Facts:
– 25th FilmFestival Cottbus from 3 to 8 November
– ca. 160 Films
– prizes worth a total of 77,750 euro
– Focus: „Eastern Europe by the Cities”
– first prominent guests confirmed: István Szabó / Marianne Birthler
– new locations: Space Flight Planetarium / art museum Dieselkraftwerk /
Gutsökonomie Castle and Park Branitz
From 3 to 8 November, Cottbus will take a look at Eastern European
cinematography for the 25th time, which has always also reflected the
geopolitical situation of the day. „The global mood naturally has an impact
on the contributions to the anniversary edition of the FilmFestival Cottbus.
The filmmakers reflect upon the past, present and future, make statements,
document events, or seek to change the viewers´ perspective,” says Programme
Director Bernd Buder. „But don’t worry!” he adds. „We will by no means only
show gloomy cinema from Central and Eastern Europe. Many filmmakers comment
on society with black humour or from a very personal perspective or shoot
genre films that can indeed – both in technical and narrative terms –
measure up to international competition.”
This year, twelve contributions will take part in the Feature Film
Competition for the coveted glass figurine named „Lubina” (Sorbian for „the
charming one”) and give an overview of the most important trends in current
Eastern European cinema. The same applies to the Short Feature Competition
with nine to 15 films demonstrating how the short film has become an
independent art form in Eastern Europe and simultaneously providing an
opportunity to discover young talents. The U 18 German-Polish Youth Film
Competition draws comparisons between the daily life of adolescents in
Germany and its Eastern neighbours. In the frame of the 25th FilmFestival
Cottbus, prizes worth a total of 77,750 euro will be awarded. On the
occasion of the anniversary, the Gesellschaft zur Wahrnehmung von Film- und
Fernsehrechten (GWFF) will increase the prize money of the Main Prize for
Best Film to 25,000 euro. While the Competition presents the entire
diversity of Eastern European cinema ranging from arthouse films to
comedies, the Spectrum section addresses special target groups with unusual
films plumbing the boundaries of cinema, from experimental film to the
horror genre. The series National Hits features blockbusters from Central
and Eastern Europe, some of which were larger audience successes at home
than international film hits from Hollywood.
The Focus in 2015 deals with „Eastern Europe by the Cities”, capturing the
urban spirit of Eastern European metropolises, but also the attendant,
radical social changes, such as gentrification and migration from the land.
Filmmakers direct their cameras to the contradictions between the search for
individual freedom and the construction of representational architecture –
challenges that not only Eastern European societies are facing. With films
dedicated to Islam in Eastern Europe, the FilmFestival Cottbus addresses
another highly topical theme: How do historical extreme situations, such as
the invasion of Afghanistan by Soviet troops or the massacre of Muslims
during the war in Bosnia, effect Islamic consciousness in Eastern Europe and
beyond? What liberties does Islamic everyday culture offer, and what are its
constraints? Since 2010, the Polskie Horyzonty (Polish Horizons) have been
inviting the audience to explore Poland’s contemporary film scene – since
„Ida” won an „Oscar”, one of the world’s leading cinematographies. The
Russkiy Den (Russian Day) has a similar ambition, presenting a cross-section
of Russia’s rich film production.
The German-Polish-Russian Film Forum „Change in Remembrance” invites guests
to a „trialogue” between these two countries and Germany, with a film series
presenting the different reflections on and interpretations of the
transformation processes that have taken place from the 1990s until today in
(East) Germany, Poland and Russia. Furthermore, there will be a top-class
panel discussion attended by, among others, the former human rights activist
and retired Federal Commissioner for Stasi Documents, Marianne Birthler.
Opportunities to enter into a dialogue with film professionals are provided
during the entire festival week by the Film Talks (Q & A) and the
MasterTalks introduced last year – succinct eynote speeches by professionals
of the film industry. This year’s speakers include the Hungarian cult
director István Szabó, „Oscar” award-winner and Honorary President of the
FilmFestival Cottbus.
The aim to make guests from around the world aware of regional filmmakers
and themes is pursued during the festival week by the Homeland | Domownja
section. The 13th Cottbus FilmShow, staged on the evening before the opening
of the festival, offers insights into regional filmmaking. The event
functions as a „small” festival for committed and talented filmmakers from
the region. The FilmFestival Cottbus is at home in selected and
extraordinary festival venues. The large auditorium of the State Theatre
Cottbus provides the glamorous setting for the opening of the 25th festival
edition on 3 November, 2015, while the awards ceremony on 7 November will be
held in the Stadthalle Cottbus, which functions as the festival centre. In
addition to the Stadthalle, films will be screened in the successfully
established network of venues – from the historical Weltspiegel, to the
Kammerbühne and Glad-House-Halle, which are transformed to cinema halls, to
the municipal cinema Obenkino.
On the occasion of its 25th anniversary, the FilmFestival Cottbus
additionally invites the audience to special places in the city. The
entertainment hall of the Gutsökonomie will present a special on the Branitz
Park and Castle as a shooting location, the Space Flight Planetarium will
show fulldome films and the art museum Dieselkraftwerk will feature a
screening corresponding with the Focus theme, „Eastern Europe by the
Cities”, as well as an installation dedicated to modern, socialist, urban
development concepts of the 1930s. A varied supporting programme with
concerts, exhibitions, readings and festival parties provides entertainment
beyond the cinema seat.
The festival is substantially supported by the State of Brandenburg, the
Medienboard Berlin- Brandenburg, the City of Cottbus as well as the MEDIA –
Creative Europe programme of the European Union.
Save the date: The press conferences on the 25th FilmFestival Cottbus will
be held on 15 October in Berlin and Cottbus. Further details will be
announced in early October.