Third Filmstiftung-backed production in the Competition of the 68th Berlinale
- „Las herederas“ by Marcelo Martinessi, a production of Pandora Film, Cologne
- Previously announced films: „Mein Bruder heißt Robert und ist ein Idiot“ by Philip Gröning and „Daughter of Mine“ („Figlia mia“) by Laura Bispuri
- 68th Berlinale from 15 – 25 February
The Berlinale has announced more films for the Competition of the International Film Festival. The invited films include the Filmstiftung-backed co-production „Las herederas“ by Marcelo Martinessi, a production of La Babosa Cine and Esquine Produceoes in co-production with Cologne’s Pandora Film. Another two Filmstiftung-backed films – „Mein Bruder heißt Robert und ist ein Idiot“ by Philip Gröning and „Daughter of Mine“ by Laura Bispuri had been confirmed for this year’s Berlinale Competition since December. The 68th Berlinale will be held from 15 – 25 February.
The Filmstiftung-backed films so far confirmed for the Berlinale Competition:
COMPETITION
„Las herederas“ by Marcelo Martinessi
Chela and Chiquita have been living together in Asunción, Paraguay, for more than 30 years. Both of them come from well-off families and have never had to work themselves. But the money has now all been used up and they are forced to sell parts of their inheritance. When Chiquita ends up in prison after being prosecuted for fraud, Chela also has to face the new reality. She climbs behind the wheel of their car for the first time in years and starts running an informal taxi service for rich elderly women from their neighbourhood. She meets the younger Angy on one of her trips. The two women connect in a relationship that is both invigorating and refreshing for Chela. In the end, Chela breaks out of her previously narrow world and sets off on her own little journey. „Las herederas“ is a production of Babosa Cine (Paraguay), Mutante Cine (Uruguay), Norsk Filmproduksjon (Norway) and Esquina Producoes (Brazil) in co-production with Cologne-based Pandora Film with participation from ZDF/ARTE and the World Cinema Fund.
„Mein Bruder heißt Robert und ist ein Idiot“ by Philip Gröning
After his successful monastery documentary „Into Great Silence“ („Die große Stille“), Philip Gröning has made another fiction feature film, „Mein Bruder heißt Robert und ist ein Idiot“, which was shot in large part in NRW and received substantial backing from the Filmstiftung NRW. About the film: a service station in the countryside. Summer. Robert and Elena are preparing themselves for Elena’s A-Level examination. They are twins. A weekend about incest and philosophy. 48 hours. Time, nature, the act of thinking. Slipping gently into hell. Gröning wrote the screenplay with Sabine Timoteo. Josef Mattes, Julia Zange, Urs Jucker, Stefan Konarske, Zita Aretz, Karolina Porcari and Vitus Zeplichal appear in the co-production by Düsseldorf-based Philip Gröning Filmproduktion with Bavaria Pictures as well as WDR and BR.
„Daughter of Mine“ („Figlia mia“) by Laura Bispuri
Sardinia. A daughter, Vittoria, torn between two mothers: Tina, who raised her with love, and Angelica, the biological mother who instinctively wants her back. Three women grappling with their wounds, feelings and relationships to one another. A story about an imperfect motherhood and a lost childhood. The cast includes Valeria Golino, Alba Rohrwacher, Sara Casu and Udo Kier. The film was produced by Vivo Film (Italy) and Colorado Film (Italy), Bord Cadre Film (Switzerland) and Cologne’s Match Factory in co-production with ZDF – Das kleine Fernsehspiel and Arte. International sales are being handled by The Match Factory. A large part of the postproduction – including the sound design – is currently underway in Cologne. Laura Bispuri had previously taken part in the competition for the Golden Bear and the Prize for Best Debut at the 2015 Berlinale with her Filmstiftung-backed debut „Vergine giurata“ („Sworn Virgin“). Match Factory Productions had also co-produced this film, with The Match Factory handling world sales.
OTHER SECTIONS
The Filmstiftung-backed documentary „outside“ („draußen“) by Johanna Sunder-Plassmann and Tama Tobias-Macht as well as „Luz“ by Tilman Singer and „Lost Ones“ („Verlorene“) by Felix Hassenfratz have already been confirmed for the Perspektive Deutsches Kino sidebar. In addition, the Filmstiftung-backed „Cobain“ by Nanouk Leopold will be featured in Generation 14+. The animated film „Blau“ by director David Jansen will screen in Berlinale Shorts.
The Berlin International Film Festival will be held from 15 – 25 February, 2018 and is one of the leading international film festivals. The complete programme will be announced on 6 February, 2018.
More information about the festival at www.berlinale.de