One of the most popular film festivals on the circuit, the Berlin Film Festival, kicked off in the German Capital on Thursday. The prestigious festival opened with the screening of Shine a Light — an intimate documentary on the Rolling Stones by celebrated US director Martin Scorcese.

It looked like a scene straight out of a Rolling Stones concert as the legendary rock act walked in with filmmaker Martin Scorsese on day one of the 58th Berlin Film Festival.

“Berlin is great fun. Everyone’s been very welcoming. I’m glad we could open this festival. It was a great honour to us,” band member Mick Jagger said.

It is the first time that a documentary is kick-starting the festival that is also known as Berlinale. Scorcese sourced the footage for the documentary from two of Rolling Stones concerts held in 2006.

“The sound of the music, the chords, the vocals, the entire feel of the music inspired me greatly. It became a basis for most of the work I have done in my movies, going from Mean Streets on through Raging Bull and to Casino and to The Departed,” the director said.

The Berlin Film Festival continues till February 17 with 21 movies competing for the main Golden Bear Award.

Highlights of the festival include Madonna’s directorial debut Filth and Wisdom and Shah Rukh Khan who is expected to make an appearance for the screening of his home production Om Shanti Om.