DURBAN FOCUSES ON CINEMA FROM GERMANY

The Durban International Film Festival (13 – 23 July 2017), one of the most important and oldest on the African continent, had cinema from Germany in its focus this year. Ten films by German filmmakers were screened in a Focus Germany during this year’s 38th edition. This showcase was organized in collaboration with German Films, the Goethe-Institut and the German Embassy in South Africa. A total of 26 German films and co-productions were programmed in Durban.

Mariette Rissenbeek, managing director of German Films: “The strength of contemporary German cinema is its great diversity. In recent years, we’ve seen both films about German history as well as those tackling really personal subjects achieving international success. Durban is an ideal platform for presenting the latest in German filmmaking since, as the oldest festival in Africa’s South, it really does enjoy a great reputation as well as attract a very enthusiastic audience.”

A number of directors and actors travelled to Durban to present their films in person. Fatih Akin’s GOODBYE BERLIN was represented by the two young lead actors Anand Batbileg and Tristan Göbel in a Q&A after the gala screening. Doris Dörrie’s GREETINGS FROM FUKUSHIMA was presented and she gave a master class for African screenwriters and directors as part of the Talents Durban training and mentoring program. Stephan Rick (THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON), as well as the documentary filmmakers Petra Epperlein (KARL MARX CITY) and Karin Steinberger (THE PROMISE) were also on hand for the screenings of their films to South African audiences and networking activities with Talents Durban.

GOODBYE BERLIN (© Studiocanal/Mathias Bothor)