26 funded productions and „Drama Series Days“ at the 2016 Berlinale
Filmstiftung NRW with 26 funded productions and the second „Drama Series Days“ at the 2016 Berlinale
- Competition: Alone In Berlin
- Panorama: All of a Sudden, The Wounded Angel
- Forum: Havarie, Doomed Love – A Journey through German Genre Films
- Generation: The Diary of Anne Frank
- Generation Kplus competition: Ted Sieger’s Molly Monster
- Perspektive Deutsches Kino: Toro, Who is Oda Jaune?
- Lola@Berlinale with 16 Filmstiftung-supported films
- Partnership: Filmstiftung and EFM organise the „Drama Series Days“ for the second time
The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW will be represented at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival (11 to 21 February 2016) with a total of 26 supported productions screening in all the major festival sections – including a world premiere in the Competition. In addition, the Filmstiftung will be a partner for the second year running of the „Drama Series Days“ during the European Film Market (EFM). As in previous years, it will be representing the film region of NRW at the „Focus Germany“ stand in the EFM and hosting the traditional NRW Reception together with the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia. This year’s reception comes as two special anniversaries come round in 2016: 70 years of North Rhine-Westphalia as well as the start of anniversary celebrations for the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW in its 25th year.
„With 26 funded films screening at this year’s Berlinale, filmmaking 'made in NRW' will be presented in all its diversity: international co-productions, German arthouse, documentaries, young cinema and debuts. This is a great honour for the producers and filmmakers who are represented in all of the festival’s important sections with their works. We are particularly excited about the Drama Series Days which we launched together with the European Film Market and whose second edition already looks like being a great success“, says Petra Müller, CEO of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW. „We are looking forward to the 2016 Berlinale, to great premieres, cineastic experiences, a creative exchange and interesting meetings.“
„Alone In Berlin“ by Vincent Pérez is a Filmstiftung-supported international co-production which will be competing for the Golden Bear, while Asli Özge will be presenting her first German-language feature film „All of a Sudden“ in the Panorama. This section will also be showing Emir Baigazin's „The Wounded Angel“, while „Havarie“ by Philip Scheffner and a special screening of „Doomed Love – – A Journey Through German Genre Films“ by Dominik Graf and Johannes Sievert have both been programmed in the Forum. „The Diary of Anne Frank“ by Hans Steinbichler will be celebrating its world premiere as a special screening in the Generation sidebar. The first theatrical production about the monster Molly („Ted Sieger’s Molly Monster“), directed by Matthias Bruhn, Ted Sieger and Michael Ekblad, has been picked for the Generation Kplus competition. Moreover, „Toro“ by Martin Hawie and „Who is Oda Jaune?“ by Kamilla Pfeffer are two funded films screening in the Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar. In addition, 16 new Filmstiftung-supported productions can be seen in the Lola@Berlinale programme.
„Drama Series Days“
Following the successful launch at the 2015 Berlinale, this year will see the second edition of the „Drama Series Days“ being held as part of European Film Market, the Berlinale Co-Production Market and Berlinale Talents. From the outset, the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW was a partner of this successful initiative at the European Film Market, which offers a dedicated and targeted platform for high-quality series productions. The extensive programme of screenings and events at the „Drama Series Days“, which are being held on Monday and Tuesday (15/16 February), has been developed further and extended for the first time to include the area of high-quality documentary series. The official opening of the „Drama Series Days“ takes place on the morning of 15 February with EFM Director Matthijs Wouter Knol, Berlinale festival director Dieter Kosslick and Filmstiftung CEO Petra Müller. This will be followed with a discussion on „Commissioning Strategies – the Trendsetters“ with Marcus Ammon (Sky Germany), Andrea Scrosati (Sky Italy), Antony Root (HBO Europe) and others. The discussion about current TV content and commissioning practice from the broadcasters' vantage point is being presented by HBO Europe (moderation: Jonathan Webdal, C21).
From 1600 – 1700, the EFM will again organise an Industry Debate in association with the Filmstiftung NRW and the IFA and in cooperation with The Hollywood Reporter, on „Cross-Atlantic Series Success: Making TV for Europe and the World„. This debate is also a part of the „Drama Series Days“ and will examine the boom in high-quality TV series in Europe and ask what constitutes a good series so that it can be successful internationally. Carolina Benjo (Haut et Court), Piv Bernth (Danish Broadcasting Corporation), Philipp Steffens (RTL) and Bruce Tuchman (AMC/Sundance) have announced that they will attend. Scott Roxborough is the moderator (The Hollywood Reporter).
The films in detail
Competition: „Alone In Berlin“
„Alone In Berlin“, directed by Vincent Pérez, is the adaptation of the eponymous drama by Hans Fallada. The story: Berlin in 1940, a city, a whole country at the height of its success: France has been conquered. At the same time, news of the death of their only son radically changes the life of the Quangels. No longer able to suppress the obvious horrors, the parents try to defy Hitler in their own way. They find their form of resistance all on their own. Emma Thompson, Brendan Gleeson and Daniel Brühl are among the cast in the production of X Filme Creative Pool in co-production with Master Movies Sarl (FR) and Film Wave (GB). The Filmstiftung supported the production, which was largely shot in NRW, with 1 Million Euros. Other funders were the DFFF, the FFA, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, Eurimages, Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animé and MEDIA. X Verleih will release the film in the cinemas in autumn 2016.
Panorama: „Auf einmal“, „The Wounded Angel“
After the party in Karsten’s apartment, everybody has left except Anna. Admiringly, Karsten approaches this mysterious woman. How could he have known that, in a moment of weakness, his well-ordered life would spiral out of control and turn into a disaster? In this small German town, disappointment soon fuels anger, justice hides behind hypocrisy, and evil gradually unfolds. „All of a Sudden" is the name of the film which Asli Özge shot almost completely in North Rhine-Westphalia. The leads are taken by Sebastian Hülk, Julia Jentsch, Hanns Zischler and Sascha Gersak. „All of a Sudden" was produced by EEE Productions as a co-production with Haut et Court (F) and Topkapi Films (NL) in association with WDR and Arte. The Filmstiftung NRW backed the film with 480,000 Euros, other funding came from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, the DFFF and the MEDIA development fund. MFA+ will distribute, with world sales being handled by Memento Film International (F).
„The Wounded Angel“ is the title of the film by Emir Baigazin, which was produced by Kazakhfilm JSC (KAZ) as a co-production with Cologne’s augenschein Filmproduktion and Capricci Films (F). „The Wounded Angel“ shows how the lives of four teenagers are set to change dramatically over the course of one summer in Kazakhstan after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The loss of values and identity throughout the country are profoundly reflected in these four fates. The leads are taken by Nurlybek Saktaganov, Madiar Aripbai, Madiar Nazarov and Omar Adilov. The Filmstiftung backed the drama with 55,000 Euros, other funding coming from Kazakhfilm JSC, Doha Film Institut, CNC Cinémas du monde, Région Pays de la Loire, Vision Sud Est and the Hubert Bals Fund.
Forum: „Havarie”, „Doomed Love – A Journey Through German Genre Films”
On 14.09.2012 at 14:56, the cruise ship „Adventure of the Seas“ reported sighting a rubber dinghy in distress with 13 people onboard. A choreography is created from biographical scenes, reflecting the past, present and future of the travellers. „Havarie“ is the documentary by director Philip Scheffner, which was made by pong Film GmbH as a co-production with Worklights Media Production and the Cologne-based Blinker Filmproduktion in association with ZDF and in cooperation with Arte. The Filmstiftung NRW backed the project with 30,000 Euros, other funders were Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, BKM and the DFFF. The development was supported by the FFA and the Robert Bosch Stiftung. Real Fiction will release the film in the cinemas.
Directors Dominik Graf and Johannes F. Sievert embark on a journey to the nightshades of German film history in the feature documentary „Doomed Love – A Journey Through German Genre Films“. A documentary about some of our nation’s most productive and, at the same time, unknown films, and the story of a love: the love of German cinema. Half of the documentary by Augustin Film KG in association with WDR and Arte was made in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW backed the project, which is being presented at the Berlinale as a Forum Special Screening, with 100,000 Euros.
Generation: „The Diary of Anne Frank“
The Diary of Anne Frank“ is the new film by Hans Steinbichler, which was made by Zeitsprung Pictures (Cologne) and AVE (Berlin) as a co-production with AF GbR and Universal Pictures International. When the 13-year-old Anne Frank has to hide with her family and four other people from the Nazis in a rear building in Amsterdam, this is the beginning of more than two years of deprivations that Anne Frank confides in a unique way to her diary. Shortly before the liberation of Amsterdam, those living in the hiding place are discovered. Only Otto Frank survives the concentration camp – and can make his daughter’s legacy available to people worldwide. The film is closely based on Anne’s diary. The leads are played by Lea van Acken, Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Noethen, Stella Kunkat and Margarita Broich. The Filmstiftung NRW backed the film, which was shot predominantly in NRW, with 1.2 million Euros. Other funding came from FFF Bayern, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, MFG Baden-Württemberg, FFA, DFFF and Kulturförderung Graubünden. Universal Pictures will release the film in German cinemas on 3 March. The film will celebrate its world premiere in Berlin as a special screening in the Generation sidebar.
Generation Kplus competition: „Ted Sieger’s Molly Monster“
A baby in the monster family. Molly Monster is getting a little sibling and soon won’t be the youngest anymore. But Molly has some exciting adventures ahead of her before the egg is hatched – and Edison isn’t much of a help to her…on the contrary. The production of „Ted Sieger’s Molly Monster“ by Cologne’s TrickStudio Lutterbeck as a co-production with Alexandra Schatz Filmproduktion (D), Little Monster GmbH (CH), Sluggerfilm AB (SE), Peacock Film AG, (CH), SRF (CH), Teleclub AG (CH) and Senator Film Produktion (D) is the first theatrical film about the monsterette. Matthias Bruhn, Ted Sieger and Michael Ekblad direct, with the sound design and final mix handled by the Cologne-based Chaussee SoundVision sound studio. The Filmstiftung backed the production with 410,000 Euros, other funding came from, among others, Nordmedia, BKM/Kuratorium junger deutscher Film, and the DFFF. „Molly Monster“ by the author John Chambers had already received the German Anmation Screenplay Award at the 2013 International Animation Film Festival in Stuttgart. Wild Bunch Germany will release the film on 8.9.2016.
Perspektive Deutsches Kino: „Toro“, „Who is Oda Jaune?“
Toro, whose real name is Piotr, came to Germany 10 years ago and is working here as an escort. He is concentrating on saving his money so that he can return home to Poland with his best friend Victor and attempt a new start. But Victor has long since given up on his dreams, and his drug addiction constantly drives the sensitive Latino into male prostitution. When three local drug dealers come after Victor, the world of the two outsiders loses its oblique equilibrium. „Toro“ by Martin Hawie is a production by the Academy of Media Arts Cologne (KHM). The leads are taken by Paul Wollin, Miguel Dagger, Leni Speidel and Kelvin Burkard, the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW backed the graduation film with 20,000 Euros. „Toro“ had its world premiere at the 2015 Montreal Film Festival and was also shown at the Hof Film Days the same year. The Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar is showing the film to mark 50th anniversary of the Hof Film Days in 2016.
„Who is Oda Jaune?“ is the title of the documentary by Kamilla Pfeffer. The production by Cologne-based Gebrüder Beetz Filmproduktion as a co-production with Cologne’s Academy of Media Arts focuses on the artist Oda Jaune. In Germany, the painter is usually only known as the widow of the „Painter Prince“ Jörg Immendorff. But, in France – her adopted country – she has received recognition as an artist in her own right. This is the first time she has opened her studio to a film team and granted insights to her artistic work. The Filmstiftung NRW backed the KHM graduation film with around 21,000 Euros.
The Berlin Film Festival’s Lola@Berlinale sidebar showcases productions which are in the long list for the German Film Awards. This year includes 16 films which were made with support from the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW:
„Agnes“ by Johannes Schmid
„Babai“ by Visar Morina
„The Diary of Anne Frank“ by Hans Steinbichler
„The Weather Inside“ by Isabelle Stever
„Democracy“ by David Bernet
„The Bunker“ by Nikias Chryssos (distribution funding)
„The People Versus Fritz Bauer“ by Lars Kraume
„The Dark Side of the Moon “ by Stephan Rick
„The Lies of Victors“ by Christoph Hochhäusler
„One Breath“ by Christian Zübert
„Look He’s Back“ by David Wnendt
„Ghosthunters – On Icy Trails“ by Tobi Baumann
„Outside“ by Andrei Schwartz
„Me and Kaminski“ by Wolfgang Becker
„Young Light“ by Adolf Winkelmann
„Then is It The End? The Film Critic Michael Althen“ by Dominik Graf
Other films:
The Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar will also be showing „Liebmann“, the first feature film by the director Jules Herrmann, which she produced as a co-production with Cologne’s Ester.Reglin.Film. The Filmstiftung supported the film’s presentation at the Berlinale with 2,500 Euros. The documentary „Rudolf Thome – Flowers Everywhere“ by Serpil Turhan (festival presentation funding: 7,250 Euros), produced by Luzid Film, is being screened as a Special in the Forum section.
Focus stand and NRW reception
During the festival, staff of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW will be providing information about funding opportunities in NRW at the European Film Market in the Martin Gropius Bau. The Filmstiftung is based at the stand of Focus Germany, the amalgamation of the seven major German regional film funds. In addition, the NRW reception of the Federal State of North Rhine Westphalia and the Film- und Medienstiftung will be held during the festival in the Federal State Permanent Representation in Berlin. 2016 will see NRW turning 70, and the Filmstiftung, which can look back on 25 years of funding activities, has started its anniversary year.
Detailed reports and interviews about the NRW films in the official Berlinale sections are presented in the forthcoming issue of „Film und Medien NRW – Das Magazin“, which will be appearing for the film festival. It can be downloaded from the website of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW from 9 February.
All of the information about the Berlinale activities of the Filmstiftung NRW, the supported films and the premieres during the festival can be found at www.filmstiftung.de/berlinale
Overview: NRW films at the 2016 Berlinale
Competition
„Alone In Berlin“ by Vincent Pérez
Panorama
„All of a Sudden“ by Asli Özge
„The Wounded Angel“ by Emir Baigazin
Forum
„Havarie” by Philip Scheffner
„Doomed Love German Cinema“ by Dominik Graf and Johannes F. Sievert
„Rudolf Thome – Überall Blumen“ by Serpil Turhan (festival presentation funding)
Generation
„The Diary of Anne Frank“ by Hans Steinbichler
Generation Kplus competition
„Ted Sieger’s Molly Monster“ by Matthias Bruhn, Ted Sieger and Michael Ekblad
Perspektive Deutsches Kino
„Toro“ by Martin Hawie
„Who is Oda Jaune?“ by Kamilla Pfeffer
„Liebmann“ by Jules Herrmann (festival presentation funding)
Lola@Berlinale
„Agnes“ by Johannes Schmid
„Babai“ by Visar Morina
„The Diary of Anne Frank“ by Hans Steinbichler
„The Weather Inside“ by Isabelle Stever
„Democracy“ by David Bernet
„The Bunker“ by Nikias Chryssos (distribution funding)
„The People Versus Fritz Bauer“ by Lars Kraume
„The Dark Side of the Moon “ by Stephan Rick
„The Lies of Victors“ by Christoph Hochhäusler
„One Breath“ by Christian Zübert
„Look He’s Back“ by David Wnendt
„Ghosthunters – On Icy Trails“ by Tobi Baumann
„Outside“ by Andrei Schwartz
„Me and Kaminski“ by Wolfgang Becker
„Young Light“ by Adolf Winkelmann
„Then is It The End? The Film Critic Michael Althen“ by Dominik Graf