Two strikingly different films will lead the Aussie contingent at the Berlin Film Festival this month.
The Aboriginal musical comedy Bran Nue Dae and the modern revenge western Red Hill will screen in the German capital when the festival starts on February 11.
Neither are in official competition but both will be hoping to attract the attention of some of the 19,000 international film professionals, including about 4,000 journalists, who attend the festival.
Red Hill is yet to receive much publicity in Australia, where the release date is listed as mid-2010, but with True Blood rising star Ryan Kwanten in the lead role that should change.
Shot in Gippsland in Victoria, it tells the story of a young policeman who relocates to a country town with his pregnant wife to start a family.
His first day on duty turns into a nightmare when news spreads that a convicted murderer has broken out of prison.
Written and directed by Patrick Hughes in his debut feature, the film has bloody credentials thanks to executive producer Greg McLean, who made Wolf Creek.
Red Hill will feature in the Panorama section, which gives an overview of trends in art-house world cinema, and industry mag Variety says it is a highlight.
"To have Red Hill officially programmed at such a festival is a true honour," Hughes said.
"I was inspired by filmmakers such as George Miller, Robert Rodriguez and the Coen Brothers, all directors who made their first films outside the system and risked everything in the process.
"Now that our world premiere is set to screen in a 1,000-seat cinema in the heart of Berlin on the opening weekend of the festival, it is not only a dream come true but a wonderful validation for everyone involved."
Bran Nue Dae will continue its impressive festival run in Berlin.
The film by Rachel Perkins, which stars Jessica Mauboy, Ernie Dingo, Geoffrey Rush and Missy Higgins, will be shown in the festival's Generation 14Plus section - a showcase of films for young people aged 14 years and over.
It had its world premiere at the Melbourne Film Festival last year and has already played to acclaim at the Toronto Film Festival and Sundance.
Since Bran Nue Dae opened nationally three weeks ago it has taken $5.5 million at the box office, making it one of the most successful local films of the past year.
Two other Australian productions will be included at the Berlin Festival.
Franswa Sharl, a short film directed by Hannah Hilliard, has been selected for the Generation KPlus section - a program targeting the youngest cinemagoers aged four years and over.
Set in Fiji in 1980, it is based on a true story.
And First Contact, an eight-minute short by filmmaker Rima Tamou and producer Pauline Clague shot in far north Queensland in the Girrimae language will have its European premiere at Berlin.
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