Philippe Falardeau’s American-Canadian-Irish drama film ‘My Salinger Year’ has been selected as the opening film for the 70th Berlin International Film Festival.
Starring Margaret Qualley, the story is set in New York’s literary world in the 90’s and follows Joanna (Qualley), who leaves graduate school to pursue her dream of becoming a writer and gets hired as an assistant to Margaret (Sigourney Weaver), the stoic and old-fashioned literary agent of J. D. Salinger. Fluctuating between poverty and glamour, Joanna spends her days in a plush office and her nights in a sink-less Brooklyn apartment with her socialist boyfriend.
“We are delighted to open the 70th edition of the festival with a coming-of-age story that takes the viewpoint of the protagonist who has a fresh perspective, which is in no way naïve,” said Berlin festival artistic director Carlo Chatrian. “Philippe Falardeau depicts the small NYC literary world of the 1990s with humor and a sweet note, but he never forgets the 21st century we are living in or the unifying role that art plays in all of our lives.”
Falardeau in 2009 was at the film festival with his production work ‘It’s Not Me, I Swear’. The film won the festival’s Crystal Bear for best film and the Grand Prix of the Generation Kplus International Jury award.
“We couldn’t have hoped for a better world premiere. In the past, the Berlinale has opened with wonderful films from established directors; needless to say, I’m honored to be on that list,” said Falardeau. “I have fond memories of the festival where one of my features screened at Generation in 2009.”
The festival kickstarts from February 20 to March 1. Jeremy Irons will serve as president of the international jury.
