Scorsese and Rolling Stones ‘Shine A Light’ Opens Berlin Film Festival

The Berlin Film festival opened last night with Martin Scorsese’s performance documentary on the Rolling Stones taking centre stage, and proving a real hit with the crowds who turned out in force.

Scorsese and Rolling Stones Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts (pictured) were in attendance to experience the première of their joint film project Shine A Light, which shows the band in concert at New York’s Beacon Theatre in 2006.

The five behind the movie stood on stage together to introduce the documentary film, and received a standing ovation from the crowd in attendance for he start of The Berlinale.

Scorsese told Variety:

“It was about capturing an obscure object of desire for me. Making the film was rejuvenating.”

“Whenever I saw the show I’d get excited – I wanted to get a camera up there. We tried to get as close as possible to the energy of a live concert.”

This is the first time in the festival’s 58 year history that the main section has begun with a documentary.

During the 11 day event, 21 films, including Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood and Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky will compete for the coveted Golden Bear award.

Scorsese has also just announced that his next documentary film will be about legendary reggae star Bob Marley, following on from Shine A Light, as well as the Bob Dylan inspired No Direction Home.