Filmfest München: Stars, film tips – and an overview – Munich

It’s a creeping return to normal, a kind of fade into a better future. As a reminder: In the first summer of the pandemic, there was at least the small offshoot in the pop-up drive-in cinema, where a few German films premiered to the applause of film-hungry mobilists, as consolation for the unusual Munich Film Festival. Now, in the second pandemic summer, what is probably Germany’s most important film festival after the Berlinale can take place again – but again differently.

Airy and live, in many parts of the city, that’s how you could paraphrase what the festival directors Diana Iljine and Christoph Gröner have planned for this 38th edition. The appointment itself is extraordinary. The organizers never failed to emphasize the character of the cinematic summer break. But the fact that the film show will take place entirely in July is a novelty. From July 1st to July 10th, 70 new films from 29 countries will be shown, 33 world premieres and 28 German premieres will be there.

The main venues are eight open-air locations, including established ones such as “Kino, Mond & Sterne” and the “Kino am Olympiasee”, as well as new ones such as the “Pop-up Summer Cinema” in the courtyard of the film school. The films will start in the open air at nightfall from 9.15 p.m. In the afternoon, seven cinemas and other venues show selected works in the hall – in accordance with hygiene standards.

Franka Potente and Robin Wright are making their directorial debuts in Munich

That the Filmfest 2021 differs from the previous festival editions can also be seen from the opening film. The long-awaited and several times postponed performance of the new Eberhofer crime novel is being celebrated Kaiserschmarrndrama, the seventh part of the series, based on the books by Rita Falk. The Bavarian comedy (directed by Ed Herzog), starring audience favorites Sebastian Bezzel and Simon Schwarz, will provide a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere in three cinemas and three open-air venues on July 1, after Iljine, Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter and Prime Minister Markus Söder opened the film festival in Mathäser.

Part of the film crew will be there and rush from here to there to say hello to the long-missed audience. The opening is a cooperation with the Constantin company. Some see the decision to go for a mainstream hit “made in Bavaria” as a sign of a new beginning for the German film and cinema industry (many cinemas will resume playing on July 1st). Others miss the international glamor that opening films once had here.

The agenda is also structured differently. There are still well-known series and competitions such as the internationally oriented programs “Cinemasters” and “Cinevision”. There are award ceremonies, extraordinary television and genre films as well as a children’s film festival. But compared to 2019, the total offer has been slimmed down from 180 films from 62 countries to 70 from 29 countries. This reduction does not have to be a disadvantage, just think of those who have complained of oversupply over the years.

One can look forward to the directorial debut of the actress Franka Potente (Home) and the feature film debut from House of Cards well-known US colleague Robin Wright (Away from life); on the new work by François Ozon (Summer 85) and science fiction from Germany (Tides by Tim Fehlbaum). The animated film by Marcus H. Rosenmüller also arouses curiosity: Snot boy is a homage to the caricaturist Manfred Deix and will be shown as one of six graduation films.

Advantage 2021: Visiting the film festival is easier to plan, as there are only the evening screenings in the open-air cinemas and the afternoon films in the partner cinemas, including City, Rio, Filmtheater Sendlinger Tor, Gloria Palast and Astor Filmlounge in the Arri . The new venues include: Amerikahaus, Institut français, Bahnwärter Thiel, Pasinger Fabrik, Fünf Höfe and Sugar Mountain.

The creeping return to normality can be seen not only in the game operations in the cinemas, but also in the guests of honor and face-to-face events. There will be no parties, receptions and crowds on the red carpets, that’s for sure. Nevertheless, the people of Munich can look forward to events with prominent guests. There will be talks before and after the premieres on the stages of the venues or during the “Filmmakers Live” series in the Gasteig.

Among others, the Cinemerit Prize winner Senta Berger, the Polish director Małgorzata Szumowska, to whom a tribute will be dedicated, the actors Axel Prahl, Corinna Harfouch, Bjarne Maedel and Jella Haase, as well as numerous directors from all over the world, for example Anders Thomas Jensen , Bruce LaBruce and Franka Potente.

Munich Film Festival, Thu., 1. to Sat., July 10, various locations in the city, program and tickets at www.filmfest-muenchen.de