers. And please click here to subscribe to Variety‘s free markets and festivals newsletter.

Here are highlights from Day 1 at the Berlinale:

Todd Haynes and other jury members address the Trump effect on filmmaking.

New festival director Tricia Tuttle outlines her vision for the event and urges the industry to support local exhibitors.

The strength of recent German films is a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy forecast for the nation and its domestic movie business.

British star Johnny Flynn talks bonding with John C. Reilly while lensing the drama “Prayer for the Dying,” which is up for grabs at the European Film Market.

Director-driven titles and genre fare are still the stalwarts of EFM.

Peruse the buzziest titles for sale at EFM.

Taiwan has upped its game at Berlin with four festival titles and a slew of offerings at the EFM.

Director Tom Twyker talks opening the festival with “hardcore political” film “The Light.”

Berlin Film Festival “clarifies” its position on freedom of expression and demonstrations of solidarity with Palestine.

Review: Peter Hujar’s Day

Review: If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

More coverage can be found here: Variety at Berlin Film Festival

(Pictured: Berlin Film Festival jury members Rodrigo Moreno, Maria Schrader, Todd Haynes and Fan Bingbing)