Berlinale is an International Film Festival, which this year will be held on February 9 to 19.

The "Panorama" section of sixty-second Berlinale Festival will be opened by Polish film “Elles” directed by Malgoska Szumowska with French actress Juliette Binoche in the lead role.

"Elles" tells the story of journalist Anna (Juliette Binoche), who is preparing material on prostitution among female students. Gathering documentation to the article, Anna meets two girls – Charlotte (Anais Demoustier) and Alice (Joanna Kulig) – who earn a living from prostitution. Students bring a journalist into their world, which is both scary and "appealing in its own way."

The film is Polish-French-German co-production. Beside actress mentioned above,  Andrzej Chyra and Krzystyna Janda – a well-known Polish actors – will appear in “Elles” as well. Director of photography is Michal Englert.

Malgoska Szumowska (b.1973) is a graduate of the State Higher School of Film, Television and Theatre in Lodz. Since 2001 she is member of European Film Academy. She has won numerous awards at international festivals, inter alia: the film "Ono" has been recognized as one of the best scenarios for Europe at Robert Redford's Sundance Institute contest, "33 Scenes from Life" (“33 sceny z życia”) received a Special Award at the Locarno Festival (in 2008). Szumowska herself was appreciated at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia.

"Elles" was sold for distribution in more than 30 countries, including the UK, Spain, Brazil and South Korea. Polish premiere of the film will take place on February 17, 2012.

Source: Berlinale 2012, culture.pl