Berlin - The Berlin film festival announced on Thursday the first movies of its 2013 line-up, and among the main competition entries will be US director Gus Van Sant's drama starring Matt Damon and centering around the controversial shale gas industry.
Promised Land will have its international premiere at the annual cinema showcase, although it is scheduled to be launched first in the US.
According to online reports, Damon was originally down to direct the movie tackling the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" for shale gas, which has raised concerns over its environmental impact.
The film reunites the actor and film maker after Van Sant directed Damon in the acclaimed 1997 drama Good Will Hunting.
Host of other films in line-up
Damon was nominated for a best actor Academy Award for his performance and won a screenplay Oscar along with co-writer Ben Affleck for a movie that helped launch their Hollywood careers.
Also in the main competition in Berlin is Gloria, directed by Chilean film maker Sebastian Lelio, Korean entry Nobody's Daughter Haewon directed by Hong Sangsoo and the Romanian film Child's Pose by Calin Peter Netzer.
There will be a world premiere for Paradise: Hope, the final instalment of Austrian director Ulrich Seidl's Paradise trilogy, while out of competition in Berlin is 3D animation film The Croods, featuring the voice of Nicolas Cage.
And under the Berlinale Special heading comes documentary Redemption Impossible.
The 63rd Berlin film festival runs from 7 to 17 February 2013.
Promised Land will have its international premiere at the annual cinema showcase, although it is scheduled to be launched first in the US.
According to online reports, Damon was originally down to direct the movie tackling the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" for shale gas, which has raised concerns over its environmental impact.
The film reunites the actor and film maker after Van Sant directed Damon in the acclaimed 1997 drama Good Will Hunting.
Host of other films in line-up
Damon was nominated for a best actor Academy Award for his performance and won a screenplay Oscar along with co-writer Ben Affleck for a movie that helped launch their Hollywood careers.
Also in the main competition in Berlin is Gloria, directed by Chilean film maker Sebastian Lelio, Korean entry Nobody's Daughter Haewon directed by Hong Sangsoo and the Romanian film Child's Pose by Calin Peter Netzer.
There will be a world premiere for Paradise: Hope, the final instalment of Austrian director Ulrich Seidl's Paradise trilogy, while out of competition in Berlin is 3D animation film The Croods, featuring the voice of Nicolas Cage.
And under the Berlinale Special heading comes documentary Redemption Impossible.
The 63rd Berlin film festival runs from 7 to 17 February 2013.