Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island, starring Leonardo DiCaprio (pictured), and Roman Polanski’s The Ghost Writer are among the first seven titles to be confirmed for the Competition section of the upcoming 60th Berlin International Film Festival.

Scorsese’s Shutter Island stars DiCaprio as a US marshall in pursuit of a murderess who has escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane. Mark Ruffalo, Michelle Williams and Ben Kinsley also star in the Paramount Pictures film, which is based on the novel by Dennis Lehane.

Polanski’s The Ghost Writer, which the director is reported to have completed from prison in Switzerland, is an adaptation of Robert Harris’ novel The Ghost and stars Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan. Summit Entertainment have already acquired the US rights to the film.

A total of 26 films have been selected for the section with the remaining entries to be announced in January.

“The Competition of the 60th anniversary Berlinale will be marked by a mix of styles and genres, by exciting newcomers and renowned directors,” says festival director Dieter Kosslick.

Films confirmed for the Competition programme so far:

Honey (Bal) (Turkey/Germany) Dir Semih Kaplanoglu
World premiere
 
The Robber (Der Räuber) Austria/Germany, Dir Benjamin Heisenberg
World premiere

My Name Is Khan (India) Dir Karan Johar
Out of competition

On The Path (Na Putu) (Bosnia and Herzegovina/Austria /Germany/Croatia), Dir Jasmila Žbanić
World premiere

The Hunter (Shekarchi) (German/Iran), Dir Rafi Pitts
World premiere

Shutter Island (USA), Dir Martin Scorsese
World premiere/Out of competition
 
The Ghost Writer (France/Germany/UK), Dir Roman Polanski
World premiere
 

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