| For the fourth time, the new edition of the short film program NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER celebrated its premiere during the 36th Filmfest Dresden (16-21 April), followed for the first time by another screening in Germany at the 53rd Sehsüchte International Student Film Festival in Potsdam. The international premiere in Cannes will be the next highlight, before the films start on their international tour. In Dresden, the directors and crew members of the selected shorts presented their works and mingled with the festival guests during numerous industry networking activities. The five films in the program up to 7 minutes each, received a German Federal Film Board's (FFA) Short Tiger Award at a ceremony at the Zentralkino. The award goes to films that are particularly suitable for programming as supporting films in cinemas and also includes theatrical distribution in Germany. This year's awards went to BLACK YOUTH by Isaac Martínez, ENJOY YOUR MEAL by Sofie Kienzle & Christian Manzke, SUPERBUHEI by Josef Brandl, THE BARD'S CURSE by Scarlett Unverricht, and THE HIDDEN DIMENSION by Ben Galster. At the program's premiere on April 20, the audience at the sold-out screening took the opportunity to discover the Germany's most promising young filmmakers. Next up for the filmmakers and their films is the traditional screening at the Festival des Cannes' Marché du Film on Tuesday, May 21, 2021 (6pm at the Olympia 2). The program will then go on tour around the globe at the Festivals of German Films and other international festivals. The films were selected by the jury members Alexandra Gramatke (Kurzfilm Agentur Hamburg), director Sophie Linnenbaum and Dr. Christian Bräuer (AG Kino, Yorck-Kinos). More information about the films and directors of this year's NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER program is available here. Industry professionals can screen the films on the Festivalscope Pro and T-Port platforms if they are registered, or they can request a screening link from nextgeneration@german-films.de The FFA Short Tiger winners can be booked by German cinemas as supporting films through the Kurzfilm Agentur Hamburg. | |
| The German Film Days "Tyske Filmdage" took place for the 15th time in Copenhagen, Aarhus and Odense. The festival opened with the Danish premiere of AFIRE by Christian Petzold. The director was there in person to present his film in Copenhagen. Director Timm Kröger, who presented his film THE UNIVERSAL THEORY, and Melanie Liebheit, who presented her film SHE CHEF, also attended the festival. The German Film Days are organized by Goethe-Institut Dänemark, Grand Teatret / Camera Film, the German Embassy and Copydan Verdens TV / Nabolandskanalene with the support of German Films and Odense Municipality. Full list of screened films:
KINGS OF THE ROAD by Wim Wenders
AFIRE by Christian Petzold
THE UNIVERSAL THEORY by Timm Kröger
SHE CHEF by Melanie Liebheit
SISI & I by Frauke Finsterwalder
INGEBORG BACHMANN – JOURNEY INTO THE DESERT by Margarethe von Trotta
STELLA. A. LIFE. by Kilian Riedhof | |
| In its 55th edition, one of the most important international festivals for documentary films, Visions du Réel, took place in Nyon from April 12 to 21. A total of 165 films were presented - including 128 new films and 88 world premieres. German Films Managing Director Simone Baumann made a presentation about co-production possibilities with Germany, while Antonia Kilian (Pink Shadow) and Britta Strampe (Bandenfilm) pitched their projects to the audience, followed by a reception hosted by German Films.
Among the guests were Peter Dinges (FFA), Els Hendrix (BKM), Carlo Chatrian (formerly Berlinale), Alessandro Stellino (Festival Di Populi), LA DUNA producer Helmut Beier, Narges Kalhor and her team (SHADID), and colleagues from our fellow film promotion agencies Austrian Films and Swiss Films. | |
| The 43rd edition of the Istanbul Film Festival took place from April 17-28, 2024. Boasting the biggest audience, the Istanbul Film Festival is the largest and best established international film event in Turkey. The German director Wim Wenders was invited as the festival's guest of honor. Three films by Wenders were shown at the festival: ANSELM, which explores the life and artistic journey of German artist Anselm Kiefer, ALICE IN THE CITIES, which was shown in its restored print to mark its 50th anniversary, and PERFECT DAYS, starring Koji Yakusho. In addition to the screenings of his films, Wim Wenders also answered questions from the audience during a Q&A. As a highlight, he was then honored with the Istanbul International Film Festival's Honorary Award on Saturday evening. A delegation from the film team of FARUK by Asli Özge as well as Matthias Glasner and Lars Eidinger, who presented their film DYING, also attended the event in Istanbul. Together with the Goethe Institut, German Film hosted a brunch and welcomed filmmakers and industry experts. | |
| For a second time since the COVID-19 pandemic, FILMART took place on-site. It kept its standing as one of the most important places to meet with the Asian industry, especially this year, when a lot of Asian buyers did not attend the EFM in Berlin. EFP’s EUROPE! UMBRELLA (one of 30 pavilions) needed to be extended twice due to the huge demand from sales companies. With support from German Films amounting 4,000 €, the EFP was able to create a suitable platform for the presentation of German sales companies internationally. EFP also partnered with Unifrance. German sales companies benefitted from free access to a fully equipped and branded booth, hosted by one EFP staff member and two local assistants. In total, EFP hosted 30 world sales companies from 6 European countries at its 14th Europe! Umbrella edition; 4 companies came from Germany: m-appeal, Picture Tree International, Pluto Film and Sola Media. | |
| FRG 1981
THE BOAT
(OT: DAS BOOT) Ping. Few sounds in the history of German film have such high recognition value as the sonar noise from Wolfgang Petersen’s "The Boat". The "ping" is directly associated with the enormous tension, the claustrophobic horror and the fear of death among the crew of the eponymous submarine, whose Mediterranean voyage in the middle of the Second World War is told so impressively in the film. The original replica of the U96, the impressive photography of the faces and narrow corridors, the atmospherically dense music by Klaus Doldinger: the individual cinematic elements combined by director Wolfgang Petersen have set standards for years in Germany and have also impressed on the international stage. In the USA, "The Boat" grossed 11.5 million dollars and received six nominations for the Oscar and one nomination for the Golden Globe. The film, which was also released in a longer version as a mini-series and later as a director’s cut, paved the way to success in Hollywood, and not just for Petersen. Cinematographer Jost Vacano also went on to make some iconic blockbusters alongside director Paul Verhoeven with films such as "Robocop" and "Starship Troopers". For a short time, "The Boat" provided a boost for large-scale international productions from Germany such as Petersen’s "Never Ending Story" or "The Name of the Rose". But the commercial and artistic successes remained isolated. It would take until 2023 for a German film to top six Oscar nominations with "All Quiet on the Western Front" – even 40 years later with an action-driven drama about the Second World War and the still topical intention of finding images for the horror of war. (Oliver Baumgarten) Director: Wolfgang Petersen Screenplay: Wolfgang Petersen, based on the novel by Lothar-Günther Buchheim DoP: Jost Vacano Editor: Johannes Nikel Composer: Klaus Doldinger Production: Günter Rohrbach for Bavaria Atelier, Radiant Film, WDR, SDR Runtime:149 Min. Premiere: September 17, 1981 Cast: Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer, Klaus Wennemann, Hubertus Bengsch, Martin Semmelrogge, Otto Sander et al. Rights: Bavaria Media GmbH, München | |
| The focus of the next session for the English-language KINO! FILM SALON online film club on May 12th will be Michael Bully Herbig’s political thriller BALLOON. The film tells the true story of the Strelzykund Wetzel families, who ventured to flee from the GDR to the West in a home-made hot air balloon in 1979 - one of the most spectacular escape stories in GDR history. Michael Bully Herbig is considered one of the most successful German directors, writers, producers and actors. With BALLOON, he entered completely new territory, making his first "serious" film out of the true story, a breathless thriller that is extremely exciting from the start. Herbig himself says: "We tell of courageous people who wanted freedom and firmly believed that they would achieve their goal. This is the fascination of their history, which is also German history." Our curator Jim Kolmar selected this movie: "Michael Herbig’s spirited film from 2018 recounts the tale of two East German families who build a home-made hot air balloon in an attempt to flee to the West, and to freedom. Set in 1979, BALLOON is rich in period detail, from the costumes to the superbly rendered production design. The craft and attention to detail adds deep authenticity to a film that leans unapologetically towards an old-school charm that’s greatly helped by a vibrant cast. The result is a gripping historical drama that deftly balances heart-stopping, classic thriller elements with thoughtful political gravitas and a stirring depiction of human tenacity. It’s the kind of film that’s all too rare in today’s cinema landscape." RSVP: https://bit.ly/kinofilmsalonballoon Date and time: Sunday, May 12 at 11:00am – 12:00pm PT, 2:00pm – 3:00pm ET, 8:00pm – 9:00pm CET.
Hosted by Jim Kolmar KINO! FILM SALON is a production by Telescope Film, in collaboration with the German Film Office | |
| Episode 60 - May 16, 2024: Gummibärchen, reading to his daughter and working on a film about the German children’s classic Struwelpeter: In our newest episode of Short Take, prolific producer Fabian Driehorst talks to us about his work, his love of James Bond movies, and why the Australian feature FROG DREAMING was a formative film for him. Fabian is the 2024 German Producer on the Move for the eponymous program of European Film Promotion. You can find all of the episodes on our website and wherever podcasts are available. SHORT TAKE on Instagram! | |
| Episode 4 - April 30, 2024: In this Deep Dive Genre episode we talk to director Daniel Alvarago about his new film HUNDSWUT. We discussed why he didn’t have the Heimatfilm genre on his mind at first, the dirfficult process of making a truly independent film in Germany – and the great reactions from audiences. Episode 5 - May 16, 2024:
The episode with Heimatfilm expert Dr. Sarah Kordecki will be the last of this season. Kordecki wrote her thesis on the genre and has watched more than 200 Heimatfilme. Our discussion runs the gamut from the importance of (German) music, to happy ends, to societal and political references, and self-reflection. Be it Sisi, Immenhof, The Trapp Family or the Meineidbauer. And on the way, we get a few new Heimatfilm recommendations to boot. Enjoy! You can find all of the episodes on our website and wherever podcasts are available. DEEP DIVE GENRE on Instagram! | |
| German production added to the selection in Cannes
The major German production AN UNFINISHED FILM by Lou Ye (DE/SGP, Essential Filmproduktion) will be screened at the Special Screenings category at the 77th Festival de Cannes (May 14-25, 2024). What this documentary is about is still unknown. In addition, anther film has been relisted. EMPEROR by Marion Burger and Ilan Cohen (FR/DE, Reynard Films) will be shown in the new section Immersive Selection. IFF SCHLiNGEL in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan
The International Film Festival for Children and Young Audiences SCHLiNGEL has been organizing Shum Bola Children's and Youth Film Festival in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut Tashkent in Uzbekistan for eleven years now. For the first time, the festival also took place in Tajikistan. From April 17 to 27, a total of six German films were shown in this context. The presentation of the German films at Shum Bola was also supported by the Saxon State Chancellery, the Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung MDM and German Films. THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE in the selection for the Latin American Critics' Award
A total of 23 European films are competing for the new Latin American Critics' Award for European Films. 34 Latin American film critics from 13 Latin American countries will first decide on their top three favourites before announcing and presenting the winning film during the Guadalajara Film Festival (June 7-15, 2024). The German Entry is THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE by İlker Çatak. Co-production meeting in Cannes with FFA participation
As part of the upcoming Marché du Film (May 14-22, 2024) at the Festival de Cannes, the FFA is once again offering producers from Germany several opportunities to exchange ideas with international colleagues. Interested producers from Germany can now apply to the FFA for the following events: - Networking event between Germany, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Uruguay
Date: Friday, May 17, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: Uruguayan boat - JIIFF at the Port de Cannes, Jetée Albert Edouard
Application with short profile and information about possible projects with these countries - Co-production meeting between Germany and Sweden
Date: Monday, May 20, 2024 from 9:30 to 11:00 am
Location: Nordic House, 11 square Mérimée
Application with short profile and information about possible projects with Sweden - Friends From Far Away: Speed dating between Germany, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan
Date: Monday, May 20 from 18:00 to 20:30
Location: German Pavilion (#124), Village International
Application for the speed dating with company profile and information about possible projects with these countries
Please send your application in English by May 6, 2024 to Solène Tardieu, International Affairs Officer (tardieu@ffa.de) | |
| Awards for German productions and co-productions at Nijmegen. | |
| International releases of German films in May 2024 supported by the German Films Distribution Support program: ADIOS BUENOS AIRES in the USA and Canada (Distributor: Outsider Pictures, World Sales: Beta Cinema, Theatrical Release: May 3, 2024)
ANSELM in Italy (Distributor: Lucky Red, World Sales: Hanway, Theatrical Release: May 1, 2024)
BLACK BOX in Spain (Distributor: Distribución de películas Barlovento, World Sales: Beta Cinema, Theatrical Release: May 17, 2024)
DYING in Austria (Distributor: Filmcasino & Polyfilm BetriebsGmbH, World Sales: The Match Factory, Theatrical Release: May 17, 2024)
EMPTY NETS in Spain (Distributor: Puntal Films, World Sales: Pluto Film, Theatrical Release: May 17, 2024)
INSIDE THE UFFIZI in Spain (Distributor: Version Digital, World Sales: Magnetfilms, Theatrical Release: May 6, 2024)
LUCY WANTED in North Macedonia (Distributor: Cutaway, World Sales: The Playmaker Munich, Theatrical Release: May 9, 2024)
LUCY WANTED in Slovenia (Distributor: Cinemania Group, World Sales: The Playmaker Munich, Theatrical Release: May 23, 2024)
MAX AND THE WILD BUNCH – THE GHOSTLY GRANNY in Austria (Distributor: Luna Filmverleih, World Sales: OneGate, Theatrical Release: May 1, 2024)
MUSIC in Spain (Distributor: L'Atalante Cinema, World Sales: Shellac, Theatrical Release: May 1, 2024)
RICHARD THE STORK AND THE MYSTERY OF THE GREAT JEWEL in South Korea (Distributor: Challan, World Sales: Indie Sales, Theatrical Release: May 1, 2024)
SOMEDAY WE'LL TELL EACH OTHER EVERYTHING in Brazil (Distributor: Imovision - Tag Cultural, World Sales: The Match Factory, Theatrical Release: May 9, 2024)
STELLA. A LIFE. in Denmark (Distributor: Mis. Label, World Sales: Global Screen, Theatrical Release: May 9, 2024)
STELLA. A LIFE. in South Korea (Distributor: Mediasoft Films, World Sales: Global Screen, Theatrical Release: May 15, 2024)
STELLA. A LIFE. in Chile (Distributor: Cinematografica Distribuidora Internacional, World Sales: Global Screen, Theatrical Release: May 23, 2024)
TEACHES OF PEACHES in Austria (Distributor: Filmcasino & Polyfilm BetriebsGmbH, World Sales: Magnetfilm, Theatrical Release: May 17, 2024)
THABO - THE RHINO ADVENTURE in the USA and Canada (Distributor: Purdie Distribution, World Sales: Sola Media, Theatrical Release: May 3, 2024)
THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE in Norway (Distributor: Selmer Media, World Sales: Be for Films, Theatrical Release: May 3, 2024)
THE UNIVERSAL THEORY in Portugal (Distributor: Outsider Films, World Sales: Charades, Theatrical Release: May 2, 2024)
WHAT THE FINN?! – SUMMER OF SURPRISES in Estonia (Distributor: Unlimited Media, World Sales: The Playmaker Munich, Theatrical Release:May 10, 2024)
WHAT THE FINN?! – SUMMER OF SURPRISES in Latvia (Distributor: Unlimited Media, World Sales: The Playmaker Munich, Theatrical Release: May 10, 2024)
WHAT THE FINN?! – SUMMER OF SURPRISES in Lithuania (Distributor: Unlimited Media, World Sales: The Playmaker Munich, Theatrical Release: May 10, 2024) Please note: Correct at time of going to press. Changes may occur at any time. | |
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