The organisers of the 2016 Berlinale announced that this year's festival will give special screenings to commemorate three remarkable artists who passed away recently; musician David Bowie, actor Alan Rickman and filmmaker Ettore Scola.

“David Bowie was a tremendous musician, an avant-garde artist who expressed his creativity in many disciplines,” said Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick.

To commemorate Bowie, who passed away on 11 January, the 66th Berlin International Film Festival will show The Man Who Fell to Earth by Nicolas Roeg.

The organisers add that Bowie had close ties with Berlin, where he lived from 1976 to 1978.

He appeared in numerous documentaries screened in different editions of the festival, including Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart (D: Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, Panorama 1998), Scott Walker - 30 Century Man (D: Stephen Kijak, Panorama 2007), and Let’s Dance: Bowie Down Under (dir: Rubika Shah, Generation 2015); as well as in the fiction films The Man Who Fell to Earth (D: Nicolas Roeg, Competition 1976) and Mr Rice’s Secret (D: Nicholas Kendall, Generation 2000).

British actor Alan Rickman, who passed away on 14 January, will be commemorated with the screening of Sense and Sensibility by Ang Lee, winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlinale in 1996.

“His ability to transform himself, his artistry in playing ambivalent characters and his distinctive voice made Alan Rickman a great actor," the Berlinale director said.

Italian filmmaker Ettore Scola, who passed away on 19 January, will be commemorated with screening of his film Le Bal (1983).

The organisers said that Le Bal won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlinale.

"Scola returned to Berlin with the Competition entry Captain Fracassa’s Journey in 1991."

“Ettore Scola was a master of Italian comedy, a social critic who observed everyday life with intelligence, wit and political acumen,” commented the Berlinale director.

The Berlin International Film Festival will take place between 11 and 22 February.

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