The Berlinale’s Forum Expanded, which explores the intersections between art and cinema, will focus on works that “challenge political thought in aesthetic form.”

Selections this year include Mohammadreza Farzad’s Into Thin Air about the Iranian revolution; German political work Fuhrung by Rene Frolke; plus new works from James Benning (pictured), Guy Maddin and Tony Conrad as well as by artists including Patty Chang and Lawrence Wiener.

Forum Expanded is curated by Stefanie Schulte Strathaus (head curator), Anselm Franke, Nanna Heidenreich and Bettina Steinbrügge.

In Mohammadreza Farzad’s Into Thin Air, memories of the Iranian revolution are investigated through remnants of history stored in images. A German politician encounters the creative industry in René Frölke’s Führung, while other works carry out research on political landscapes (National Motives by Raphaël Grisey and Minor by Patty Chang).

The Forum Expanded runs at Arsenal cinema, the Filmhaus, Kunstsaele Berlin, the Canadian Embassy and the Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum für Gegenwart. Deutschlandradio Kultur will be presenting sound works.

With the dOCUMENTA (13), Forum Expanded will also be presenting The Host and the Cloud, the new work by French artist Pierre Huyghe, at the HAU - Hebbel am Ufer theatre.

And Forum Expanded will close with a concert by Tony Conrad and Genesis Breyer P-Orridge at the HAU.

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