| The following producers and broadcasters pitched five brand new high-end series from Germany at the "Coming Next From Germany" event: - ELDORADO KADEWE (ARD) – Sabine Steyer-Violet, screenwriter & Alicia Remirez, producer/ MD Olga Film
- ALGIERS CONFIDENTIAL (ZDF, ARTE) – Mario Krebs, producer Eikon West, Philippe Alessandri, producer Watch Next Media
- PARADISO (SKY) – Frank Jastfelder, Director Original Production Scripted, SKY Deutschland GmbH & Martin Heisler, producer/ MD Flare Film
- THE WASP (SKY) – Frank Jastfelder, Director Original Production Scripted, SKY Deutschland GmbH & Sabine de Mardt, producer/ MD Gaumont Television
- THE ALLEGATION (VOX, TV NOW) – Sandra Gürtler, producer Moovie GmbH
Torsten Zarges, chief reporter at the industry portal dwdl.de and an expert on series, moderated the event.
After the presentation, the audience at the event was treated to a highlight trailer which featured another eight German series lined up for the 2021/22 season: - BLACKOUT, thriller series, with Moritz Bleibtreu, Heiner Lauterbach & Jessica Schwarz, among others
- FAKING HITLER, drama series about the events surrounding the forged Hitler diaries, with Lars Eidinger, Moritz Bleibtreu and Sinje Irslinger, among others
- FURIA, Norwegian-German co-production, with Nina Kunzendorf, Ulrich Noethen and Benjamin Sadler, among others
- GEFESSELT, true crime mini-series, with Oliver Masucci and Angelina Häntsch, among others
- DER PALAST, historical drama series by Uli Edel, with Svenja Jung, Anja Kling and Heino Ferch, among others
- SISI, historical drama series about the Empress of Hearts, with Dominique Devenport, Jannik Schümann and Désirée Nosbusch, among others
- CHAIN REACTION, drama series, with Katja Riemann, Lorna Ishema and Joel Basman, among others
- ZERV, crime series, with Nadja Uhl, Fabian Hinrichs and Max Hubacher, among others
A video of the event can be accessed here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXaxQYgtl-A
The following day saw six German female filmmakers going down a storm with the audience at the live panel entitled FACE TO FACE WITH GERMAN FILMMAKERS: SERIOUS ABOUT SERIES. Sarah Blaßkiewitz (director, DRUCK), Tua El-Fawwal (actress, DRUCK), Lorna Ishema (actress, BREAKING EVEN, CHAIN REACTION), Marlene Melchior (screenwriter, LOVING HER, MAKING OF UNORTHODOX), Sabine Steyer-Violet (screenwriter & producer, UNORTHODOX, CULPA, ELDORADO KADEWE), and producer Flora Rumpler (RAZOR FILM, part of SERIES' WOMEN) had an authentic and exuberant discussion about their experiences in the world of German series and presented their current projects. The panel, which was moderated by François-Pier Pélinard-Lambert from the trade magazine Le Film Francais, met with an extremely positive response: the six women were applauded for their frank and straight talking, with the discussion continuing after the event.
Those of you who couldn't be there can watch the panel here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otOoQkRXlQo
This brochure has an overview of all of the 18 upcoming German productions presented at Séries Mania.
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| The week-long festival's motto was "BACK TO THE CINEMA - DE VUELTA AL CINE" - and the Argentine audience came back to the cinemas! The opening night saw UNDINE, starring Paula Beer and Franz Rogowski, attracting a sizeable audience despite the seating restrictions according to the hygiene regulations. The Festival de Cine Alemàn received an award from the government of the city of Buenos Aires during the opening ceremony in recognition of the event's cultural relevance. The deputy Carolina Estebarena presented Gustav Wilhelmi, German Films' local representative, with a certificate in front of a packed audience. Laura Grünewald from the German Embassy in Buenos Aires also attended the opening and gave a short speech to welcome the audience.
As a way of celebrating the audience's return to the cinemas, the organisers placed a small gift of a pretzel and a bottle of beer on each cinema seat, and many guests gladly made use of them as refreshments during the screening. This was a fitting return for the traditional event which has now been held in the Argentine metropolis for more than 20 years.
The other festival days were also very well attended and there were several sold out screenings with some films having to be shown on two screens at the same time. In total, more than 2,100 spectators of all ages came to the festival. For almost half of them, the visit to the Festival de Cine Alemàn was the first time they had gone to the cinema since the last COVID-19 lockdown, which says a lot about the appeal of German films and the event's popularity with the public. The most popular films were UNDINE, CORTEX and COPILOT.
The following films were shown:
UNDINE by Christian Petzold (opening film)
COPILOT by Anne Zohra Berrached
CORTEX by Moritz Bleibtreu
DEAR MR. FÜHRER by Christian Lerch
NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER Programme 2021
Goethe-Institut Focus: Mujeres en Camino:
THE CASE YOU by Alison Kuhn
WALCHENSEE FOREVER by Janna Ji Wonders
BLISS by Henrika Kull
Please click here for more information about the Festival of German Films in Buenos Aires. | |
| The South Korean port city of Busan will be hosting Asia's largest film festival for the 26th time In October. Numerous projects with German participation have been selected once again this year: 23 films and co-productions from Germany can be seen in ten sections. The Documentary Competition will include the graduation film LADIES ONLY (DE/IN, KHM Cologne) by the director Rebana Liz John, while the "World Cinema" section will be presenting FABIAN – GOING TO THE DOGS (Lupa Film, DCM Pictures) by Dominik Graf and GREAT FREEDOM (DE/AT, Rohfilm Productions) by Sebastian Meise, among others. Other German co-productions such as Alexandre Koberidze's WHAT DO WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SKY (DE/GE, DFFB, New Matter Films) will be shown in the Flash Forward sidebar. The audience will also have a chance to see the award-winning title THE EXAM (DE/KRD-IQ/QA, Mitosfilm) by Shawkat Amin Korki in the "Window on Asian Cinema". The film was awarded the FIPRESCI Prize in Karlovy Vary. The "Special Programme" brings films by notable filmmakers working within a specific topic back to the big screen - this year's line-up will include the German film WADJDA (DE/SA, Razor Film Produktion) by Haifaa Al Mansour from 2012.
The festival in the Polish capital also put a diverse line-up together, including 14 German films as well as the 2021 edition of the NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER programme. Warsaw's International Competition features THE ALBANIAN VIRGIN (Elsani & Neary Media) by Bujar Alimani and TOUBAB (Schiwago Film) by Florian Dietrich, both as international premieres. Co-directors Marcus H. Rosenmüller and Santiago López Jovers' animation film WELCOME TO SIEGHEILKIRCHEN (AT/DE, Filmbüro Münchner Freiheit) is screening in the "Free Spirit" Competition, and Vera Krichevskaya's F@CK THIS JOB (UK/DE/RU, NDR) can be seen in the Documentary Competition. The "Special Screenings" will include WHY ARE WE (NOT) CREATIVE? (Emotional Network Production) by Hermann Vaske. Moreover, Alma Buddecke's HANDBOOK FOR A PRIVILEGED EUROPEAN WOMAN (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg) and Hilke Rönnfeldt's FENCE are two titles with German participation showing in the Short Films Competition.
Buddecke's film is also part of the NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER programme which goes back a long way with the festival in Warsaw: this year will see the programme being presented on the screens of the Polish metropolis for the 20th time with a total 11 new shorts by up-and-coming German directors.
An overview of all of the German films and co-productions in Busan and Warsaw can be found here and here. More information about NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER 2021 is available here. | |
| The committee decided to support the following films: ADVENTURES OF A MATHEMATICIAN in France (Distributor: Rezo Films, World Sales: Indie Sales Company, Theatrical Release: 01 December 2021, Loan: 30,000 €)
DEAR FUTURE CHILDREN in Switzerland (Distributor: SpotOn, World Sales: Magnetfilm, Theatrical Release: 04 November 2021, Grant: 4,000 €)
DEAR FUTURE CHILDREN in UK (Distributor: Dartmouth Films, World Sales: Magnetfilm, Theatrical Release: 19 November 2021, Grant: 6,000 €)
GREAT FREEDOM in Switzerland (Distributor: Filmcoopi Zürich, World Sales: The Match Factory, Theatrical Release: 18 November 2021, Grant: 10.000 €)
HELP, I SHRUNK MY FRIENDS in Russia (Distributor: Pioner Film Distribution, World Sales: The Playmaker Munich, Theatrical Release: 28 October 2021, Grant: 9,000 €)
IT’S JUST A PHASE, HONEYBUNNY in Switzerland (Distributor: Praesens Film, World Sales: Majestic Filmverleih, Theatrical Release: 14 October 2021, Grant: 8.000 €)
JIM BUTTON AND THE WILD 13 in Hungary (Distributor: ADS Service, World Sales: Global Screen, Theatrical Release: 14 October 2021, Grant: 7,000 €)
JIM BUTTON AND THE WILD 13 in Russia (Distributor: Rocket Releasing, World Sales: Global Screen, Theatrical Release: 30 September 2021, Loan: 30,000 €)
MR. BACHMANN AND HIS CLASS in Switzerland (Distributor: DCM Film Distribution, World Sales: Films Boutique, Theatrical Release: 30 September 2021, Grant: 5,000 €)
NARCISSUS AND GOLDMUND in Poland (Distributor: Aurora Films, World Sales: Beta Cinema, Theatrical Release: 22 October 2021, Grant: 6,000 €)
NEXT DOOR in Russia (Distributor: Silver Box, World Sales: Beta Cinema, Theatrical Release: 21 October 2021, Grant: 9,000 €)
NEXT DOOR in Spain (Distributor: Karma Films, World Sales: Beta Cinema, Theatrical Release: 19 November 2021, Loan: 35,000 €)
NO HARD FEELINGS in Czech Repubic (Distributor: Mezipatra, World Sales: m-appeal, Theatrical Release: 30 September 2021, Grant: 2,500 €)
RELATIVITY in South Korea (Distributor: Mano Entertainment, World Sales: Global Screen, Theatrical Release: 30 September 2021, Grant: 10,000 €)
SCHOOL OF MAGICAL ANIMALS in Russia (Distributor: Rocket Releasing, World Sales: Global Screen, Theatrical Release: 02 December 2021, Loan: 25,000 €)
SCHOOL OF MAGICAL ANIMALS in Switzerland (Distributor: Filmcoopi Zürich, World Sales: Global Screen, Theatrical Release: 14 October 2021, Loan: 25,000 €)
STAMBUL GARDEN in Turkey (Distributor: Yeni Bir Films, World Sales: Totem Films, Theatrical Release: 19 November 2021, Grant: 5,000 €)
STAY STILL in Mexico (Distributor: Bestiario Films, World Sales: Intramovies, Theatrical Release: 18 November 2021, Grant: 5,000 €)
THE LAST EXECUTION in Spain (Distributor: Adso International Management, World Sales: Global Screen, Theatrical Release: 15 October 2021, Grant: 9,000 €)
THE OGGLIES – WELCOME TO SMELLIVILLE in Australia + New Zealand (Distributor: Rialto Distribution, World Sales: The Playmaker, Theatrical Release: 04 November 2021, Loan: 22,500 €)
THE OGGLIES – WELCOME TO SMELLIVILLE in Norway (Distributor: Another World Entertainment Norway, World Sales: The Playmaker, Theatrical Release: 05 November 2021, Grant: 10,000 €)
THE ROYAL GAME in Turkey (Distributor: Filmarti Film, World Sales: Studiocanal, Theatrical Release: 19 November 2021, Grant: 8,000 €)
WHAT DO WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SKY? In France (Distributor: Damned Distribution, World Sales: Bowline, Theatrical Release: 09 February 2022, Grant:9,000 €)
WINDSTORM: THE GREAT HURRICAN in Poland (Distributor: Vivarto, World Sales: Attraction International Distribution, Theatrical Release: 05 November 2021, Grant: 10,000 €)
Please be aware that all release dates are subject to change.
Applications for the next sitting of the awards committee meeting can be submitted up until 11 November 2021.
The "Distribution Support" funding program was launched in 2005 and supports the theatrical release of German films abroad. Subsidies are awarded for additional measures over and above the release campaign which had already been planned by the foreign distributors. The support up to a maximum of 50,000 Euros is allocated in the form of a conditionally repayable loan. Funding of up to 10,000 Euros can also be allocated as a grant.
The guidelines and the application form for "Distribution Support" can be downloaded here. | |
| In Peter Thorwarth's action-horror drama BLOOD RED SKY, vampires and terrorists wrestle for supremacy on a plane while an emotional family drama unfolds in a confined space - the secret formula for the cult director's groundbreaking hit? Peter talks in the interview about the detail that sets BLOOD RED SKY apart from the typical horror film, what bothers him about the classic concept of a hero, and what pitfalls you can encounter when you turn your hobby into a profession.
Until recently, actress Haley Louise Jones was best known in Germany for her TV roles in series like EINSTEIN or the German version of PROFESSOR T. - but she's now starring in a feature film for the first time: PRECIOUS IVIE by Sarah Blaßkiewitz is a story about two sisters, friendship and identity - and about all the challenges associated with the life of a young woman with african roots looking for a job in Leipzig. The film has received several nominations and awards, with Haley most recently being presented with the new berlin film award of the 17th achtung berlin - film festival for her superb acting. The new podcast episode sees her talking about her favourite jobs, how important it is to switch off sometimes and take care of your mental health, and what little things in life bring her joy. She also provides us with some humorous anecdotes and highly recommendable film and book tips – be sure to listen in!
Curious? All episodes are available on our website and wherever podcasts are available.
Information about new episodes and guests is regularly posted on the SHORT TAKE Instagram channel:https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/ | |
| I'M YOUR MAN IS THE GERMAN OSCAR® ENTRY
The feature film I'M YOUR MAN by Maria Schrader (Letterbox Filmproduktion) will enter the race for Germany for the 94th Oscar® in the Best International Feature Film category. This was decided by an independent expert committee meeting under the supervision of German Films on 15 September. German Films itself is not represented on the selection committee. A total of ten films were submitted for consideration. Whether the film makes it on to the short list of 15 titles will be announced on 21 December.
Further information about the German Oscar® entry and the selection process can be found here.
KINO! FILM SALON: UNORTHODOX
Germany and the world are in Maria Schrader fever: it's not just that her award-winning feature film I'M YOUR MAN, starring Dan Stevens and Maren Eggert, has recently opened in US cinemas and been selected as Germany's Oscar entry - the director, actress and screenwriter is also currently in the USA filming her latest project SHE SAID which deals with the events surrounding the Weinstein scandal and #MeToo. For these reasons, the English-language online film club KINO! FILM SALON will also dedicate itself to a work by Schrader: the conversation in October will centre on her series UNORTHODOX, which caused a sensation on the Netflix streaming service and won numerous awards - including a Primetime Emmy Award and two Independent Spirit Awards. Participation in the next KINO! FILM SALON is possible after registering via the following link:
RSVP: https://bit.ly/39sAq0G
Date and time: Sunday, October 17, 2021 at 11am - 12pm PDT, 2pm - 3pm EDT, 8pm - 9pm CET.
Hosted by Sydney Levine
KINO! Film Salon is a production of Telescope Film, in association with the German Film Office. For those who can't get enough, videos of the KINO! Chat interviews with Maria Schrader on UNORTHODOX are available here:
YouTube: https://bit.ly/kinoschrader
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kinogermanynow/videos/156897305740699 FINAL CALL FOR THE SEVILLE CO-PRODUCTION MEETING
Today is the deadline for submissions to the third edition of the European Coproductions meeting at the 18th Festival de Sevilla (5 - 13 November) where Germany will be this year's guest country. Ten projects (five German and five Spanish) will be selected for the programme. The filmmakers will have an opportunity to present their project in a ten-minute pitch and then have one-to-one meetings with other participants, producers and industry professionals who have been specially invited to this event. A three-person jury will award two prizes, each to the value of € 5,000. for the development and post-production of the winning projects.
Deadline for submissions: 30 September, 2021
Further information is available here: http://festivalcinesevilla.eu/en/news/european-coproductions-germany
EURO CONNECTION 2022 IN CLERMONT-FERRAND
The Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival is organising the 14th European co-production forum Euro Connection on 1 and 2 February, 2022. Submissions are welcomed from short film projects up to 30 minutes (animation, feature film, documentary, VR) that are planned as international co-productions, have already secured part of the financing, and are due to start shooting from June 2022. The contact for submissions from Germany is AG Kurzfilm, further information at https://ag-kurzfilm.de/de/networking/323.html.
The deadline is on 20 October, 2021. | |
| German films and co-productions at Marseille, Bristol, Telluride, London, Zurich, Drama, Vancouver, Busan, Mill Valley, Raindance, Hamptons, Heartland, Seoul, Warsaw, San Sebastián, Ghent and Tokyo. | |
| Awards for German films and co-productions at Venice, Toronto and San Sebastián. | |
| FREAKSCENE - THE STORY OF DINOSAUR JR. in UK + Ireland (Distributor: Munro Film Services, World Sales: Rapid Eye Movies, Theatrical Release: 01 October 2021)
MOONBOUND in Norway (Distributor: Storytelling Media, World Sales: Sola Media, Theatrical Release: 01 October 2021)
NO HARD FEELINGS in Czech Republic (Distributor: Mezipatra, World Sales: m-appeal, Theatrical Release: 06 October 2021)
MR BACHMANN AND HIS CLASS in Hungary (Distributor: Cirko Film, World Sales: Films Boutique, Theatrical Release: 07 October 2021)
THE AUDITION in Greece (Distributor: Danaos Films, World Sales: Films du Losange, Theatrical Release: 07 October 2021)
CURVEBALL in Austria (Distributor: Polyfilm, World Sales: The Playmaker Munich, Theatrical Release: 08 October 2021)
I’M YOUR MAN in Norway (Distributor: Arthaus, World Sales: Beta Cinema, Theatrical Release: 08 October 2021)
I’M YOUR MAN in Turkey (Distributor: Filmarti Film, World Sales: Beta Cinema, Theatrical Release: 08 October 2021)
CURVEBALL in USA (Distributor: TriCoast Worldwide, World Sales: The Playmaker Munich, Theatrical Release: 12 October 2021)
ADVENTURES OF A MATHEMATICIAN in Russia (Distributor: Rocket Releasing, World Sales: Indie Sales Company, Theatrical Release: 14 October 2021)
IT’S JUST A PHASE, HONEYBUNNY in Switzerland (Distributor: Praesens Film, World Sales: Majestic Filmverleih, Theatrical Release: 14 October 2021)
JIM BUTTON AND THE WILD 13 in Hungary (Distributor: ADS Service, World Sales: Global Screen, Theatrical Release: 14 October 2021)
SCHOOL OF MAGICAL ANIMALS in Switzerland (Distributor: Filmcoopi Zürich, World Sales: Global Screen, Theatrical Release: 14 October 2021)
THE OGGLIES – WELCOME TO SMELLIVILLE in Denmark (Distributor: Another World Entertainment, World Sales: The Playmaker Munich, Theatrical Release: 14 October 2021)
DEAR FUTURE CHILDREN in Canada (Distributor: Pacific Northwest Pictures, World Sales: Magnetfilm, Theatrical Release: 15 October 2021)
NEXT DOOR in Russia (Distributor: Silver Box, World Sales: Beta Cinema, Theatrical Release: 21 October 2021)
NARCISSUS AND GOLDMUND in Poland (Distributor: Aurora Films, World Sales: Beta Cinema, Theatrical Release: 22 October 2021)
ORAY in France (Distributor: Urban Distribution, World Sales: Pluto Film Distribution, Theatrical Release: 27 October 2021)
HELP, I SHRUNK MY FRIENDS in Russia (Distributor: Pioner Film Distribution, World Sales: The Playmaker Munich, Theatrical Release: 28 October 2021)
CONGO CALLING in UK (Distributor: Dartmouth Films Limited, World Sales: Stephan Hilpert, Theatrical Release: 29 October 2021)
ADVENTURES OF A MATHEMATICIAN in Italy (Distributor: Invisible Carpet, World Sales: Indie Sales Company, Theatrical Release: 31 October 2021)
Status: Newsletter publication date. Please be aware that all release dates are subject to change. | |
| German Films Service + Marketing GmbH
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Fax +49-89-59 97 87-30 | |
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