Organizers: Roman Polanski’s ‘The Ghost Writer’ to debut at Berlin film festival in February

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Polanski film to debut at Berlin festival

BERLIN — Roman Polanski’s latest movie, “The Ghost Writer,” will have its world premiere at the Berlin film festival in February, organizers said Tuesday.

Polanski’s movie was among a first batch of entries in the festival’s main program that was announced Tuesday — among them a premiere of Martin Scorsese’s thriller “Shutter Island.”

The event is the first of the year’s major European film festivals and runs from Feb. 11-21.

“The Ghost Writer” stars Pierce Brosnan as a former British prime minister who is writing his memoirs with the help of a ghostwriter, played by Ewan McGregor.

It is Polanski’s first film since 2005’s “Oliver Twist.”

The 76-year-old director is currently under house arrest in Switzerland, where he awaits possible extradition to the United States on a 32-year-old charge of sexual misconduct.

Scorsese’s “Shutter Island” will screen out of competition in Berlin. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and also features Ben Kingsley, Patricia Clarkson, Jackie Earle Haley and Michelle Williams.

Based on a novel by “Mystic River” author Dennis Lehane, “Shutter Island” follows the investigation into the disappearance of a murderess from a mental institution.

This year’s competition “will be marked by a mix of styles and genres, by exciting newcomers and renowned directors,” festival director Dieter Kosslick said. The 2010 event is the 60th.

Other entries announced Tuesday include Iranian director Rafi Pitts’ “The Hunter” and “On the Path” from Bosnian-born director Jasmila Zbanic, whose “Grbavica” won the Berlin festival’s top Golden Bear award in 2006.

Indian filmmaker Karan Johar’s “My name is Khan” will be shown out of competition.

More competition entries are to be announced next month. The festival jury will be led by veteran German-born filmmaker Werner Herzog.

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On the Net:

Festival site: www.berlinale.de/en/HomePage.html