 lone scherfig s the kindness of strangers to open the berlinale lone scherfig s the kindness of strangers to open the berlinale lone scherfig s the kindness of strangers to open the berlinale ffproadmin fri 12072018 1219 https cineuropaorg imgcache 2018120615441031053410620x04351549259162227jpg the 69th  berlin international film festival  has announced its opening film the world premiere of  lone scherfig  s latest film  the kindness of strangers  will open the event programme on 7 february participating in the international competition the kindness of strangers  formerly known as  secrets of the russian tea room  read the  news  is a contemporary drama following a disparate ensemble of characters all struggling to survive a new york city winter in their own way who find laughter love and kindness in each other starring  zoe kazan   tahar rahim   andrea riseborough and  caleb landry jones  with  jay baruchel  and  bill nighy  the englishlanguage drama was written by lone scherfig herself and was filmed in toronto copenhagen and new york  the kindness of strangers  is a production between denmark  creative alliance  and canada strada films with the participation of the  danish film institute  and telefilm canada danmarks radio ontario creates  copenhagen film fund   swedish film institute   nordisk film tv fond  entertainment one and ingenious senior film fund apollo media in coproduction with sweden s  unlimited stories  germany s nadcon and france s d artagnan  film i vast   wdr   arte  grand accord and  arte france cinema  the film is being sold worldwide by  hanway films  backed by ingenious media and apollo media scherfig is no stranger to the berlinale she presented  the birthday trip  in the panorama section in 1990 and  on our own  in the kinderfilmfest now known as generation in 1998 her breakthrough film was  italian for beginners  a dogme film which won the jury prize silver bear in 2001 later on she presented  wilbur wants to kill himself  as a special screening and  an education  in the berlinale special section in 2009 before receiving three nominations for the academy awards her latest european productions  the riot club  and  their finest  premiered at toronto lone scherfig s feel for characters strong emotions and subtle humour promises a wonderful start to the festival said  dieter kosslick  for whom this 69th edition 717 february will be his last as festival director source cineuropa festival tag berlinale 