German director's action thriller to open Berlin film fest

Organizers of Berlin's annual film festival have selected a homegrown director for its opening slot.

The festival has announced that German director Tom Tykwer's globe-trotting action thriller The International as its opening film for the 59th Berlinale, slated for Feb. 5 to 15.

To be shown out-of-competition, The International stars Clive Owen and Naomi Watts as an Interpol agent and an attorney, respectively, investigating a powerful bank's hidden, unsavoury business dealings: financing war and terrorism.

Also starring in the German-British co-production are Armin Mueller-Stahl and Brian F. O'Byrne.

Tykwer's credits include his breakout film Run Lola Run, Perfume: The Story of a Murder and Heaven, which opened the Berlinale in 2002.

Earlier this month, organizers announced that British actress Tilda Swinton would serve as chair of the 2009 Berlinale jury.