From the origins of football in Germany to a Kiwi musician helping Germans rediscover their musical roots, the new look Goethe-Institut German Film Festival has a lot to offer. Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, 25 films (18 feature films and 7 short films) showcase very different facets of German life, both past and present, across a range of genres – from drama, triller and comedy to horror, war and western.
The filmmakers represented are the new face of German cinema and their films, such as The Dark Valley, Two Lives, Fack Ju Goehte, and Love Steaks, featured heavily at this year’s German Film Awards.
For this first time since 2009 the festival will screen in Auckland and Dunedin, as well as Wellington. The festival will feature some special guests and exclusive events, including a Jazz Concert, a Yodelling Workshop, and a high-profile Panel & Workshop focussing on International Co-Production.
The Goethe-Institut are especially thrilled that Kiwi horn player Hayden Chisholm will be back in the country for the festival to celebrate the opening night film, Sound of Heimat, in which he stars. Joining him will be Sound of Heimat director Arne Birkenstock, music teacher and legendary yodeller Loni Kuisle (who also stars in the opening night film) and journalist, editor and filmmaker Maren Niemeyer, who will lead the Panel and Workshop events.
The German Film Festival will begin in Wellington (4-14 September, Paramount) before to moving to Auckland (11-21 September, Rialto Cinemas Newmarket) and Dunedin (25-28 September, Rialto Cinemas).
The full programme, with schedule, is available online at: www.goethe.de/nz
