Part of a series of mini profiles on the movers and shakers that make the Berlinale one of the most important events in the international film calendar: the filmmakers, programmers, curators, industry promoters and visitors.Name & role: Joachim Bernauer, head of the Goethe-Institut’s Munich-based department for film, TV and broadcasting (since January 2014)
This is my 5th Berlinale (the 1st in my current Goethe-Institut role, the 5th in my Goethe life from Lisbon to Sao Paulo to Los Angeles).
Most exciting Goethe-Institut collaboration with the Berlinale: Very important are our initiatives to bring young people to Berlin in order to write about film. We’re partnering with Berlinale Talents for this purpose, and we've additionally invited international bloggers and help to disseminate their texts through various major platforms. For me, the most exciting collaboration is the Goethe-Institut Berlinale Breakfast though, which was established some 30 years ago and every February brings together everybody who is interested in German film in the (non-commercial) film world.
How the Berlinale is important for the year-round film initiatives of the Goethe-Institut world-wide: The Berlinale is Germany’s most important film festival and internationally well known for it. The ongoing film initiatives carried out by the worldwide network of the Goethe-Institut often relate to the Berlinale, as several important films are premiered in Berlin each year. Most importantly, the Berlinale is a meeting point for the Goethe-Institut colleagues. Every year, some 70 Goethe staff come to Berlin. They watch and discuss the newest films and take this knowledge back to the countries they work in.
German film I am most looking forward to seeing: “Inbetween Wolrd” by Feo Aladag. I have been a big fan of Feo and Züli Aladag’s films since they were artists-in-residence at the Villa Aurora in Los Angeles twelve years ago, when I was the director there.
interview by Jutta Brendemühl, Toronto
image: Joachim Bernauer with Isabel Lopes, opening the KINO Festival Lisbon 2013
