'Loud,' 'Flowers' to unspool in Berlin

BERLIN -- Stephen Daldry's post 9/11 drama "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" and Zhang Yimou's "The Flowers of War" will unspool at the Berlin Film Festival, which runs Feb. 9-19. While screening in the main Competition section, both films will be shown out of competition. "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," starring Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock and Thomas Horn, follows a troubled boy as he struggles to accept the death of his father. Christian Bale stars in "The Flowers of War," about an opportunistic American who ends up trying to save a group of adolescent girl students as well as a number of courtesans from invading Japanese troops during the rape of Nanjing. The pic is representing China in next year's foreign-language film race. The pics are among the first five Competition section titles announced on Monday by Berlinale organizers. Unspooling in competition are Philippine Brillante Mendoza's Philippine terrorist drama "Captive"; Antonio Chavarrias' Spanish title "Dictado" (Childish Games); and Indonesian helmer Edwin's "Kebun binatang" (Postcards From the Zoo), all of which will screen as world premieres. Organizers also announced five films screening as part of the Berlinale Special, including the world premiere of "Marley," the documentary about reggae star Bob Marley by Kevin Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland"); and "Death Row," Werner Herzog's four-part documentary series. Likewise showing as part of Berlinale Special are Farhan Akhtar's Bollywood actioner "Don: The King Is Back," starring Shah Rukh Khan and which shot largely in Germany; Guy Maddin's "Keyhole," with Jason Patric and Isabella Rossellini; and Salma Hayek starrer "La Chispa de la vida," by Spanish director Alex de la Iglesia ("The Oxford Murders"). Meanwhile, the fest has recruited a slew of high-profile personalities to serve on this year's International Jury, including Jake Gyllenhaal, Anton Corbijn ("The American") and Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, who wrote and directed last year's Golden Bear winner, "A Separation." Also on jury duty will be German thesp Barbara Sukowa ("Vision"), French-British actress Charlotte Gainsbourg ("Melancholia"); Gallic helmer Francois Ozon ("Potiche") and Algerian writer Boualem Sansal. As previously announced, British helmer Mike Leigh is serving as jury president. The International Jury will select the winners of the Golden Bear and Silver Bear awards as well as the Alfred Bauer Prize in the Berlinale Competition. Contact Ed Meza at staff@variety.com