»Vaterland« is an international co-production and was shot in Poland, Germany and Italy. The film is produced by MUBI together with an international team including OUR Films, Jeanne Tremsal and Edward Berger with Nine Hours, Extreme Emotions, Chapter2 and Circle One. Sound post-production was handled by Frankfurt-based FunDeMental Studio.
At the centre of the film is the relationship between writer Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika: in the summer of 1949, they travel back to Germany together for the first time. Thomas Mann is to deliver a speech in Frankfurt and Weimar on the occasion of Goethe’s 200th birthday. Against the backdrop of a politically divided post-war Germany, a personal story unfolds about family, art and belonging.
With »I’ll Be Gone in June«, a young director from Hesse is also coming into international focus. Katharina Rivilis’ debut film is produced by Wim Wenders and Léa Germain (Road Movies), Katharina Rivilis’ production company Wolfskind Films, and 8Horses, and reflects the close interlinking of emerging talent support and international collaboration.
The film tells the story of 16-year-old exchange student Franny, who spends the summer of 2001 in a small town in New Mexico in search of freedom and belonging. After the attacks of 11 September, her everyday life begins to unravel, as a fragile connection develops between high school life, experiences of alienation, and an intense encounter with the outsider Elliott.
With these invitations to Cannes, Hesse is further strengthening its position as an internationally connected film hub and an attractive partner for artistically ambitious productions. The Cannes International Film Festival is one of the most important meeting points for the global film industry.