Berlin has always been one of the most historic cities on the European continent, not only because it has experienced the change of regimes such as the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, and Nazi Germany, and the city's buildings and streets still have distinct traces of different histories and cultures, but also because it has experienced the baptism of war and wind and frost, the torn down Berlin Wall still divides the city into two completely different regions from the aspects of spiritual consciousness, value orientation, and ideological level.

It is a city full of possibilities, some will reprimand it is boring and rigid, but some will think that it is the most free and unrestrained land in the world, some will complain about the dullness and depression here, and some will think that life here is full of countless surprises and sparks. The same city, with different eyes and different thoughts, can dig out completely different colors here.

Maybe Munich is the economic center of Germany, bustling and noisy, or maybe Cologne is a German art hub with endless possibilities. But, none of them are Berlin. It is the weather-beaten city that defines contemporary Germany, and it is the same city that gave birth to the Berlinale as well.

Founded in 1951 at the initiative of the United States, or more broadly the three Western allies, the Berlinale became a stage for European New Wave directors to showcase their skills and gain a foothold on the international stage. However, the Berlin Wall was still in place, and the so-called Berlin Film Festival, or more accurately the "West Berlin Film Festival", continued until 1974, when the first Soviet films appeared at the festival, and a year later, East German films were added. The political/political climate has changed.

West Germany and East Germany signed treaties and cooperation agreements. Since then, the Berlinale has positioned itself as a mirror of the international film market, allowing the festival to play a more important cultural and political role in the convergence and mediation between East and West, and in a way, for nearly two decades, it has been a bridge between the ideas of capitalism and communism, especially during the Cold War, and the Berlinale was the best platform for official cultural exchange. All this makes this film event of special significance.

After half a century of development, the Berlinale is known as the three major film festivals in Europe along with Cannes and Venice, and Berlin has always maintained its own characteristics, focusing on culture, politics, society and the international environment, and insisting on the creation of film art itself, which has gradually made it embark on a different path from Cannes and Venice.

Although the road is full of thorns and the future is uncertain, with the official support of the German government, the Berlinale still has an innate advantage that Cannes and Venice cannot match.

He has visited Berlin many times and has always believed that, in a way, Berlin is one of the most dynamic cities in Europe. It's a unique choice, and when people think of "dynamism", they choose Barcelona, or Amsterdam, or Paris, but few people associate Berlin with dynamism. But Lan Li still insisted on his idea.

He likes to wander the streets of the city, glimpsing the graffiti hidden in the corners of the streets and alleys, highlighting the unique personality of the artist, listening to the melody flowing from the abandoned playground that outlines the soul of the singer, and looking for the secrets hidden in the corners of old buildings, whether it be the handwriting of a child during the war or the prank of a young man.

Or sit at the door of a bar, admiring the crowds or rigid or trendy or restrained or bold outfits, less refined in Milan, less glitzy in Paris, less high in London, growing like weeds, but not charming.

"I'm now starting to wonder if we left London at the wrong time?" Through the high transparent glass windows of the airport, you can clearly see the rice and snow sprinkling outside. On leaving, the light rain in London finally stopped, and upon arrival, the light snow in Berlin seemed to be at a high level.

"Berlin in February, is there a difference?" Roy complained casually, but told the truth.

"At least there's no strong wind here. Before Nathan's words could fall, the airport exit gate opened, and a biting cold wind swept in, messing up the heating in the room, and before he could close his mouth, he inhaled a breath of cool air, and then couldn't help but start rubbing his arms - even through the thick coat, it was a psychological comfort.

In the next second, the sound of the shutter clattering was surging, the flashing lights were in succession, and all the scenery in the line of sight was instantly covered with a layer of vague silver, leaving only the shape outlines that were constantly shaking, and the bustling noise was like a tide, swarming from all directions.

Subconsciously, Lan Li's footsteps stopped. The last time Kennedy Airport was congested, and the accident at Lincoln Center was still deeply imprinted in the depths of memory, and subconsciously, Lan Li was still reluctant to enter the encirclement of the crowd again.

"Lan Li?" Nathan sensitively noticed Lan Li's pause, and turned his head to cast a puzzled look, and Roy's footsteps also stopped.

Lan Li exhaled softly, and his heart, which was beating wildly, calmed down a little. He knows that facing the audience, facing the encirclement, and facing the fanaticism is itself part of the actor's work, and it is also the audience's affirmation of the actor's work. And the same goes for the paparazzi and journalists. It is not right for him not to enjoy the satisfaction of the job and yet refuse to accept the negative effects of the job.

Everything is one and the same. Even if it's a dream, it's no exception.

Raising his head, Lan Li showed a smile, nodded to Nathan and Roy, signaled that he was okay, and then took a step, walked forward, and finally stopped at the exit of the arrival hall, and greeted the reporters' cameras with grace, maintaining politeness and demeanor, and accepting the baptism of the photo frenzy.

The flash lasted only for a short time, about fifteen seconds, and gradually calmed down, and the vision became clear again, and it could be seen that there were about a dozen reporters standing in front of them, each carrying a long gun and a short cannon, as well as a briefcase, with an excited and excited expression; outside the circle of reporters, there were forty or fifty spectators, all scattered on the periphery in an orderly manner, constantly waving and laughing.

The scene was lively and boiling, but there was no crowding and containment as expected, to be precise, the reporters and spectators were slowly retreating, giving way to enough space and keeping enough distance, and the orderly welcome lineup seemed lively but warm.

"Lan Li, welcome to Berlin!" I don't know who shouted, and the others also shouted in a sparse manner, "Welcome!", "Young master, you are so charming!" ...... A few shouts made everyone else laugh, and the atmosphere seemed to be more lively, but the distance was still not closer, and the polite space was always maintained.

Lan Li was slightly surprised, then his smile rose, and he nodded politely to the reporters and the audience, seeing that everyone had no intention of asking questions, and then took a step. As he progressed, reporters and spectators followed suit, but the road ahead of him was out of the way, and a passage could be clearly seen leading straight to the black van parked on the side of the road.

Coming to the side of the van without any obstacles, Lan Li hesitated, stopped, and shouted to the reporters and spectators, "Thank you!" waved his hand, then turned around and sat in the back seat of the van.

For the first time, Lan Li felt the difference in this city. It's not London, it's not New York, it's not Los Angeles, it's not Toronto, it's Berlin. Even during the Berlinale Festival, the city is a German city that welcomes filmmakers from all over the world in a different way.

In just 20 minutes' drive, high-rise buildings, busy traffic, modern and modern scenes come into view, and the van is entering one of the most vibrant and vibrant areas on the west side of Berlin, with restaurants, theaters, shopping corridors, cinemas, office buildings, shopping malls, casinos and other buildings with strong modernity.

After the Berlin Wall was demolished, work began in 1993 on the design of the new city centre, which at the time was the largest construction site in all of Europe, and is now one of the most colourful districts of Berlin. The Berlinale is held every year, and Sony's European headquarters is also located here.

The car slowly stopped in front of the Grand Hyatt, the press center of the annual Berlinale and the official hotel for the actors and directors. The main venue of the festival is just two blocks behind the hotel, within walking distance. For film lovers, this area is an annual pilgrimage.

From afar, you can catch a large number of fans cruising around the entrance of the hotel, and the black pressure makes it impossible to count, maybe two or three hundred, or maybe more than a thousand, scattered in every corner of the street around the hotel, even the constantly falling rice snowflakes have not been able to extinguish their enthusiasm.

When they noticed the official shuttle bus sent by the Berlinale Festival, everyone rushed up, cheering and shouting, and craned their necks curiously, trying to get a glimpse of the real big names in the carriage in advance. The noise, the shouts, and the shouts are endless, and before you even enter the Berlin Film Festival, you can already feel the fan frenzy from here.