We are gonna turn our lights off and join the Earth Hour on Saturday at 8.30pm for one hour. We feel a deep responsibility for our planet and even we use energy efficient light bulbs all over the hostel, it will still make a difference to have no light for one hour.

Everyone reading this – please join us – which better cause can you have?

Once again, one of the most important international film festivals has begun so make sure not to miss the Berlinale between the 5^th and 15^th of February.

It would seem this year’s edition is promoting a secular and humanist self-awareness. Curator Wieland Speck says the festival is definitely more willing to take risks in confronting violence and abuse through the screening of films exposing offenders, giving voice to victims or raising the issue. Some films recommended on this topic are Tough Love, Chorus, Daniel´s World, Ode to my Father or Paradise in Service.

If you’re a young film-maker yourself, you should check out the masterclasses in the “Berlinale Talents” section. Experienced professionals will share their insight on a wide range of topics like director-actor relationship, production development or production design.

On the matter of young film-makers, Jury President Darren Aronofsky (Pi, The Wrestler, Noah) stated “I think it’s exciting that anyone can more easily get the tools to tell stories”; so do know, there’s a series of shorts, which the festival will screen in an attempt to get some exposure to young independent film-makers, films which you can filter out in the schedule under the “Generation”, “Perspektive Deutsches Kino” or “Berlinale Shorts” screening categories.

We’ll just spare you some effort and put a link to the Berlinale’s YT playlist of trailers over here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KJwXhVZddc&list=PL0HKUAQtIaveCzHLk2gl6CmzYYvCCsv8a

The helpful U inn Tipp: MasterCard users have the possibility to buy tickets from automats placed at Potsdamer Platz Arkaden.

Focusing on the competition screenings, here’s a selection of a few brand new films a movie-lover can’t miss:

Cha Con Va tells a story about thugs, a street photographer in 90s Saigon and repressed homosexuality.

El boton de nacar/The Pearl Button describes the timelessness of the Patagonia Archipelago, and lets several of the locals tell their own experience with the waters, who seem to have their own life.

Body is an authentic approach on grief, anorexia and coping with mental illness in shades of dark humor.

Aferim! promises to be a history lesson for today´s European society, mostly unaware of the history of Roma slavery, a brand new Romanian film on early 1800s Balcan area, inter-ethnic relationships and prejudice.

Ixcanul is a coming of age story about a Guatemalan girl forced to rediscover her world, after being betrayed by her lover who flees the coffee plantation without her.

Eisenstein in Guantajuato is the newest Peter Greenaway ouvre, about film pioneer Sergey Eisentein’s contact with a world that defies his ideological perception and forces him to learn humanity.

Nobody Wants The Night is set in the yet undiscovered Arctic of the early 1900s and tells the story of the wife of an explorer, set on a journey to look for her husband and finding a friendship with an Inuit woman, with whom she shares a lot more than expected. Starring Juliette binoche…

Sworn Virgin follows Hana throughout her journey of breaking away from the traditional Albanian world and her pledge of chastity to discovering her sexuality and meeting her extended family in Italy.

See you in the theatres!

In case you missed it, there’s the winter edition of Berlin Fashion Week coming up from the 19^th until the 23^rd of January and it’s most definitely worth checking out. This winter’s edition exhibits eye-catching collections and entertaining shows, with features proving fashion is just as much an industry, as it is an art form or even a creative platform for expression of social issues.

A designer collection may just show beauty, elegance and sophistication, or even make intelligent use of clothing to deconstruct gender identity. Us at U inn Berlin Hostel would like to share some of the shows we definitely don’t want to miss and put together some photos so you can get an idea of what to expect.

Barre Noire

A blend of colorful street wear and futuristic elegance by local designer Timm Süßbrich.

Esther Perbandt

We’re also eager to see the newest collection of Berliner designer Esther Perbandt. Her shop is branded by a unique and strong concept of appearances for strong personalities, irrespective of gender.

Zukker

Another show that should be interesting is the Autumn/Winter collection of Zukker – a German brand working with a distinctive edge on female appearance.

Black Soma

A feature many Berliner designers seem to have in common is the variety of interpretations on black. And we LOVE it. So make sure to see the sensual dystopian creations of Black Soma.

Holy Ghost

Weather it´s autumn pastels or bright summer neons, the clothing of Munich-based brand Holy Ghost have an attractive vibe to them.

Malaikaraiss

We love the looks of Malaikaraiss´ outfits, amazingly simple in their beauty and harmonious colors.

Aleks Kurkowski

If you have a taste for the dark, like we do, this stuff should probably impress you.

If you like it so far, there are many more designers worth checking out, like…

Augustin Teboul

…and NIAN

We hope this got you as excited as we are about the shows and about the rich variety of style, which is Berlin.

Isnˈt it just annoying when itˈs already New Yearˈs Eve and youˈre still trying to figure out where youˈre gonna party? Well New Yearˈs is just around the corner and U inn Berlin made a list of suggestions of what New Yearˈs parties Berlin has to offer. Also check out the party URLs for the details.

Silvesterparty direkt am Alexanderplatz – The New Year´s party on Alexanderplatz

• 17 Djs auf 5 Floors, 
• Live Band, Fire works show, Separate Loungefloor, LED Bar, View at the TV tower, 800m² big surface, Dance Classics, Pop & Disco, 90s RnB % Hip Hop, House, Electro, Ibiza Chill House

Berlins größte Indoor-Silvesterparty am Potsdamer Platz im U3 Tunnel – Berlinˈs biggest Indoor New Yearˈs party at Potsdamer Platz in the U3 tunnel

Glasspanorama facade with a view towards the train station, Lounges, Areas for Snacks, Sandwiches & Salads, 4 Areas on 2 Floor, Welcoming drink

Thereˈs also plenty of club parties, each one with their specifics, but most of them only begin the entry at 1am on the 1st of January. If you listen to electronica, hereˈs a few recommendations.

GRETCHEN GOES 2015: RECYCLE, APPETITE & BACKSTAGE (3 FLOORS) – BLACK SUN EMPIRE, NEONLIGHT – Bass, Breakbeat, Drum & Bass, Dubstep, Electro, Hip Hop, House, Jungle, MC, Post Dubstep, Techno

FEAR & LOATHING IN RENATE – 35 HOURS NEW YEARS MADNESS

Ambient, Deep House, Disco, Experimental, House, Minimal House, Minimal Techno, Tech House, Techno, Tribal

New Year’s Suicide EVE @ Suicide Circus

Breakbeat, Deep, Deep House, Disco, Dubstep, Electro, Electro House, Electronica, Experimental, Garage, House, Minimal Techno, Tech House, Techno

NYE @ Watergate

Deep House, Drum & Bass, Electro, Electronica, House, Minimal Techno, Tech House, Techno

And of course…

BERGHAIN Silvester 2014/2015 – 4 line ups in 4 different locations, which you can look up on the event page.

So hereˈs a few tips if youˈre more into rock or punk music.

KILL ALL HIPSTERS NYE SPECIAL @ BI NUU BERLIN

Berlin’s #1 Indie ∆ Electro-Pop ∆ Eclectic Pop New Years Eve Bash!

Kreuzberg Calling – Die Silvestersause @SO36

Main Floor: Wasted Youth Crew (80er 90er 00er)

2nd Floor: DJ The Emperor (Ska Reggae Surf Rock’N’Roll Punk)

You may have noticed the psychedelic trance culture in Berlin is quite big, of course theyˈre having their own secret-location-New-Yearˈs-raves, but hereˈs a party we know about.

Odyssee – Berlin´s New Years Eve Psychedelic Music & Arts Festival 2015

Hope this is useful to you guys. Party hard and have a wonderful New Year!