The 64th Berlin Film Festival will be giving their Golden Bear to a well deserved recipient this year, as it was announced that director, screenwriter and living legend Ken Loach will be getting the lifetime achievement award at the screening of his 1993 movie RAINING STONES.
When it comes to British films, Roach is definitely one of the first directors that would spring to mind. Known for such films as LOOKING FOR ERIC, CATHY COME HOME (which had 12 million viewers when it first aired on the BBC), KES, THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY and most recently THE SPIRIT OF ’45, Roach become the face of British realism and “Kitchen Sink Dramas”.
The head of BFF Dieter Kosslick said that Roach was the one of Europe’s “great directors”:
“His profound interest in people and their individual fates, as well as his critical commitment to society have found expression in a variety of cinematic approaches.”
The festival will also feature a retrospective of his work, featuring 10 of the best Ken Loach films.
The 2014 Berlin Film Festival starts in February.
Source: Berlin Film Festival Website
