World Premiere of Martin Scorsese’s Shine A Light to Open the 58th Berlin International Film Festival
Press Release

The Rolling Stones concert film Shine A Light from Oscar® winning director Martin Scorsese will open the festival on February 7, 2008 with the director and band in attendance.

Scorsese assembled an award-winning camera team to capture the raw energy of the world’s greatest rock ‘n roll band in two concerts at the Beacon Theatre, N.Y., on October 29th and November 1st 2006. Using sixteen cameras, more than half a million feet of concert footage were shot. The two concerts with special guest performances from Jack White of the White Stripes, Christina Aguilera, and Buddy Guy form the heart of the film. Shine A Light also features rarely-seen archival footage and current behind the scenes footage and interviews. With this extensive camera coverage and the intimacy of the setting, Scorsese has created an extraordinary musical film event and given audiences unprecedented access to the Rolling Stones both on stage and off.

Oscar®-winning cinematographer Robert Richardson (The Aviator, JFK) supervised a team which included several highly acclaimed directors of photography: Oscar® winner John Toll (The Last Samurai, Braveheart); Oscar® winner Andrew Lesnie (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong); Oscar® nominee Stuart Dryburgh (The Piano, The Painted Veil), Oscar® nominee Robert Elswit (Magnolia, Good Night and Good Luck); Oscar® nominee Emmanuel Lubezki (Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Sleepy Hollow); and Ellen Kuras (Summer of Sam, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). Shine A Light was produced by Steve Bing's Shangri-La Entertainment and long-time Stones Tour Promoter Michael Cohl's Concert Promotions International.

“We are extremely excited to have the World Premiere of this magnificent film as our opening gala,” says Festival Director Dieter Kosslick. “Martin Scorsese has captured the pure essence of an iconic band on the big screen.”