In advance of what looks bound to be the busiest Berlinalefor British sales companies in recent memory, London-based The Works hasannounced it is handling international sales on Alexander Sokurov'sBerlin competition entry, The Sun.

Set in occupied Japan at the end of the Second World War,the film examines the events surrounding Emperor Hirohito's renunciationof his divine status. This is the third in Sokurov's 'men ofpower' trilogy following Moloch(about Hitler) and Taurus (aboutLenin.)

The Works will also be premiering Tickets, co-directed by Ken Loach, Ermanno Olmi, and AbbasKiarostami, Dominic Savage's Love And Hate and Pearse Elliott's The Mighty Celt at the festival.

Many other British outfits who used to by-pass Berlin infavour of the February AFM are beating a track to Berlin's European FilmMarket, whether or not they have films in official selection.

As Capitol's Jane Barclay points out, it's notjust sales agents who are attending the market in ever increasing numbers. Newbuyers will be there too. "Some of the distributors who've neverbeen near Berlin in their lives are talking about coming."

At the EFM, Capitol will be screening footage of PaulMcGuigan's Lucky Number Slevin,starring Josh Hartnett, Morgan Freeman and Brice Willis, Nick Cassavetes'Alpha Dog and BartFreundlich's Trust The Man.

"Berlin has now become an important market for us.It's the only major one between the AFM in November and Cannes inMay," said Hanway's Tim Haslam, who will be screening promos of Kidulthood and Tideland and will be holding a private market screening of The SquidAnd The Whale.