The Anniversary Programme 2015 - Eastern Europe Between New Urbanity and a Traditional Understanding of Homeland
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.