From 28 June to 7 July, Munich International Film Festival, Germany's second-largest film festival, enters its 41st round. With five film premieres and a series, Hesse presents an impressive spectrum of high-calibre works that bring both political tension and artistic diversity to the screen. The titles include the immigration thriller »Klandestin» with Barbara Sukowa, the German-French co-production »XOFTEX», the genre film »Fresh» with Louis Hoffman, the documentary »The School of Women» and the eight-part vampire series »Love Sucks». »It is quiet here.» is also part of the program and will be shown in the Focus on Ukraine series.
Andreas Prochaska and Lea Becker have created a modern interpretation of Romeo and Juliet with the vampire series »Love Sucks». Shot in 50 days at exciting locations such as Frankfurt's Dippemess and the DB tower block with its skyline view, the series shows a fascinating interplay of urban skyscrapers and Gothic romance.
»Klandestin» by director Angelina Maccarone also uses Frankfurt as its central setting, where Barbara Sukowa shines as a conservative politician and staunch opponent of immigration. The international co-production explores themes such as uprootedness and loneliness in Western societies and was awarded the Golden Lola in 2017 for its screenplay.
The genre film »Fresh» by director Damian John Harper brings an authentic milieu study and an exciting thriller to the big screen with Louis Hoffman and Franz Pätzold as dissimilar brothers. Directed by Noaz Deshe, »XOFTEX» deals just as intensively with flight and migration, with the drama impressing with its unconventional mix of game and cinema film.
The documentary »The School of Women» by Marie-Lou Sellem follows five actresses over the age of 50 who look back on a professional life characterised by male judgement. The film, which marks Sellem's directorial debut, will be presented in the festival's Spotlight section.
»XOFTEX», »Klandestin» and »Fresh» also have a chance of winning the coveted German Cinema New Talent Award. Damian John Harper and Noaz Deshe are in the running for the 70,000 euro prize in the directing category. Claudia Schröter is nominated for her production work on »Klandestin». Acting performances in these films are also in the running for awards: Habib Adda has been nominated for his role in »Klandestin» and Osama Hafiry Yassin and Abdalrham Diab Nasser for their roles in »XOFTEX».
The Hessian production company Plotlessfilm has co-produced the short film »It is quiet here.» and is showing it in the Focus on Ukraine series. Directors Olena Podolianko and Novruz Hikmet use the docufiction genre to tell the story of a young couple who spend a night in a hotel room shortly after the start of the war. That night, they have agreed not to talk about the war, but the morning forces them back into brutal reality.
In addition to the film screenings, we will take part in a Beergarden Convention on the Sunday of the festival to discuss current topics in the film and series sector with industry representatives. Anna Schoeppe will also take part in a panel discussion organised by the Association for Film and Television Dramaturgy on the subject of »New approaches in script development».
Information on tickets and the Filmfest München programme can be found here.