Survival in Neukölln: The Life in Berlin’s roughest Neighborhood

“Survival in Neukölln” – that’s the title of documentary filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim’s newest work. Following the life stories of various inhabitants of Berlin’s infamous neighborhood, the movie visualizes Neukölln as a place full of creative contradictions.

We meet Drag performer Stefan Stricker who calls himself Juwelia, the androgynous Cuban singer and dancer Joaquin la Habana, or a queer Syrian singer, called Enana. We participate in gay-nudist cooking groups, female theatre performances and turkish demonstrations. We see a Neukölln that has became a melting pot of young and old Berlin, and the epicentre of rapidly increasing rents.

This Film Festival in Berlin Explores Alternative Sexual Perspectives

by Andy | Movies

Tom of Finland movie

For the most time of the year we shut up about our love for movies showing naked skin, pleasure and lust. But there is one week where this is different and we’re out and proud, unapologetically screaming: I LOVE PORN! It’s the time of the Pornfilmfestival Berlin every year in the fall, showcasing other visual presentations of sex and love that are not degrading, insensitive or only representing one niche of the sexual spectrum. It’s the one week a year we can hardly wait for – a whole week fueled with films, panels, readings and performances that explore sexual perspectives outside of social norms, construed identities and morals.

The Queer Documentary about West Berlin you have to watch

by Andy | Movies

Living in Berlin as one united city, it’s hard to imagine a life surrounded by a city split in half. Living in todays liberal, progressive Berlin, it’s even harder to imagine how it must have been being queer in times when gays were despised, even pursued as criminals. The new documentary “Mein wunderbares West-Berlin” by director Jochen Hick gives fascinating insights in 19 individual stories of gay life in the underground of West-Berlin.

Legal or not, Berlin has always been the place of a vibrant gay subculture. As Berlin was one of the only cities in Germany where men were allowed to dance with each other, the democratic German enclave rapidly became a hotspot for gays, students, runaways, and many different people in search for their personal freedom. The documentary shows a world that is long gone, places that might have lost their appeal and stories that cannot be relived in the way they are depicted. It is a must-see for any Berlin Queer, wanting to understand where his or her culture comes from and what the community has gone through.

A Guide to Open Air Cinemas in Berlin

by Olga | Movies

Summer is practically here – time to rapidly take advantage of the good weather. There are many ways to enjoy the Summer daylight hours in the sun. Go for a swim, meet friends for an Aperitif or do some outdoor activities. But if you also want to spend the evenings catching some fresh air you should definitely visit an open air cinema and watch an awesome movie in these last summer weeks.

We would like to introduce you to a couple of open air cinemas, which not only convince with their cozy atmosphere, but also offer an interesting program. Read an introduction for the open air cinemas und their program after the jump.

Berlin Syndrome – A Psychological Thriller

by Alicia | Movies

At Berlinale there was a lot of films about different cultures and places.

Australian Film director Cate Shortland chose to show a movie that takes place in Berlin and focuses on the division not only of the city itself, as during the GDR, but on divisions within us humans too. The result was a psychological thriller that really gives you goosebumps. It’s a movie that shows what could happen when you just trust a charming stranger and go home with him. The film, that was first shown at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2017, is based on the novel of the same name by Melanie Joosten: Berlin Syndrome. read more…

Backstage Experience at Berlinale 2017

by Claudio | Movies, Photos, TV

Berlin is definitely not L.A. Even though the German capital has several production companies and the big Filmstudios Babelsberg right outside the city, during the year the local movie-industry is nearly invisible. Invisible but not non-existent. No wonder they shine even brighter at the biggest festival in Germany for contemporary film culture: Berlinale.

At this year’s edition not only did we have the chance to visit the press previews from several movies but also we got an exclusive backstage tour of the festival including a visit to the photo studio with Canon, sponsor and creative partner of the festival.

We breathed some air of glamour and lots of love and devotion for the art on celluloid while speaking with the team of Berlinale who did not hesitate to answer all our questions and explain us in details everything about the cultural DNA of this celebration of creativity.

After the jump we show you our Backstage discoveries and tell you more about our incredible highlight of the festival.

Cinematic Treasures of Berlinale 2017

by Guest Author | Movies

Filmstill: Welt am Draht

The startling cold of February in Berlin has returned, and with it comes the 67th edition of the Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin, also known as the Berlinale or Berlin Film Festival. The festival begins February 9th and runs through the 19th. As with every year’s edition, there are an overwhelming number of screenings to choose from, even though most bigger-name titles tend to sell out of public tickets at alarming rates. Nevertheless, there are plenty of lesser-known titles worth your time. Guest Author Maximilien Proctor highlights a few of his most anticipated pictures (but don’t let it discourage you from seeking screenings even further off the beaten path!).

The Most Iconic Berlin Movies

by Nikos | Movies

Since there is no such thing, as “I have seen pretty much everything when it comes to great films”, here is another edition of our Berlin movie guide (see part one and part two). Grab some popcorn and sit comfortably on your couch along with your friends or by yourself and enjoy some of our favorite picks. We guarantee you there is something for everybody. Should you have any suggestions of your own, please share them with us in the comment section below.

What to do in Berlin on Christmas

by Michalina | Events, Movies, Music

Although the weather doesn’t really suggest it, the holiday season is indeed upon us and while some are anxiously waiting to open another window in their advent calendar, others regard all the festivities merely as an opportunity to steal a ketchup container from Christmas hot dogs stands on Alexanderplatz, which is an exceptionally Berlin-like crime I have actually witnessed.

And that serves as a sufficient example to say that the idea of a perfect Christmas will definitely differ from person to person. Many of you will travel to see family, others will celebrate with friends, and there’s more than a few that are going to be happy to finally not be bothered with any company at all. So for those of you who’re staying in Berlin this month and consider leaving the house at some point, we’ve come up with a few suggestions as varied as it gets, and some of them not even Christmas related.

UPDATED for 2018!

Serie/ous Addiction: Spies in Berlin

by Nikos | Movies, TV, Videos

photo: Berlin Station / EPIX

No matter how hard to believe it might prove to be at first, Berlin has hosted the shooting of a variety of tv shows and films, from unknown indies to massive, Hollywood blockbusters, such as Inglorious Basterds and Hunger Games. It is very hard to describe the feeling of watching your beloved city on camera being the centre of a plot that has very little in common with the way you choose to spend your time in the German capital. Here are my favorite picks, when it comes to tv shows and films worthy of binge-watching, that have been shot to a great extent or even entirely in Berlin. Make sure you share with us your opinion/suggestions on the comment section below.