Annual Berlin Film Festival opened here on Thursday with the world premiere of Man to Man, a historical drama in which 19th century adventurers searched for the link between man and ape in southern Africa.(Photo: Xinhua/REUTERS)(Photo: Xinhua/REUTERS)(Photo: Xinhua/REUTERS)

BERLIN, Feb. 10(Xinhuanet)-- Annual Berlin Film Festival opened here on Thursda y with the world premiere of Man to Man, a historical drama in which 19th century adventurers searched for the link between man and ape in southern Africa.

During the 10-day event, some 350 films from 5 countries will be shown with 22 of them participating the competition to chase the"Golden Bear" prize.

Celebrities including director Roland Emmerich(The Day after Tomorrow), Hollywood stars Joseph Fiennes(Luther) and Kristin Scott Thomas(The English Patient) were at the opening ceremony.

Seventeen of the films in competition will screen for the firsttime in Berlin, and six of those are from first-time feature directors.

Glenn Close, Catherine Deneuve, Keanu Reeves and Will Smith arealso due to appear at the festival to advertise their new films incoming days.

Festival director Dieter Kosslick says Berlin Film Festival, known as Berlinale, is the"public's festival."

"We don't want to be the biggest festival in the world, because we already are," he said, referring to the fact that the Berlin plays to the largest audience of any film festival in the world.

"We want to become the most pleasant and friendly film festivalin the world," he said.