Soderbergh cheered at Berlin fest for 'final' movie

BERLIN (AFP) - Steven Soderbergh said goodbye to directing, at the Berlinale which has hosted him more often than any other film festival, with the taut thriller Side Effects that drew cheers on Tuesday.

The Hitchcock-inspired picture about intrigue and corruption in the pharmaceuticals industry is one of 19 movies vying for the festival's Golden Bear top prize.

Starring Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Rooney Mara, the film is also what Soderbergh said is his last before he turns his back on Hollywood and devotes his time to painting and other pursuits.

"I just liked the idea of making a thriller as I near the twilight of my career," the 50-year-old director, who won an Oscar for his 2000 narcotics drama Traffic, told reporters.