I’m definitely not going to Berlin this year, not with all the travelling hurdles I have to deal with, not to mention the vague and restrictive policies the film festival has implemented due to Omicron. Cannes is much more worth the headache.
There has also been conflicting messaging in regards to whether the in-person screenings will actually be happening this year. Variety reported last week that, for now, the Berlinale is going on as planned, whereas I’m hearing iy could shift to something similar to last year’s format for press and industry and public screenings being held in the summer. It's very unlikely they'll allow online public screenings, like Sundance.
Regardless, the lineup announcement is on the 19th, and the majority of the competition is already locked in. If the Berlinale goes virtual again this year for press/industry then, I presume, much like in 2021, producers and rights holders would back out in the last minute and refuse to have their films screened online.
Films from Claire Denis, Alain Guiraudie, Christian Petzold, Angela Schanalec, and Helena Wittmann are expected to be part of this year’s lineup.