| The 25th edition of the German film festival KINO/23 took place from October 12 to 22, 2023 in Hong Kong and Macao. The festival, which was first held in 1998 under the name MAX!, once again screened a large selection of outstanding new films from Germany this year: This included the intense sibling drama KISS MY WOUNDS by Hanna Doose, Anika Decker's quirky comedy LOVE THING as well as Fatih Akin's million-selling hit RHINEGOLD and Christoph Hochhäusler's emotional drama TILL THE END OF THE NIGHT, which premiered at the Berlinale.
The festival opened with IN A LAND THAT NO LONGER EXISTS. German director Aelrun Goette attended the screening in person and was available for a Q&A with the audience.
As the Goethe-Institut Hong Kong is also celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the extra series "Six Decades - Six Iconic Films" featured some of the big names in German cinema, including Konrad Wolf, Wim Wenders and Tom Tykwer.
See the list of screened films:
IN A LAND THAT NO LONGER EXISTS by Aelrun Goette
THE TEACHER‘S LOUNGE by İlker Çatak
A STASI COMEDY by Leander Haußmann
THE ORDINARIES by Sophie Linnenbaum
KISS MY WOUNDS by Hanna Doose
LOVE THING by Anika Decker
TILL THE END OF THE NIGHT by Christoph Hochhäusler
RHEINGOLD by Fatih Akin | |
| The 27th edition of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (Pimedate Ööde filmifestival, PÖFF) took place from November 3 to 19, 2023. Once again, a comprehensive selection of world cinema from the last two years was presented to local and international audiences. This time, this included 41 German productions and co-productions. In addition, the Goethe-Institut Estonia showed film highlights of the year in its own series. German Films held a reception, welcoming international film industry members, as well as German filmmakers like Aylin Tezel or Langston Uibel. Aylin Tezel's directorial debut FALLING INTO PLACE participated in the First Feature Competition section at the festival. And actor Langston Uibel, who is known for his role in Christian Petzold's AFIRE, was part of the Black Night Stars program, designed to help young actors to gain international visibility and promote themselves inside and outside their home territories. | |
| Dascha Dauenhauer was on site at Raindance Film Festival in London. The composer had her own special panel, hosted by Bailey Harris Kelly, where she discussed her industry experience composing for both film and TV projects. The talk was interesting and entertaining for both film score fans and newcomer composers who could learn from the experience of our Face To Face ambassador. In addition, CLASHING DIFFERENCES, the vibrant drama by Merle Grimme, had its UK premiere at Raindance Film Festival, followed by a Q&A with moderator Nadia Denton, the film's DoP Diara Sow and actress Thelma Buabeng at Genesis Cinema. | |
| The International Documentary Association (IDA) announced the nominees for the 39th IDA Documentary Awards 2023. ANSELM by Wim Wenders (Road Movies) was nominated in the categories “Best Cinematography” (Franz Lustig) and “Best Original Score” (Leonard Küßner). The film will be released in the US by Sideshow on December 8, 2023. The short THE UNICORN IN SNOWPANTS SUDDENLY RAN OFF (DAS EINHORN MIT DER SCHNEEHOSE RANNTE PLÖTZLICH LOS) by Philipp Schaeffer (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg) is among the nominees in the “Best Short Documentary” category. It is currently available on the streaming platform of The New Yorker. Further nominations include the German co-productions ANHELL69 by Theo Montoya (CO/RO/FR/DE, Amerikafilm, for “Best Feature” & “Best Director”), FOUR DAUGHTERS by Kaouther Ben Hania (FR/TN/SA/DE, Twenty Twenty Vision Filmproduktion, for “Best Writing”), and PIANOFORTE by Jakub Piatek (PL/DE, ZDF/ARTE, for “Best Music Documentary”). The winners will be announced on December 12, 2023, further information available here. | |
| T-Port, the industry platform for student and short films, unveiled the titles selected for its annual “Lighthouse Selections”. Maike Mia Höhne (Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg) and Laurence Boyce (PÖFF Shorts Tallinn) curated two collections from the current T-Port lineup, picking a total of 26 shorts from 10 countries and including 14 German productions. All selected films are now highlighted and available for viewing online by registered T-Port users on the platform. They were also screened for the participants of the 8th Torino Talent and Short Film Market (November 27-29, 2023). INTRO by Anne Isensee and LONG TIME NO TECHNO by Eugenia Bakurin were part of a public presentation of the T-Port Lighthouse Selections in partnership with the 41st Torino Film Festival (November 24 – December 2, 2023). T-Port Lighthouse Selections 2023 – German Shorts
THE AGE OF INNOCENCE by Maximilian Bungarten
AS IF MOTHER CRIED TONIGHT by Hoda Taheri (DFFB)
BORDER CONVERSATIONS by Jonathan Brunner (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg)
CHEWING GUM (KAUGUMMI) by Dascha Petuchow (RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Plotless Films)
COLLAGE (KOLAJ) by Gülce Besen Dilek (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg)
INTRO by Anne Isensee
LONG TIME NO TECHNO by Eugenia Bakurin
THE SCHOOL IS ON FIRE AND WE KNOW WHY (DIE SCHULE BRENNT UND WIR WISSEN WARUM) by Janina Lutter (Hochschule Darmstadt)
SUMMER FLING by Jasmin Preiß
SLOW DOWN THE FALL (RALENTIR LA CHUTE) by Camille Tricaud, Franziska Unger (Benedetta Films)
TWO HOURS A DAY (ZWEI STUNDEN PRO TAG)by Maya Klar (DE/IL)
THE WAITING by Volker Schlecht (mobyDOK)
YUGOTRANSPORT – WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME BUS by (DFFB)
THE UNICORN IN SNOWPANTS SUDDENLY RAN OFF (DAS EINHORN MIT DER SCHNEEHOSE RANNTE PLÖTZLICH LOS) by Philipp Schaeffer (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg) | |
| German Films would like to remember Jochem Strate in a short obituary. Born on July 23, 1946, Strate worked in several central functions in the film industry alongside his professional career as a lawyer. He was managing legal advisor to the Association of German Actors' Agencies and sat on the board of the Association of German Film Exporters. Strate was also president of the world sales Exportfilm Bischoff. During this time, he was particularly committed to niche films, such as the distribution of Greek and Spanish films. From 1992 to 2002, Jochem Strate was first a member and later chairman of the supervisory board of Export-Union, the predecessor of today's German Films - Service + Marketing GmbH. During this time, he was instrumental in the restructuring of what was then Export-Union into what is now German Films Service + Marketing GmbH. At the same time, the team of employees was expanded. Strate's work and achievements were also reflected above all in the introduction of new projects such as the Festivals of German Film, the German Films Previews and the Next Generation project for young talents, all of which are still an important part of German Films today.
According to his family, Jochem Strate died on October 29 at the age of 77 after a long and serious illness.
We will always remember his tireless commitment to the further development of our company and his dedication to German films abroad. | |
| The focus of the next session for the English-language KINO! FILM SALON online film club on December 10 will be Ingo Haeb’s queer drama THE CHAMBERMAID LYNN. The film features an exquisite camera work by German Director of Photography Sophie Maintigneux and the outstanding performance of lead actress Vicky Krieps (CORSAGE, PHANTOM THREAT, BERGMAN ISLAND, 3 DAYS IN QUIBERON) Our curator Jim Kolmar selected this movie: “THE CHAMBERMAID LYNN features a remarkable breakout performance by Vicky Krieps as Lynn, an inscrutable, neurotic chambermaid with a penchant for voyeurism. While surreptitiously spying on a hotel client, Lynn encounters a professional dominatrix, who helps her embark on a journey of sexual self-discovery. Ingo Haeb’s sensitively directed film doesn’t shy from the film’s inherent eroticism, but neither does it become lurid, crass or exploitative. Instead, THE CHAMBERMAID LYNN is a unique character study and a celebration of sexual awakening, powerfully driven by Krieps’ fearless, vulnerable performance. RSVP: https://bit.ly/kinofilmsalonchambermaidlynn Date and time: Sunday, December 10 at 11:30am – 12:30pm PT, 2:30pm – 3:30pm ET, 8:30pm – 9:30pm CET.
Hosted by Jim Kolmar KINO! FILM SALON is a production of Telescope Film, in collaboration with the German Film Office | |
| Episode 53 - December 21, 2023:
For our ultimate SHORT TAKE episode 2023 we talked to the terrific Aaron Hilmer about his passion for traveling to faraway places and being spontaneous. His love for medieval knighthood – hint: it’s actually about the horses! – and the wonderful thing that makes him happy. You can find all of the episodes on our website and wherever podcasts are available. SHORT TAKE on Instagram! | |
| Annecy Festival 2024: Registrations are open!
Every year, new projects are presented at the Annecy International Animation Film Market. Authors (with or without a producer) can now apply with their animation projects for the Mifa Pitches 2024. Films can be submitted in the following categories: Short Films, Feature Films, TV Series & Specials and Digital Experiences.
Deadline for submission is February 1, 2024. More information can be found here. | |
| German productions and co-productions at Stockholm, Gijón, Poznań, Leuven and Ljubljana. | |
| Awards for German productions and co-productions in Valladolid, Amsterdam, Tallinn and Mar del Plata. | |
| International releases of German films in December 2023 supported by the German Films Distribution Support program: ADIÓS BUENOS AIRES in Argentina (Distributor: Cinetren, World Sales: Beta Cinema, Theatrical Release: December 7, 2023)
ANSELM in UK & Ireland (Distributor: Curzon Film World, World Sales: HanWay Films, Theatrical Release: December 8, 2023)
ANSELM in the USA (Distributor: Sideshow and Janus Films, World Sales: HanWay Films, Theatrical Release: December 8, 2023)
DEAD GIRLS DANCING in Austria(Distributor: Stadtkino Filmverleih and Kinobetriebsges.m.b.H., World Sales: Totem Films, Theatrical Release: December 8, 2023)
GIRL YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE in Switzerland (Distributor: DCM Film Distribution, World Sales: Voltage Pictures, Theatrical Release: December 21, 2023)
RHEINGOLDin Romania (Distributor: Transilvania Film, World Sales: The Match Factory, Theatrical Release: December 8, 2023)
SISI AND I in South Korea (Distributor: Andamiro Films, World Sales: The Match Factory, Theatrical Release: December 13, 2023)
THE PATH in Taiwan (Distributor: Eagle International Communication, World Sales: Global Screen, Theatrical Release: December 1, 2023)
Please note: Correct at time of going to press. Changes may occur at any time.
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| German Films Service + Marketing GmbH
Herzog-Wilhelm-Straße 16
80331 München/Deutschland Tel +49-89-59 97 87-0
Fax +49-89-59 97 87-30 | |
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