27/11/2008

The 11th Festival of German Films in London kicks off tomorrow with Caroline Link’s A Year Ago in Winter [+see also:
trailer
film profile], to be presented by its director and producer Uschi Reich. The event, which offers local audiences an overview of the latest in German cinema, will run through December 4.

Like every year, this edition also boasts a wide-ranging selection of new features, documentaries and shorts.

Feature films include Veit Helmer’s Absurdistan [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Martin Theo Krieger’s Beautiful Bitch [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Oezguer Yildirim’s Chiko [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Emily Atef’s The Stranger In Me [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], Doris Doerrie’s Cherry Blossoms – Hanami [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Andreas Dresen’s Cloud Nine [+see also:
trailer
film profile].

Selected documentaries include Alexandra Westmeier’s Alone in Four Walls, Sebastian Heidinger’s Drifter and Andre Schaefer’s Lenin Only Got As Far As Luedenscheid.

German Films will also be presenting its new reel of film school shorts, Next Generation 2008.

The increase in German co-productions will be documented by a small selection: The Anarchist’s Wife [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Marie Noelle und Peter Sehr, Stefan Schwietert’s Echoes of Home [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Uberto Pasolini’s Machan [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile].

German Films and the UK Film Council will be inviting British producers to an industry event on this subject, where Kirsten Niehuus of the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg will lead a discussion between German and English producers on “How to structure your co-production with Germany".

During the festival, the Goethe Institut in London will offer a Focus on director Andres Veiel, who will present his films Black Box Germany and Addicted to Acting.