Nineteen pics unveiled so far in Berlin competish

BERLIN -- Spike Lee's "The 25th Hour" and Steven Soderbergh's sci-fi remake "Solaris" are among the U.S. pics competing for the Golden Bear alongside Teuton film Wolfgang Becker's "Good Bye, Lenin!," which is making its world premiere at the Berlin Intl. Film Festival next month.

Other U.S. pics in competition for the Golden Bear include British co-production "The Life of David Gale" from Alan Parker, which is making its world premiere, Stephen Daldry's "The Hours," Spike Jonze's "Adaptation," and George Clooney's "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," which is making its international premiere.

Other Teutonic entries making their world premieres in the main section include: "Angst," a love story from Oskar Roehler starring Marie Baeumer and Andre Hennicke, and Hans-Christian Schmid's episodic "Distant Lights," about life along the German-Polish border; August Diehl and Maria Simon star.

Among the 19 films from Europe, Asia, Africa and North America so far confirmed for competition at the Berlinale are three French pics: "La Fleur du mal" (The Flower of Evil) by Claude Chabrol; "Son Frere" from 2001 Golden Bear winner Patrice Chereau (Intimacy); and Pascal Bonitzer's "Petites Coupures," about a notorious lady-killer who comes close to losing his own life, starring Daniel Auteuil and Kristin Scott Thomas.

Teen drama "Io non ho paura" from Oscar-winning Italian director Gabriele Salvatores (Amnesia) is so far the only competition entry from Italy.

Slovenian director Damjan Kozole's "Rezervni Deli" (Spare Parts), about refugees exploited by unscrupulous smugglers, will also see its world premiere in competition.

Also in the running is Zhang Yimou's chop socky debut from China "Ying Xiong" (Hero) starring Jet Li and Tony Leung as well as Japanese director Yoji Yamada's 19th century samurai tale "Tasogare Seibei" (The Twilight Samurai) starring Hiroyuki Sanada.

"Madame Brouette," a Canadian-Senegalese co-production from helmer Moussa Sene Absa about a single mother in Dakar struggling for her rights and independence has also been chosen.

Fest opens Feb. 6 with Rob Marshall's "Chicago" and closes Feb. 15 with Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York," both running out of competition.

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