The current financial crisis that is rampaging around the global economy seems to be affecting everything, including the 59th Berlinale – the Berlin International Film Festival – that kicked off on Thursday. The festival is one of the most prestigious and important in the world of cinema – right up there with Sundance or Cannes Film Festivals. However, due to the situation, the organisers canceled one of the most famous of the numerous Berlinale parties and events, in fear of displaying excessive flamboyance. This did nothing to dissuade me from jetting into Berlin (the train had to do, actually) and savour a taste of the atmosphere and rub shoulders with the who’s who of the international film scene.