22.04. ‐ 27.04.2025

Film Series Future German Film

When people talk about the future of German film, they usually think of young filmmakers. In order to show and support their films, quite a few young talent awards are offered. But what about the future of German film, regardless of the biological age of its filmmakers?

This is what the film series ZUKUNFT DEUTSCHER FILM is all about. Its curation focuses on German film itself! It wants to track down its opportunities and lines of development, to strengthen it where it has the most artistic confidence, and finally to show that German film, in its most successful cases, is far better than its reputation.

Section

Country

Language

dubbed

TUE, 18. AprLichter FilmfestLichter Filmfest

20:15 h

Bis ans Ende der Nacht

Section: Future German Cinema

Direction: Christoph Hochhäusler

Feature film, 2023

Language: German

Playtime: 123 min

Berlinale 2023: Silver Bear for Best Acting Performance in a Supporting Role

OPENING FILM - In the presence of the director Christoph Hochhäusler, the producer Bettina Brokemper and the actor Michael Sideris

Tuesday 18 April 2023, 20:15 h, CineStar Metropolis

Lichter Filmfest

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Robert works as an undercover investigator and is supposed to bust a major Frankfurt dealer: Viktor is a club owner and runs a successful website which he uses to sell drugs on a grand scale. To establish contact with him, Robert fakes a relationship with Leni, a trans* woman, who knows the criminal from her past before her transition. But the feigned romantic involvement turns complicated: Robert is not sure of his feelings, the lines between reality and investigation strategy blur. For Leni, things are clearer: If the mission fails, she will have to go back to the men’s prison.

WED, 19. AprLichter FilmfestLichter Filmfest

22:00 h

Elaha

Section: Future German Cinema

Direction: Milena Aboyan

Coming of Age, Drama, 2023

Language: German, Kurdish

Playtime: 110 min

Locarno 2022: Kaiju Cinema Diffusion Preis, Berlinale 2023

In the presence of the director and producer

Wednesday 19 April 2023, 22:00 h, Mal Seh'n Kino

Lichter Filmfest

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Honour or shame for the family? Follow Elaha, a German-Kurdish 22 year-old, in this brilliantly told story about family, expectations, and sexual self-determination.

THU, 20. AprLichter FilmfestLichter Filmfest

19:30 h

© Bandenfilm

The Ordinaries

Section: Future German Cinema

Direction: Sophie Linnenbaum

Komödie, 2022

Language: German

Playtime: 120 min

Förderpreis Neues Deutsches Kino, First Steps Award, u.v.m

In the presence of the director

Thursday 20 April 2023, 19:30 h, Kino des DFF

Lichter Filmfest

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The world is separated into leading and supporting roles and people with film defects are persecuted and excluded. The 16-year-old Paula gets the chance to be promoted from supporting character to leading character. A critical test is about to start. Only the problem is: she is not able to compose a vivid soundtrack, which is a basic condition for leading roles. Paula is looking for a solution and finds the exiled Outtakes to whom she is more connected than she suspects.

22:00 h

Knochen und Namen

Section: Future German Cinema

Direction: Fabian Stumm

Spielfilm, 2023

Language: German

Playtime: 104 min

Heiner-Carow-Preis 2023, Berlinale 2023: Section Perspective German Cinema

HESSIAN PREMIERE

In the presence of the director

Thursday 20 April 2023, 22:00 h, Mal Seh'n Kino

Lichter Filmfest

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Knochen und Namen, Fabian Stumm’s queer feature film debut, was celebrated with a standing ovation at the Berlinale.

FRI, 21. AprLichter FilmfestLichter Filmfest

20:30 h

Sieben Winter in Teheran

Section: Future German Cinema

Direction: Steffi Niederzoll

Documentary, 2023

Language: Farsi with German subtitles

Playtime: 97 min

Berlinale 2023: Compass Perspective Award and Peace Film Award

HESSIAN PREMIERE

Friday 21 April 2023, 20:30 h, Kino des DFF

Lichter Filmfest

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The verdict is blood revenge: At the age of nineteen, Reyhaneh Jabbari is sentenced to death. In an act of self-defence, she stabs the perpetrator during an attempted rape. Steffi Niederzolls’ documentary reconstructs the story of the student using letters and diary entries that Reyhaneh wrote in prison. Together with her mother and with impressive determination, Reyhaneh fights for the rights of women in Iran and against legal arbitrariness.

SAT, 22. AprLichter FilmfestLichter Filmfest

14:00 h

Jeder schreibt für sich allein

Section: Future German Cinema

Direction: Dominik Graf

Documentary, 2023

Language: German with English subtitles

Playtime: 167 min

Woche der Kritik 2023

HESSIAN PREMIERE

In the presence of the director

Saturday 22 April 2023, 14:00 h, Kino des DFF

Lichter Filmfest

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How sure can a person be of themselves? This is the central question of Dominik Graf’s new documentary essay. Based on Anatol Regnier’s eponymous book, this film deals with artists’ destinies and the immediate reality of the Nazi era. What was it like to live in a dictatorship?
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