Viel Norden auf der 76. Berlinale

A selection of photos from the event for free use in the context of reporting can be found here. (Copyright: Jasper Ehrich Fotografie/Florian Arp)

Other guests at Hamburg Tea Time included Directors Kai Stänicke and leading actor Paul Boche from "Der Heimatlose" (Perspectives section). "Smalltown Girl" star Dana Herfurth and Maria Furtwängler, Lars Jessen and Detlev Buck also dropped by for a cup of tea.

The guests at the traditional Berlinale reception were welcomed at the State Representation by Jana Schiedek, State Councillor for Culture and Media and Helge Albers, CEO of MOIN Film Fund. The reception honours and raises the profile of film in and from Hamburg on the international stage. It offers film funding and Hamburg filmmakers the opportunity to engage in dialogue with national guests and international partners.

Guests at the traditional Berlinale reception will be welcomed at the State Representation by Jana Schiedek, State Councillor for Culture and Media and Helge Albers, CEO of MOIN Film Fund. The reception honours and raises the profile of film in and from Hamburg on the international stage. It offers film funding and Hamburg filmmakers the opportunity to engage in dialogue with national guests and international partners.

Dr Carsten Brosda, Senator for Culture and Media: "With an opening film from Hamburg and a total of eight films supported by MOIN, this will be a very special Berlinale - as North German as it is international. I am very happy that Hamburg as a film location offers conditions that can support such outstanding filmmaking. Because the exciting voices of Shahrbanoo Sadat, İlker Çatak, Monika Treut and many others not only broaden cinematic horizons, but also help to open up social spaces and expand perspectives. They should definitely be heard and definitely be seen. How wonderful that they will find their place at the Berlinale in the coming days. And what a gain for the festival and the audience!"

Helge Albers, CEO of MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein: "The eight films in the Berlinale programme impressively show what Hamburg has to offer: From Shahrbanoo Sadat and İlker Çatak, for whose films 'No Good Men' and 'Yellow Letters' Hamburg once became Kabul and once Istanbul, to Kai Stänicke, who is celebrating the world premiere of his debut 'Der Heimatlose', and Monika Treut, whose queer-feminist film 'Verführung: Die grausame Frau' is screening in the TEDDY40 retrospective. They all show not only the creative diversity of our region, but also how reliable film policy can support filmmakers in the long term. We wish all the teams an inspiring and successful festival week!"

The MOIN-funded films at the Berlinale

Yellow Letters (Competition section)

With "Yellow Letters" (if... Productions Film, Munich), Oscar-nominated Director İlker Çatak tells a drama from Turkey that was realised in Germany. The film was shot in Hamburg over a period of three weeks. The film tells the story of artist couple Derya and Aziz from Ankara, who are targeted by the state overnight and lose their job and home. Together with their daughter, they move to Istanbul, where they have to decide between their values and their future together as a family.
The film was supported by the MOIN Film Fund with a grant of 595,000 euros.

Rose (Competition section)

In the German-Austrian co-production "Rose" (ROW Pictures, Leipzig), the action takes place in a 17th century Protestant village. The arrival of a scarred stranger (Sandra Hüller) causes mistrust among the villagers. The Stranger, however, proves to be hardworking and God-fearing and becomes part of the community - even though his desire to belong is based on a lie. In his historical drama, Directors Markus Schleinzer tells the story of a person who was born a woman, lived as a man and thus deceived an entire village. Some of the film team are from Hamburg. The film was supported by the MOIN Film Fund with a grant of 100,000 euros.

No Good Men (opening film)

"No Good Men" (Adomeit Film, Lübeck) is set in Kabul shortly before the return of the Taliban and tells the story of Naru, a Director of Photography. Betrayed by her ex-husband and fighting for custody of her child, she has lost faith in good men. But when she meets the reporter Qodrat, she begins to question her convictions: Is there perhaps a good man out there after all? The film was made entirely in Germany, including eight days of shooting in Hamburg. Directors Shahrbanoo Sadat, an Afghan living in Hamburg, has thus made a romantic comedy from Afghanistan - made in Germany. The film was supported by the MOIN Film Fund with funding totalling 354,000 euros.

The Homeless (Perspectives section)

After 14 years, Hein returns to his home island - but the village doesn't recognise him. Even his childhood friend distances himself from him. A village court is called to clarify whether Hein really is who he claims to be. Directors Kai Stänicke tells of suspicions, growing tensions and Hein's desperate search for evidence to confirm his memories.
"Der Heimatlose" (Tamtam Film, Hamburg) had seven days of shooting on Sylt and was supported by the MOIN Film Fund with 560,000 euros. Some of the crew - including Seth Turner (set design) and Stefanie Bieker (costume design) - are from Hamburg.

Heysel 85 (Berlinale Special section)

Based on a true story: Shortly before the kick-off of the European Cup final in 1985, a mass panic occurs in the Heysel Stadium in Brussels in which 39 people die. Two young women are confronted with it: At the centre of the film are Martine, a firefighter, and Jeanne, a press officer, who are pushed to their limits by the events. "Heysel 85" is a German-Dutch-Belgian production. Directors was Belgian Teodora Ana Mihai and the film was produced by Leitwolf Filmproduktion from Hamburg. The film was supported by the MOIN Film Fund with funding totalling 200,000 euros.

Roya (Panorama section)

The Iranian teacher "Roya" (Pak Film, Hamburg) is imprisoned in Tehran because of her political convictions. Now she has to make a decision: make a forced confession in public on television or remain locked up in her three-square-metre cell. Directors Mahnaz Mohammadi shows how solitary confinement distorts perception, threatens identity and makes resistance more difficult. The film had ten shooting days in Hamburg and was supported by the MOIN Film Fund with a grant of 246,000 euros.

Ghost School (Generation Kplus section)

"Ghost School" tells the story of ten-year-old Rabia from Pakistan, who learns that the only school in her village has been closed - allegedly because it is cursed and the teacher is possessed by a djinn. Confused and left to her own devices, she calls on the children of the village to enter the school and drive out the djinn, which has far-reaching consequences. Ultimately, her only choices are to work as a maid or use radical means to be able to go back to school. The drama is by British-Pakistani Directors Seemab Gul and was produced by the Hamburg-based production company Red Balloon Film. The film was supported by the MOIN Film Fund with a grant of 25,000 euros.

Seduction: The cruel woman (TEDDY 40)

"Seduction - The Cruel Woman" is an experimental feature film from 1985 by Hamburg-based Directors Monika Treut, which tells the story of businesswoman and dominatrix Wanda, who regularly performs paid public BDSM performances with male and female bottoms in her gallery at Hamburg harbour. Romantic heartthrob Gregor falls in love with her, while journalist Mährsch discovers his own hidden masochism during an interview about Wanda and becomes a "toilet slave". The film is considered a classic of the queer, subversive avant-garde. The "TEDDY 40" series is a retrospective to mark the 40th anniversary of the queer film award of the same name and shows historical works from the history of the award.