Chaplin family to attend Berlinale

Chaplin starred in his first talkie in 1940

The Berlin Film Festival will feature a new print of Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator at a screening attended by members of his family.

The Berlinale, one of the most prestigious film events of year, will also feature four German movies, fulfilling a promise made by the festival's new director to promote local talent.

The festival runs from 6 to 17 February will see 23 films compete for top honours, including Golden Globe winner A Beautiful Mind and Paul Greengrass' Bloody Sunday.

Baader, a film about German left-wing guerrilla Andreas Baader and directed by Christopher Roth, and Andreas' Dresden's Grill Point make up half the German entries.

Run Lola Run director Tom Tykwer is entering his new movie Heaven alongside A Map of the Heart by Dominik Graf.

Dame Judi Dench's Chocolat is one of a trio of her films showing at the festival

The new Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick vowed to use the festival to promote the German film industry.

Outgoing director British-born Swiss Moritz de Hadeln was criticised during his 22-year reign for failing to use the festival as a platform for German films.

Chaplin wrote and starred The Great Dictator in 1940, playing two characters in his first talking movie.

A trio of Dame Judi Dench's films will be playing during the programme; The Shipping News, Iris and Chocolat.

The Berlinale is considered one of the top three European film festivals behind Cannes and alongside Venice.

More than 400 films will be screened during the festival from across the world including Israel, Australia and Japan.

Indian director Mira Nair is heading up the festival jury, fresh from winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for Monsoon Wedding.

The French film, Intimacy, directed by Patrice Chereau won the top Golden Bear award last year and the film's Kerry Fox took the best actress accolade.