KEY POINTS:
Madonna and the Rolling Stones are jostling for attention on the red carpet at this year's Berlin Film Festival, an 11-day, music-heavy movie marathon that kicked off today.
In between songs will be hard-hitting films from the real world, including a documentary about the Abu Ghraib prison abuses
in Iraq and a feature on child soldiers in Eritrea.
Opening the annual event is the world premiere of Shine a Light, Martin Scorsese's documentary about the Rolling Stones based on footage from two concerts in New York in 2006 as well as archive material.
Having Mick Jagger and Scorsese at the glittering first night is a coup for festival director Dieter Kosslick, who has struggled to secure strong opening films in the past.
Shine a Light is not in the main festival competition and so is not eligible for prizes at the awards ceremony on February 16, including the coveted Golden Bear for best film.
Madonna's film Filth and Wisdom is also out of the main competition, but the queen of pop's directorial debut is bound to draw comparisons - flattering or otherwise - with director husband Guy Ritchie.
Kosslick said recently Madonna had written to ask him to include her film in the line-up, something which had "really impressed me".
In addition to rock royalty, organisers will be hoping for a smattering of Hollywood A-listers whose attendance is crucial to the success of Europe's first big film festival of the year.
Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, Penelope Cruz and Daniel Day-Lewis are all due to attend.
Continuing the musical theme will be Patti Smith: Dream of Life, a portrait of the singer and poet, and Bananaz, the "definitive" documentary about British indie band Gorillaz. Heavy Metal in Baghdad is about an Iraqi band which played only a handful of concerts due to the violence and fled to Turkey after receiving death threats from insurgent groups.
Also dealing with events in Iraq is Standard Operating Procedure by American director Errol Morris; it is an examination of the abuse of prisoners by United States soldiers at the Abu Ghraib prison that turned into an international scandal.
Polish honorary Oscar winner Andrzej Wajda presents Katyn, about the mass execution of Polish officers ordered by the Soviet authorities in 1940.
Several films deal with the Middle East, including Shahida - Brides of Allah about women involved in suicide bombings in Israel, and Lemon Tree which tells the story of a Palestinian woman's decision to take on the Israeli authorities.
- REUTERS
