This year's new Cross-Section gives a young audience the opportunity to see films from all sections of the Berlinale in the 14plus-program, they are not in competition for the Crystal Bear of the youth jury, though. Until this year, persons under 18 were not allowed to see films from Berlinale-sections other than Kinderfilmfest/14plus. But there have been films that were appropriate for a young audience.
In its first year, the Cross-Section shows one film each from the sections "Berlinale-Competition", "Perspective German Cinema" and "Forum" and another two from "Panorama". The Austrian-Bosnian-German production "Grbavica", in competition for the Berlinale bears, is about a young girl born in Sarajevo during the war. From Singapore comes "4:30", it is from the Panorama-program, as "1:1 (En til En)" from Danmark. A Dane has been beaten up and a Palestinian is under suspicion.
While the 14plus-program doesn't show any film from Germany this year, the Cross-Section has got two: "Wholetrain" is all about graffiti an two competing gangs. And "Lucy" is the story of a young girl, falling in love with a young man who doesn't know that she has a baby.

It's great that not-yet-eighteens get the chance to see films from other sections of the Berlinale. A good (and long overdue) idea, hopefully to be developed next year.