It’s only February, but while many of us feel like we’re just starting the year the film industry has been busy. It’s amazing to think the Sundance Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival have already been and gone.

You might have registered the Berlin Film Festival was taking place thanks to the bizarre behavior of actor Shia LaBeouf. LaBeouf turned up at the gala premiere for his latest film, Lars von Trier'sNymphomaniac I, with a paper bag on his head that read, “I am not famous anymore.” The reason for this attention seeking behavior steams back to December when it was discovered the short film he wrote and directed, HowardCantour.com, had monologues and scenes directly lifted from a graphic novel by Daniel Clowes. As the plagiarism accusations built, LaBeouf began a series of apologies including sky sign writing and in January announcing he was retiring from public life.

It’s only February, but while many of us feel like we’re just starting the year the film industry has been busy. It’s amazing to think the Sundance Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival have already been and gone.

You might have registered the Berlin Film Festival was taking place thanks to the bizarre behavior of actor Shia LaBeouf. LaBeouf turned up at the gala premiere for his latest film, Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac I, with a paper bag on his head that read, “I am not famous anymore.” The reason for this attention seeking behavior steams back to December when it was discovered the short film he wrote and directed, HowardCantour.com, had monologues and scenes directly lifted from a graphic novel by Daniel Clowes. As the plagiarism accusations built, LaBeouf began a series of apologies including sky sign writing and in January announcing he was retiring from public life.

I’m not sure turning up in front of the world’s media with a bag on your head is the best way of staying out of the limelight.

On a more positive note, you’ll find below the main winners from the 2014 Berlin Film Festival.

Here are my picks for the week. 

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Soledad Villamil & Daniel Fanego
Directed by: Ana Piterbarg
Screening: Tuesday 25^th February, 8.30pm

A middle class man assumes the identity of his twin brother and is thrust into a world of crime and violence in this Argentinian psychological crime thriller. Not only does Mortensen show off his Spanish, mastered during a childhood spent in Buenos Aires, and play two characters, he also produced this film.  It’s a pretty solid debut effort by Ana Piterbarg, telling the story of wealthy Buenos Aires based pediatrician Agustin who escapes his comfortable middle class life by assuming his brother Pedro’s identity. Returning to the poor Tigre Delta area where he grew up, Agustin discovers Pedro was involved in a kidnapping ring, and in pretending to be his brother finds his life was tough, complicated and dangerous. It’s a mix of film noir suspense, pretty visuals and brutal violence. Piterbarg’s narrative could be stronger, but Viggo Mortensen’s performance makes up for it.

Starring: José Mota, Salma Hayek & Blanca Portillo
Directed by: Álex de la Iglesia
Screening: Friday 28^th February, 8.30pm

Álex de la Iglesia is a Spanish film director, screenwriter, producer and former comic book artist known for his dark humour and surreal worldview. Well-known throughout Europe, Iglesia is one of Spain’s most awarded and critically acclaimed contemporary filmmakers. Compared to his other films, such as the memorable The Last Circus, As Luck Would Have It is a more straightforward satire about the world of celebrity and fame. It stars famed Spanish comic José Mota as Roberto, an unemployed advertising executive involved in a bizarre accident. Finding himself in the middle of a media scrum, Roberto sees an opportunity to make some much-needed money to support his wife (Hayek) and kids and hires an agent. His celebrity-at-any-cost approach doesn’t go down well with his family. While not as challenging as some of his other films, As Luck Would Have It is typically topical and filled with dark, edgy humour.

2014 BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL COMPETITION WINNERS

Golden Bear Best Short Film:

• As Long As Shotguns Remain by Caroline Poggi & Jonathan Vinel