Dear film lovers,
Have you spent the whole summer re-watching Parasite in every language and overdosed on Little Women in every Freiluftkino in town? (sidenote: yes, we also miss the Greta Gerwig from Lady Bird) Let’s not even talk about your unhappy relationship with your brand-new video on demand platform (#sosadsohorny). We know you are missing the plush velvet of the cinema seat and are longing for the romantic darkness of the theater and the mystical energy wrapped up in it. You are like us: yearning for a new type film event like the Porn Film Festival, Berlin Feminist Film Week, The Xposed International Queer Film Festival, Woche der Kritik and of course the gold standard, Berlinale.
Film freaks, we have something that is just for you: the fourth edition of the Visionär Film Festival. Originally slated to begin in April (go home Ms. Corona), the festival will take place (in person!) from September 21st to 28th. VFF showcases new talents, offering a selection of filmmakers from around the world who prove to be daring, original, and visionary in their debut full-length films. Because there are only so many hours in the day, here is a guide to the must-see films:
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by Guest Author | Movies
photo: Martin aka Maha / cc.
In a world where streaming services are so widespread that it is possible to watch any movie on laptops, phones, tablets or TVs, going to the cinema continues to be a unique experience. To go out and sit in theatres, especially in cozy and intimate ones, means to elevate the simple movie-watching to the pure pleasure of being dragged into a mix of sounds, colors and feelings that you probably will not get by simply sitting on your couch at home.
We prepared a list of our favorite art-house cinemas in different areas of the city. Check it out! Close your laptop and go to the cinema! Let yourself be enchanted by the atmosphere of these cool spaces. Spending 8 euros on a movie ticket instead of a cocktail is not a bad idea for a weekend. It will be worth it!
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by Giulio | Movies
The Bookshop
Annually the weeks leading up to Berlinale turn into a stress test. How well can I maneuver through the seemingly countless names of directors? How optimal can I structure my screening schedule? Will I manage to not only realize on day four that a film with my favorite actor screened on day one?
This year is no exception to this emotional roller-coaster. However due to extended internet research, reading of press newsletters and countless hours spent on the Berlinale website, I’m fairly confident Ive got thinks figured out. I nevertheless share my 10 highlights only with the cautious warning that these are not complete or final and definitely my personal taste. Each film can be your personal cinematic supernova, so head to Potsdamer Platz and into the dark. It’ll be worth it …
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by Lia | Movies
Sarah P, photo: Fotini Chora
As mundane as it may sound, Berlin is the very definition of a melting pot. It has always reminded me of an immense theater stage, where all countries take their position and as soon as the lights start to dim, they begin interacting with each other; they fight, they love, they live, but most of all they constantly try to make their stories get heard as loud as possible. There is one thing they have always in common: they are fully in sync with their multicultural environment and in the case of Greece miles away from the picture drawn by Nia Vardalos’ Big Fat – filled with stereotypes, yet utterly entertaining – Greek Wedding.
Several Greek places around the world – cafes, restaurants, supermarkets, concerts etc. – have always made me feel like Alice in Wonderland, but to a more twisted and disturbing extent than Lewis Carroll’s bizarre universe. It is mostly the image of people being lost in their Greek microcosm, fully ignorant of the overwhelming benefits life abroad has to offer, that brings discontent to me. And it is then, when you realize that for some coming from the same place has developed into the one and only criterion of socializing with people.
However, this story is about those who have become citizens of the world and their Greek identity represents a part of it and not vice versa. Here a few examples of Greek businesses and artists active in Berlin who choose to work and live through the aforementioned identity.
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by Nikos | Art, Cafés, Fashion, Food, Kreuzberg, Movies, Music, Neukölln, Restaurants, Schöneberg
Experimenter
Most cinema lovers observe what is happening at the Cannes, Venice and Sundance Film Festivals, even if they cannot attend. The programs always look promising and leave us with excitement and hope that the films will one day make it to our local cinemas. Unfortunately, quite a few movies never receive distribution deals, leaving a wider audience unable to see it. Luckily there are lovers of film like Hannes Brühwiler, who help films they believe in reach the silver screen in Berlin!
Hannes’s Festival is poetically called Unknown Pleasures and screens an amazing selection of American independent movies. The festival runs from June 3rd until June 16th 2016 at Arsenal and Il Kino. I met Hannes and spoke with him about American cinema, Unknown Pleasures and the best places for great film in Berlin…
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by Lia | Movies
Small film festivals tend to be overlooked. It begins with the Hollywood stars who don’t attend that leads to the press that doesn’t care and all of a sudden most of the city dwellers don’t even know it even happened. However small festivals tend to have a great atmosphere, fabulous films and a much sharper focus, so you can more easily decide if it’s for you or not. Small festivals offer the exchange with like-minded people, the artists and usually you leave those with a much better experience than the big ones. Also you’ll get to see films you might never otherwise. Why am I telling you this? Well, the XPOSED International Queer Film Festival is going into it’s 9th edition this year and it is one of those small festivals Berlin has to offer. Unfortunately you probably won’t hear everyone in Berlin talking about it, but now you know and should spread the word and GO WATCH their amazing program at Moviemento in Kreuzberg. More about it after the jump.
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by Lia | Movies
How many films have you seen today? Is there one you’d recommend? What will you watch next? That’s clearly festival talk. Currently it’s going on in Vienna, where the 50th issue of the film festival Viennale just started.
The Viennale was the first film festival I ever visited and also the one I still like most. That’s probably due to a variety of factors. I studied film in Vienna, so of course the festival was the highlight of the year. Not only because of the great films, but also because it really seems to change Vienna. Living there it is impossible not to notice the festival is taking place. There’s plenty of people everywhere, new venues springing up all over the city and simply something on every single night…
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by Lia | Movies
