German Film @ Canada - Goethe-Institut

"Strippers displace Berlinale!“ a lurid tabloid headline revealed before Christmas. And yes, of course, I clicked through. Magic Mike the Musical man-spreading it at Berlinale Palast --home to a vast number of industry screenings and the competition's red carpet-- was just one of the calamities on the horizon for the new Berlinale team at the end of 2019. Newly installed co-directors AD Carlo Chatrian, formerly of Locarno, and ED Mariette Rissenbeek, formerly of German Films (my job entrance interview with her), had a good number of curveballs thrown their way –many of them craftily solved by now-- but also threw a couple of early wrenches themselves. Statements like "We are no glamour machine“ and "We are not Berlin Fashion Week“ led to a reprimand by the festival’s main financier, Culture Minister Monika Grütters, who made it quite clear that she expects fireworks as well as "programmatic and atmospheric changes“. If the school principal approach doesn’t bear fruit, Helen "The Queen“ Mirren will save the red carpet when accepting this year‘s honorary Golden Bear, alongside Jeremy Irons giving most likely not boring remarks as jury president. The Berlinale is known for being "political", perhaps featuring two of Britain's best actors is a love letter to the Brexiting nation.

Weeks before the 70th Berlinale (re)starts, things are looking up. Continue reading "#Berlinale2020: Year 70 or Year 1?" »

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: Bernd Desinger, Director of Filmmuseum Düsseldorf

This is my 14th Berlinale.

Why I go to the Berlinale: The Berlinale is Germany's most important film festival by far, and also ranks high among international festivals. It is not only a great place to see films from every corner of the world, it is also an excellent meeting place for film professionals. Creative talent, producers, distributors, film critics, curators, and and and... Going to the Berlinale saves on numerous business trips, domestic and abroad.

Most important meeting I will have at the Berlinale: Hard to tell, since you are going to meet so many interesting people from the world of film. I will definitely meet with Wim Wenders. His new foundation is not only based in Düsseldorf, our Filmmuseum served as a co-founder and is also an involved partner.

German film I am most looking forward to seeing: This will be "Die Geliebten Schwestern" by Dominik Graf. It deals with young Schiller's love life. Since I am a huge fan of both Schiller (sorry, Goethe!) and Dominik Graf, I am very much looking forward to seeing this film.

Next big thing people will want to see at Filmmuseum Düsseldorf: Our next major exhibition, opening April 4, will be called "Visions and Nightmares - The City of the Future in Film". It will present recreated walk-on film sets from "Metropolis" and "Blade Runner", and will be enhanced by numerous props, costumes and original art work from major movie productions through history that tried to develop future cities and landscapes. Of course, a wide selection of film clips will be presented, and our own movie theater Black Box will show an extensive film program.


interview by Jutta Brendemühl, Toronto

image: Bernd Desinger

Saving The Greats for last (for part I of this series, see previous article below): Ulrich Seidl* is working on two projects. The documentary IM KELLER, started three years ago, deals with Austrians‘ strange relationship with their basements. I shudder to think what it will unearth. And together with curator and wife Veronika Franz he is planning the horror film ICH SEH/ICH SEH for 2014: When a mother “comes home after cosmetic surgery entirely bandaged, nothing is like it was before,” as the producer’s announcement goes. Some might claim most of his films are horror films one way or another (I am still somewhat sick from his 2001 DOG DAYS, but no regrets!).

The Goethe-Institut has many times and across the globe --in Toronto in 2007-- shown Edgar Reitz' 3-day made-for-TV labour of love HEIMAT, a German chronicle of the 20th century as seen from the perspective of the fictional but authentic German village of Schabbach. The 80-year-old pioneer of the Oberhausen Manifesto is now back on the big screen. DIE ANDERE HEIMAT*, starring Werner Herzog, in theatres 3 October, jumps back to the mid-19th century and includes a story of emigration. Heimatfilm reimagined. Here's a German news report visiting the set of the latest, fourth part of the project.

Further ahead: Volker Schlöndorff ...

<* more in following entry on German Films @ TIFF 2013 to be posted on August 13!> Continue reading "In Production II" »