Scorsese Film to Open Berlin Festival

BERLIN — "Shine a Light," Martin Scorsese's documentary on the Rolling Stones, will open the Berlin film festival next month.

Scorsese and the band will attend the Feb. 7 screening, organizers said Tuesday. The annual event, the first of the year's major European film festivals, ends Feb. 17.

"We are extremely excited to have the world premiere of this magnificent film as our opening gala," festival director Dieter Kosslick said. "Martin Scorsese has captured the pure essence of an iconic band on the big screen."

"Shine a Light" documents two concerts by the Stones at New York's Beacon Theatre, on Oct. 29 and Nov. 1, 2006. It also includes rarely seen archive and behind-the-scenes footage, as well as interviews, the festival said.

Scorsese, 65, won an Oscar for directing 2006's "The Departed."

He has made other films focusing on music stars, including the 2005 documentary "No Direction Home: Bob Dylan" and 1978's "The Last Waltz," chronicling the all-star farewell concert by The Band.

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