An ongoing series of mini profiles on the blog German Film @ Canada 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 fans, from rookies to veterans.Name & role: Dr. Simone Emmelius, Senior Vice President International Fiction - Coproduction & Acquisitions; previously head of ZDFneo, ZDFinfokanal, ZDFdokukanal, and multimedia; board member of the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems
This is my 2nd Berlinale for ZDF as Senior Vice President International Fiction.
ZDF is the Berlinale’s main sponsor. What’s your broadcaster’s interest in the festival, and what opportunities does it give you as head of international fiction?
For the national public broadcaster in Germany, it’s not only a “must”, it’s an affair of the heart to be committed to the Berlinale – and by the way, ZDF is media partner for the 17th time. Continue reading "Berlinale People: Simone Emmelius, ZDF" »
Select media responses to the May 2019 GOETHE FILMS series "
Biggest winner: 
It’s the story of two worlds. The first is called cinema, where we find older people in matinee showings or kids in multiplexes. The second world is people in their living rooms with their 4K televisions, watching Netflix or streaming Game of Thrones from dubious web origins. In between these two worlds there is movement, for example when a new James Bond film is released. 
Berlinale, Oberhausen, Oldenburg, DOK Leipzig, goEast Wiesbaden, Genrenale ... Germany flows over with film festivals big and small, some over 60 years old, some founded last year. Many attract international audiences, A-list juries, or niche fans. Here are 5 you might have never heard of until now:
German cinema has a strong presence at the 17th edition of Toronto's 
Schwentke, Wenders, Akin, Zabeil, Grisebach, Odar, Tabak - the Toronto International Film Festival (7 - 17 September 2017) includes a number of world and North American premieres for German filmmakers and an astounding four titles in the prestigious Special Presentations. (
I hate French films. I love Italian cinema. If someone said that to you, you'd have a pretty good idea of what they mean in terms of aesthetics, style, mood. German film? Not so much, at least post-New German Cinema with its heroes Fassbinder, Kluge, von Trotta et al. Of course there is the contemporary (and equally auteur-focused) Berlin School with its Petzolds and Hochhäuslers (which German director Oskar Roehler defined as "slow and depressing"). And recently, Germany has been very strong and internationally successful in children’s films and high-quality animation. But these are vogues or sub-industries rather than a big picture, a brand, a distinct and distinctive brand.
As always, the Venice and Toronto fall film festivals coincide with the first Oscar buzz:Dominik Graf’s feature film BELOVED SISTERS will represent Germany as the official submission for the 87th Academy Awards® for Best Foreign Language Film. This was decided today by an independent jury in Munich, which was appointed by German Films to preside over the selection process.
To mark the biggest event of the year --no, not Cannes--, let's look at the other big F. Football fan Wim Wenders recently gave his analysis and prediction: He'd be happy to see Brazil win, believes in the power of the young German team, and even thinks Belgium has a chance. Asked which players he'll be keeping an eye on (from the roof-top big screen of his Berlin apartment), he noted Messi, Götze, and Özil. 
