Chapter 17: Berlin and a Chance Encounter

Europe has many international metropolises, such as Paris, London, Milan, and so on; they each have their own ostentation and unique style, but as the capital of a veteran European country, Berlin appears exceptionally low-key.

Berlin is located in the northeast of Germany, currently has a population of less than four million, and was previously the capital of East Germany.

Even though East and West Germany have been reunified for many years, Berlin still maintains its own characteristics—poor but sexy.

The Berlin International Film Festival is the same; it seems to have the lowest status among the European Big Three, yet it always insists on its own characteristics—stubborn, niche art.

The Big Three film festivals all have their own preferences; the Cannes Film Festival has relatively strong inclusiveness, focuses on the combination of art and commerce, is a stage for masters, and is the largest film trading market in all of Europe.

The Berlin International Film Festival focuses more on politics and social issues, is known as a political reformatory, and its trading market is also much smaller.

The Venice Film Festival likes films shot with novel forms and unique techniques, favors art films that ordinary people cannot understand, and is known as a vanguard film tea party.

In the past few years, the Berlin International Film Festival has gone completely down the route of niche art films; this attitude of completely abandoning Hollywood and clearly stating it won't play with you has also made this veteran film festival's exposure and commerciality lower and lower, with its influence far from what it used to be.

However, the new film festival chairman, Koslick, has been committed to improving the film festival's influence; he believes that only more attention can continue to maintain the style of the Berlin International Film Festival as one of the European Big Three, and in the last two years, he has also been vigorously inviting Hollywood stars to attend the film festival.

The team for *Buried* did not have many people coming this time; besides the director Wei Jin, Producer Jiang Wei, cinematographer Ning Hao, lead actor Qin Hao, and Wei Jin Fengliu Studio general manager Chen Zhiming, there were five people.

Because Ceng Li had to stay at home to spend the Lunar New Year with her mother, she unfortunately could not accompany them.

After a long flight of 11 hours, the plane carrying Wei Jin and the others landed steadily at Tegel Airport.

At this time, the local time in Berlin was past 16:00 in the afternoon, and there were quite a lot of people at the airport, making it noisy.

After exiting the hall, Wei Jin and his party, carrying their luggage and the film print, quickly found a sign that read "Huaxia Director Wei Jin," as well as the staff members who had come to pick them up under the sign.

This person was named Fischer, one of the film festival's staff members, and also one of the personnel who came to pick up directors whose films were shortlisted for the Main Competition Section.

The Berlin International Film Festival is divided into: Main Competition Section, Encounters Section, Short Film Competition Section, Panorama Section, Special Screenings Section, etc.

Among them, the Main Competition Section has the highest gold content, and this time *Buried* was shortlisted for the Main Competition Section.

For filmmakers, one of the highest courtesies at a film festival is for the film festival chairman to pick them up at the airport in person.

However, currently in the country, there are only two or three directors who can have this treatment; Wei Jin's level is not enough yet, and he still needs to work hard.

Moreover, for major international directors, round-trip travel and such are all the highest treatment provided by the official side, such as first-class cabins, five-star hotels, and so on.

Other directors are much worse off; the hierarchy is distinct and very snobbish.

Today's Berlin was a bit gloomy; the group exited the airport and felt as if they had entered a dark hell, without a single ray of sunlight, and the temperature here was even colder than in Beijing, with the cold wind blowing uncomfortably.

After getting into the car, everyone headed straight to the hotel; outside the car window were square, regular, modern buildings made of simple marble lines and reinforced concrete, cold and well-arranged, full of a rigorous flavor.

They soon arrived at the officially designated hotel; because Wei Jin was shortlisted for the Main Competition Section, all expenses for attending the film festival could be reimbursed.

His accommodation had already been prepared for him at the official hotel, but the others could only have their expenses paid by the film crew.

Chen Zhiming had already booked a hotel for the few of them, not far from the official designated hotel.

Arriving at his room, he looked it over; it was not bad, about forty square meters, and the decoration style was also mainly simple and atmospheric. Wei Jin was quite satisfied; he tidied up a bit and rested briefly to adjust to the jet lag.

In the evening, after the group had dinner, they made their own arrangements; Jiang Wei, as the Producer, had to go to contact film distributors;

Chen Zhiming planned to scout for information to understand the preferences of the various judges of this year's Main Competition Section to facilitate future public relations work; Wei Jin, Ning Hao, and Qin Hao had nothing to do, so they planned to walk around, but the three of them had a dispute over where to go. Ning Hao was very interested in Berlin's historical buildings, Qin Hao had some yearning for Berlin's natural scenery, and Wei Jin was interested in Berlin's local customs; the three then decided to tour on their own.

Wei Jin walked alone against the cold wind near Potsdam Square; this is a highly complex CBD dominated by business offices and aggregating various characteristic functions such as culture and entertainment, somewhat similar to Beijing's Oriental Plaza.

Around it were also the famous Sony Center, Daimler City, and Berlin Station; almost all of Berlin's high-rise buildings were concentrated here.

Wei Jin wandered around and came to a lounge bar; the decoration here was very retro, but it was basically all foreigners, and he didn't see many Asians; everyone was drinking and chatting in their own booths.

He casually ordered a cocktail, listened to the violin music slowly starting to play, and enjoyed the exotic atmosphere.

Just as Wei Jin was closing his eyes to rest, a noisy sound came from the bar counter; Wei Jin raised his eyes to look and saw that it was two white men hitting on a woman, who seemed to have refused them.

Wei Jin originally didn't intend to pay attention to this kind of excitement, but the two white men were relentless, drawing the woman's scolding: "Get lost, you stinking men."

The two white men couldn't save face and started cursing, then walked away; after all, she wasn't the only target they could hit on.

Wei Jin, however, became a little curious; holding his wine glass, he walked toward the bar counter—perhaps there could be a romantic encounter?

Walking closer to look, the woman's back was indeed alluring; no wonder those two foreigners were pestering her.

"Hello, may I sit here?"

"Stinking man, get lost."

The woman's voice carried a bit of drunkenness, and he didn't know why she was so resentful toward men.

Sensing that the man beside her hadn't left but had instead sat down, the woman raised her head, intending to teach this pick-up artist a lesson.

"Little Wei?"

"Yuan Yuanjie?"

Two equally surprised voices rang out; the two looked at each other, both feeling it was somewhat incredible.

The so-called meeting an old friend in a foreign land, the two soon began to chat; unknowingly, the wine bottles on the table became more and more numerous.

Wei Jin also learned that it turned out Gao Yuanyuan was avoiding Zhang Yadong's pestering, which was why she had come abroad to relax.

However, Gao Yuanyuan's alcohol tolerance was not good, and before long, she was passed out; Wei Jin was a bit speechless—the prey was an acquaintance, this was not easy to make a move on.

Looking at the drunk Gao Yuanyuan lying on his bed in a spread-eagled position, Wei Jin also felt it was somewhat magical; this woman was drunk in front of him for the second time—did she trust his character that much?

Sighing, Wei Jin fetched a cup of hot water and placed it on the bedside table; just as he was about to leave, Gao Yuanyuan grabbed him.

"Don't go, don't leave me."

Hearing this, Wei Jin had no choice but to sit halfway on the edge of the bed and comfort her softly, "Okay, I won't go, Yuan Yuanjie."

Earlier, when Wei Jin was supporting Gao Yuanyuan, she had actually already sobered up a bit under the stimulation of the cold wind, but she didn't have much strength, so she simply leaned into the man's arms.

But she didn't expect Wei Jin to bring her straight back to the hotel; now the alcohol was going to her head, and she was a bit shy, but her body's instincts were stirring.

Celebrating the signing, the three updates are finished; please everyone click to follow and send a recommendation, Nineteen kneels and thanks you!

(End of this chapter)