Inside the Michael Global Fan Celebration (Berlin Live Updates)

If you’ve been living under a rock or simply don’t have social media, you might have missed what’s currently unfolding at the Michael Global Fan Celebration, organised by Lionsgate, Universal Pictures, and The Estate of Michael Jackson. If you are on social media, chances are you’ve already seen countless photos and videos from yesterday’s events.

But this is for those who missed it and for posterity, with accounts from fans on site.

It all started on April 9, the day before the official launch. Some fans, curious and eager to get a glimpse of what was coming, made their way to the Uber Eats Music Hall in Berlin. What they found was a venue still very much in setup mode. We shared a few videos and photos in the past few days, but on site, fans also noticed something else: a queue.

Not just any queue, a carefully curated group of influencers. Not the familiar MJ community voices we know and cherish, but larger creators with 30K+ followers across platforms. These were the “big dogs”, many of whom have been consistently positive about the film, invited by the organisers, all expenses paid, to attend the Global Fan Celebration. It later emerged that they were also treated to a private dinner.

Then came Day 1 of the three-day celebration: the premiere.

The red carpet itself looked stunning. A long, double-sided step-and-repeat featured various images of Jaafar, alongside multiple photo and video activations: a moonwalking zone, a smoke machine setup, a rotating vinyl installation, all leading down to a beautifully designed main stage at the end.

Fans began arriving early, queueing for hours in the cold. Some had tickets for the premiere; others simply wanted to experience the red carpet atmosphere. Depending on your level of fandom (and luck), some fans received tote bags, drink and snack vouchers, and a commemorative event T-shirt.

Meanwhile, those same influencers from the day before had direct access, moving freely along the carpet, doing what they do best: capturing content. Judging by the volume of posts, you could almost feel like you were there yourself. They also took part in a dance class led by Rich and Tone Talauega, who took over the main stage for the occasion.

These invited guests also gained early access to the Global Fan Experience, essentially an exhibition space featuring costumes from the film (similar to what was seen in New York last weekend), behind-the-scenes displays, and interactive elements. Fans will later be able to try activities like dancing on a green screen, much like the activation seen in Brazil a few weeks ago.

Some familiar immersive elements made a return as well. Parts of the Las Vegas Michael Jackson Blue Sapphire Celebration (2023) were reinstalled in Berlin, including the multi-screen room and the Rock My World visual setup. There were also nods to the Thriller 40 immersive experience, such as a recreated Beat It pool room set and the Billie Jean short film street scene, alongside additional themed décor throughout the venue.

During the influencer-focused segment of the evening, Timor Steffens (dancer on This Is It) and Luca Tommassini (Blood on the Dance Floor) were also spotted.

Later, fans were finally allowed onto the red carpet, filling the space with energy, taking photos, filming, and soaking in the moment. Rich and Tone returned to keep spirits high (and bodies warm) with another dance session. Fans also told us that the large number of influencers became quite frustrating, as filming was happening everywhere, making it difficult for fans to move around freely.

Fans with premiere tickets were then guided inside to their cinema seats, where they watched the red carpet coverage on the big screen. Those without tickets remained outside alongside the press, catching glimpses of the arrivals.

And the arrivals did not disappoint.

The Jackson family showed up in full support of Jaafar Jackson: Jermaine, Marlon, Jackie, Prince, and Bigi Jackson, along with other family members.

John Branca, co-executor of The Estate of Michael Jackson, was also present, even spotted taking a photo with Miles Teller, who portrays him in the film. And you can be sure Karen Langford wasn’t far away.

Then came the screening itself.

Early reactions suggest the film is incredible. After the screening, the cast returned to the main stage inside the cinema, where Jaafar Jackson received a standing ovation.

And just like that, Day 1 came to a close.

On Saturday, the celebration continues from 10:00am local time and fans started queuing early to assist at the Cast & Crew talks. ID were checked at the entrance to match your ticket so some fans who got someone else ticket were not allowed in.

Becoming Michael was the first talk, exploring the journey of bringing the Icon to Life. The panel included Rich & Tone Talauega and Graham King. The session lasted 30min.

The second Panel had Jaafar Jackson, Juliano Krue Valdi and Antoine Fuqua, diving into the creative process behind the film.

Fans told us that many seats were empty during the panel session, possibly because a lot of fans did not turn up. It also seems the organisers did not fully anticipate this, as no system was in place to ensure a full room, such as an RSVP process or releasing no-show tickets 20 minutes prior.

Following the panels. the Global Fan Experience took place throughout the Saturday until 6pm.

Then, from 7:30pm to midnight, the celebration continued with “Get on the Dance Floor: The Michael Jackson Party.” Rich and Tone took the stage one last time to do a mass dance class and fans (and influencers) enjoyed it very much with a indoor firework.

Influencers had their own section where all drinks were paid for, while the “common fan” had to queue at the bar to pay for their own drinks.

An fan party like no other. However, it seems the DJ may have upset some purist Michael Jackson fans by playing songs outside of the Jackson 5, The Jacksons, and Michael Jackson catalogues. Then again, those three alone are surely more than enough to fill an entire night, aren’t they?

On Sunday 12, The Michael Experience was open from 9am to 3pm.

From those on site, the event was an exciting moment overall, despite the cold, a few organisational glitches and influencers sometimes getting in the way. As for the film, the general consensus was very positive, though some concerns were raised, with one fan telling us: “It feels more like a musical than a biopic.” I guess we’ll all find out exactly what that means in a few weeks.