NRW with 29 funded films and „Drama Series Days“ at the 2015 Berlinale
• Competition: Sworn Virgin (Vergine giurata) and Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories (Cha và con và)
• Berlinale Special: The Misplaced World (Die abhandene Welt) by Margarethe von Trotta
• Berlinale Shorts: Däwit / Panorama: Tough Love (Härte)
• Panorama Documents: B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin, Censored Voices and Iraqi Odyssey (3D)
• Forum: Until I Lose My Breath / Forum Special: Was heißt hier Ende?
• Lola@Berlinale with 18 NRW-funded films
• Culinary Cinema: Good Things Await
• Partner of the „Drama Series Days“ as part of the European Film Market
This year sees the film region being represented again in all of the important festival sections at the Berlinale: a total of 29 films made with backing from the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW are showing at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival (February 5 to 15, 2015) – including two as world premieres in the Competition. A further 18 productions can be seen in the Lola@Berlinale sidebar as well as in the homage for Wim Wenders. Moreover, the Filmstiftung is a partner of the newly created „Drama Series Days“ initiative, the platform for series as part of the European Film Market (EFM). As in previous years, it will represent the film region of NRW at the „Focus Germany“ stand in the EFM and will be a co-host with the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia for the traditional NRW Reception.
„International co-productions, documentaries, debuts and young cinema show the whole spectrum of film-making in NRW. I congratulate the producers of the invited films that are again in all of the official festival sections this year – from the Competition to the Panorama“, says Petra Müller, CEO of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW. „The Filmstiftung NRW fully supports the move by the Berlinale to open up to international series through the Drama Series Days at the EFM. We are looking forward to the creative exchange. We are especially looking forward to the homage and Honorary Golden Bear on the occasion of Wim Wenders' 70th birthday. The award goes to one of Germany’s most important artists and film-makers, with whom we are constantly have connections thanks to wonderful projects such as the present Wim Wenders Scholarship.“
Two of the international co-productions backed by NRW will be competing for the Golden Bear. The Italian film-maker Laura Bispuri will be coming with her film debut „Sworn Virgin“ („Vergine giurata“; co-produced by Cologne’s The Match Factory) to Berlin, Di Phan Dang from Vietnam will be there with his work „Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories“ („Cha và con và“; co-produced by the Düsseldorf-based busse&halberschmidt). Margarethe von Trotta will have a world premiere in the „Berlinale Special“ sidebar with „The Misplaced World“ („Die abhandene Welt“).
Numerous NRW-funded documentaries and newcomer films are screening in the other sections: the „Berlinale Shorts“ will see David Jansen presenting his short „Däwit“. Rosa von Praunheim's new film „Tough Love“ („Härte“) will have its premiere in the Panorama, while „Panorama Documents“ has selected no less than three NRW-backed films: „B-Movie – Lust & Sound in West-Berlin“ by Jörg A. Hoppe, Klaus Maeck and Heiko Lange, „Censored Voices“ by Mor Loushy and „Iraqi Odyssey“ (3D) by the Iraqi-born film-maker Samir. „Until I Lose My Breath“ by Emine Emel Balci is screening in the „Forum“ and the film „Was heißt hier Ende?“ by Dominik Graf in „Forum Special“. The „Culynary Cinema” will be opened by „Good Things Await” from the Danish film-maker Phie Ambo.
Other films with NRW involvement are „Pina“ (3D) in the homage for Wim Wenders and 18 productions in the Lola@Berlinale sidebar. „The Lies of Victors“ („Die Lügen der Sieger“) by Christoph Hochhäusler is screening in the „Critics' Week“, „Vampire Sisters 2“ („Die Vampirschwestern 2 – Fledermäuse im Bauch“) by Wolfgang Groos can be seen in a special event organised by the German Film Academy.
European Film Market / „Drama Series Days“
The European Film Market is expanding its focus and giving a new platform to the subject of series this year. The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW is the partner of the „Drama Series Days“ initiative at the EFM. On Monday, February 9, 2015, the Filmstiftung NRW will co-host an Industry Debate on this subject, with the IFA and The Hollywood Reporter as in previous years. Jan Mojto (Beta Film), Oliver Berben (Constantin Film), Stefan Arndt (X Filme Creative Pool) and Matthias Glasner (Glasner Film) have already announced that they will participate as speakers.
Creators, producers and those interested in drama series can also present, sell and buy high-quality series content at the European Film Market (February 5 – 13, 2015). On February 9 and 10, the EFM will be organising special Market Screenings for this as well as a Business Lounge for buyers and sellers of series. The regional focus of the productions presented at the EFM will be on Europe. They will include the latest series from Scandinavian, British and German broadcasters, including the world premiere of the event series „Deutschland 83“ produced by RTL and UFA Fiction.
The films in detail
Competition: „Sworn Virgin“ („Vergine giurata“) and „Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories“ („Cha và con và“)
„Sworn Virgin“) tells the story of a woman who sacrifices her femininity for her freedom, and then decides to wipe out her honour to become a woman again. It is a journey inside the complexity of women’s universe; a film about breaking out of invisible prisons. Alba Rohrwacher, Lars Eidinger, Flonja Kodheli, Luan Jaha and Emily Ferratello appear under the direction of Laura Bispuri. The international production (IT/D/CH/AL) was co-produced on the German side by Match Factory Productions and supported by the Filmstiftung NRW with 50,000 Euros; other backers included Eurimages, MIBAC, Media and BLS Südtirol Alto Adige. The Match Factory from Cologne will handle the world sales. „Sworn Virgin“ will also be competing for the Best First Feature Award.
„Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories“ („Cha và con và“) by Phan Dang Di shows Saigon during the early 2000s: the time of the Asian economic crisis and political concern about over-population in Vietnam. Saigon, early 2000’s. Vu, a photography student, is fascinated by his charismatic roommate Thang. Thang has a sexual relationship with the sensual dancer Van. A special friendship soon develops between Vu and Van, but Vu desires Thang. A special kind of ménage à trois. The film is a production by Düsseldorf’s busse&halberschmidt (co-production: DNY (VN), Acrobates Films (FR) and Volya Films (NL)) with Do Thi Hai Yen, Le Cong Hoang and Truong The Vinh in the leads. The Filmstiftung NRW supported the film with 25,000 Euros, with additional backing from the World Cinema Fund. Urban Distribution International is serving as the film’s sales agent.
Berlinale Special: („Die abhandene Welt“)
„The Misplaced World“, the new film by Margarethe von Trotta, can be seen for the first time within the „Berlinale Special“ sidebar. Barbara Sukowa, who last appeared as Hannah Arendt in von Trotta’s eponymous biopic, plays an opera singer who brings unexpected change into the lives of Paul Kronberger (Matthias Habich) and his daughter Sophie (Katja Riemann). The production by Clasart Film- und Fernsehproduktion and Tele München was shot in large part in NRW (22 of 36 shooting days), Munich and New York. The film was supported by the Filmstiftung NRW (500,000 Euros), the FilmFernsehFonds Bayern, the FFA and the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF). Concorde Filmverleih will release „The Misplaced World“ theatrically in early summer 2015.
Berlinale Shorts: „Däwit“
In David Jansen’s animation film, „Däwit“ grows up among wolves after he was abandoned by his mother as protection from his violent father. It is only after a mysterious journey full of hardship and in search of his own identity that he then finds peace in forgiveness. The film is a production of Fabian&Fred, the production company of the Wim Wenders Scholarship-holders Fabian Driehorst and Frédéric Schuld (funding: 15,000 Euros).
Panorama: „Tough Love“ („Härte“)
„Tough Love“ by Rosa von Praunheim tells the story of Andreas Marquardt, who was maltreated as a child by his mother and experiences the abuse as a trauma. He becomes a pimp, is sentenced for procuring and then processes his trauma in prison with the help of a psychologist. Nowadays, he is involved in charity work with children. The docudrama is a production by the Rosa von Praunheim Filmproduktion and will have its world premiere during the Berlinale. The Filmstiftung NRW gave 30,000 Euros, with further support from the FFA.
Panorama Documents: B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin, Censored Voices and Iraqi Odyssey (3D)
„B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin“ is a documentary about music, arts and chaos in the wild West-Berlin of the 1980s: a creative melting pot for the sub and pop culture, „Geniale Dilettanten“ and world stars. B-Movie looks back at the last decade of the divided city, from punk to the Love Parade, with authentic film footage and original interviews. Jörg A. Hoppe, Klaus Maeck and Heiko Lange spent four of five shooting days for the project (production company: DEF Media and Interzone Pictures; broadcasters: ZDF and Arte) in NRW. The Filmstiftung NRW allocated 178,930 Euros.
„Censored Voices“ by Mor Loushy is a co-production by kNow Production (IL), OneManShow (IL) and Cologne-based Made in Germany Filmproduktion. RBB and Arte are involved as broadcasters. The Six-Day War ends with victory for Israel: Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank are now in Israeli hands. Only a month later, the author Amos Oz interviewed the soldiers returning from the battlefield, who reported about what really happened. These unsparing, intuitive accounts of a war were severely censored and not allowed to reach the Israeli consciousness – until now. Dogwoof is handling the international sales for the film which was supported by the Filmstiftung with 85,000 Euros.
„Iraqi Odyssey“ by Samir shows the major changes Iraq has experienced over the last decades. Today, they are images of war, angry bearded men, women with veils, destroyed cities. However, the 50s and 60s were a time of new beginnings. Pictures and films from those times show self-confident women, elegantly dressed men, Baghdad on the way to democracy. Occupation, dictatorship and the numerous wars spell the end of the Iraqi middle class. Samir’s family now lives scattered between Auckland, Moscow, New York, Zurich and London. How could it come to this? The German-Swiss co-production by Dschoint Ventschr and COIN FILM was made in association with WDR and SRF. The film had its world premiere in Toronto last year and will be shown in 3D. International sales are being handled by Autlook Filmsales. The Filmstiftung NRW supported the project with 100,000 Euros, with additional funding from the Zürcher Filmstiftung and BAK, among others.
Forum: „Until I Lose My Breath“
The German-Turkish drama „Until I Lose My Breath“ by Emine Emel Balci was produced by Cologne’s unafilm, in co-production with Prolog Film (TR). The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW backed the project with 240,000 Euros, with additional support coming from Eurimages and the Turkish Ministry of Culture. The drama, whose cast includes Esme Madra, Riza Akin and Gizmet Denizci, tells the story of Serap, who wants to begin an independent life. The obstacles she has to overcome on the way to this goal are exactly those she must tackle on the way to herself. „Until I Lose My Breath“ is also in the running for the Best First Feature Award.
Forum Special: „Was heißt hier Ende?“
Michael Althen’s passion for cinema was insatiable. He loved film. And his love was contagious. Countless film-makers and cineastes were inspired by him. „Was heißt hier Ende?“ is a cinematic approximation by Dominik Graf of Michael Althen’s influence on the German film landscape and his immensely rich legacy. The film (production company: Preview Production) was backed by the Filmstiftung with 25,000 Euros; further funding came from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, FilmFernsehFonds Bayern and the DFFF.
Hommage für Wim Wenders
This year sees the Berlinale honouring the Düsseldorf-born film-maker Wim Wenders with the Golden Honorary Bear and is devoting an homage to his oeuvre. The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW enjoys a successful collaboration with Wenders: following the move by the Wim Wenders Foundation to the Filmwerkstatt in Düsseldorf, the Wim Wenders Scholarship for innovative film-making, which was created by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW in cooperation with the Wim Wenders Foundation, was awarded for the first time last summer. As part of the homage, the Berlinale will show „Pina“ („Pina – Tanzt, tanzt, sonst sind wir verloren“), which was also made with funding from North Rhine-Westphalia. The distribution company NFP marketing & distribution released the 3D film in German cinemas in 2011. A year later, it was nominated for the Oscar in the category of „Best Documentary Feature“.
Lola@Berlinale
The Lola@Berlinale sidebar at the Berlin Film Festival presents those productions which have been pre-selected for the German Film Awards. This year, they include 18 feature films which have been made with NRW funding:
„Age Of Cannibals“ („Zeit der Kannibalen“) by Johannes Naber
„Beloved Sisters“ („Die geliebten Schwestern“ by Dominik Graf
„Carnival! Proud To be Mad“ („Karneval! Wir sind positiv bekloppt“) by Claus Wischmann '
„Concrete Love – The Böhm Family“ („Die Böhms – Architektur einer Familie“) by Maurizius Staerkle Drux
„Divine Location“ („Göttliche Lage – Eine Stadt erfindet sich neu“) by Ulrike Franke and Michael Loeken
„Lose My Self“ („Vergiss mein ich“) by Jan Schomburg
„Ms Mueller Must Go“ („Frau Müller muss weg“) by Sönke Wortmann
„Que Caramba Es La Vida“ („Dieses schöne Scheißleben“) by Doris Dörrie „Schönefeld Boulevard“ by Sylke Enders
„Stereo“ by Maximilian Erlenwein
„Stromberg – Der Film“ by Arne Feldhusen
„The Cut“ by Fatih Akin
„The Good Life“ („Das gute Leben“) by Jens Schanze
„The Invention Of Love“ („Die Erfindung der Liebe“) by Lola Randl
„The Perfect Shot – The Dirk Nowitzki Story“ („Nowitzki. Der perfekte Wurf“) by Sebastian Dehnhardt
„Tito’s Glasses“ („Titos Brille“) by Regina Schilling
„To Life“ („Auf das Leben!“) by Uwe Janson
„Tough Love“ („Härte“) by Rosa von Praunheim
„Vampire Sisters 2“ („Die Vampirschwestern 2 – Fledermäuse im Bauch“) by Wolfgang Groos
Culinary Cinema: „Good Things Await”
„Good Things Await” by the Danish director Phie Ambo portrays the idealistic farmer Niels. He is not only a bio-dynamic farmer, but also grants his animals a freedom for their natural needs, something that is extremely unusual in the agricultural world. This method pays off and his products are universally praised by his customers, including the award-winning fancy restaurant NOMA in Copenhagen. However, his practices make his colleagues sceptical, and the control body threatens to take his licence away. The documentary (distribution support: 15,000 Euro) is a production of Danish Documentary (DK) in co-produkction with Vintage Pictures (IS). Mindjazz pictures will release the film in German cinemas on March 19, 2015.
Focus stand and Berlinale reception
During the Berlinale, members of staff from the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW will be on hand to provide information about funding possibilities in NRW at the European Film Market in the Martin Gropius Bau. The Filmstiftung will have a presence at the stand of Focus Germany, the amalgamation of the seven major German film funds. In addition, the traditional NRW Reception of the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW will be held in the Berlin representation during the Berlinale.
Detailed reports and interviews about the NRW films in the official Berlinale sections will be presented in the forthcoming edition of „Film und Medien NRW – Das Magazin“, which will published to tie-in with the Berlinale. It will be available to download from February 5 at the website of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW. All the information about the presence of the Filmstiftung NRW at the Berlinale, the funded films and premieres during the festival can be found at www.filmstiftung.de/berlinale
Overview: NRW films at the 2015 Berlinale
Competition
„Sworn Virgin“ by Laura Bispuri
„Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories“ by Di Phan Dang
Berlinale Special
„The Misplaced World“ by Margarethe von Trotta
Berlinale Shorts
„Däwit" by David Jansen
Panorama
„Tough Love“ by Rosa von Praunheim
Panorama Documents
„B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin“ by Jörg A. Hoppe, Klaus Maeck and Heiko Lange
„Censored Voices“ by Mor Loushy
„Iraqi Odyssey“ (3D) by Samir
Forum
„Until I Lose My Breath“ by Emine Emel Balci“
Forum Special
„Was heißt hier Ende?“ by Dominik Graf
Lola@Berlinale
„Age Of Cannibals“ („Zeit der Kannibalen“) by Johannes Naber
„Beloved Sisters“ („Die geliebten Schwestern“ by Dominik Graf
„Carnival! Proud To be Mad“ („Karneval! Wir sind positiv bekloppt“) by Claus Wischmann „Concrete Love – The Böhm Family“ („Die Böhms – Architektur einer Familie“) by Maurizius Staerkle Drux
„Divine Location“ („Göttliche Lage – Eine Stadt erfindet sich neu“) by Ulrike Franke and Michael Loeken
„Lose My Self“ („Vergiss mein ich“) by Jan Schomburg
„Ms Mueller Must Go“ („Frau Müller muss weg“) by Sönke Wortmann
„Que Caramba Es La Vida“ („Dieses schöne Scheißleben“) by Doris Dörrie „Schönefeld Boulevard“ by Sylke Enders
„Stereo“ by Maximilian Erlenwein
„Stromberg – Der Film“ by Arne Feldhusen
„The Cut“ by Fatih Akin
„The Good Life“ („Das gute Leben“) by Jens Schanze
„The Invention Of Love“ („Die Erfindung der Liebe“) by Lola Randl
„The Perfect Shot – The Dirk Nowitzki Story“ („Nowitzki. Der perfekte Wurf“) by Sebastian Dehnhardt
„Tito’s Glasses“ („Titos Brille“) by Regina Schilling
„To Life“ („Auf das Leben!“) by Uwe Janson
„Tough Love“ („Härte“) by Rosa von Praunheim
„Vampire Sisters 2“ („Die Vampirschwestern 2 – Fledermäuse im Bauch“) by Wolfgang Groos
Culinary Cinema
„Good Things Await“ by Phie Ambo
Homage for Wim Wenders
„Pina“
Other films:
Critics' Week
„The Lies of Victors“ („Die Lügen der Sieger “) by Christoph Hochhäusler
Special Event by the German Film Academy
„Vampire Sisters 2“ („Die Vampirschwestern 2 – Fledermäuse im Bauch“) by Wolfgang Groos