Impressions of the 32nd FilmFestival Cottbus

The day started with a WELCOME for our jury members. Here you can read about all the juries of the 32nd FFC again. Then there was the Work in Progress book presentation with film programme on the "History of the Sorbs in DEFA Film". The documentary THE LONELY LONG DISTANCE RUNNERS reported on the difficult working conditions of journalists in the East, followed by a film discussion at which protagonists of the film were also present. There was also a full hall in the Weltspiegel for the film THE LAST RACE; about a legendary ski race in the Giant Mountains in 1913.

The first prize of the festival was awarded on this Wednesday:The exsystent Filmverleih gets the "Cottbus into Cinema" - Award for FOOLS (Tomasz Wasilewski PL/DE, 2022). The prize is endowed with 10,000 euros and donated by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg. The prize facilitates the path to bringing the film to the cinema. Jakob Kijas from exsystent Filmverleih: "It takes money to get a film into the cinema, this prize makes it easier for us, we can finance the marketing, for example. Thank you very much that the medienboard and the FilmFestival Cottbus have chosen us as award winners."

In the evening there was the world premiere of the film KINGS OF RAP, browse through the gallery here:

Festival Thursday

From the new festival section ECOEAST, the film A TUNNEL was also shown on Festival Thursday. In the film, Nino Orjonikidze and Vano Arsenishvili show how the "New Silk Road" in Georgia is throwing a small sleepy town into turmoil. A major project not only for the environment, but also for local social coexistence. The section existed for the very first time this year and will be continued at the FFC in the coming years. Ecological issues and sustainability are also becoming increasingly important for the film world, which is why we are proud to have this section as a permanent part of our programme as of this year.

The film BRATAN BROTHER was shown in the Weltspiegel. The film from 1991 tells the story of a youth who wants to leave his village. His journey takes him by narrow-gauge railway through breathtaking landscapes. A Tajik film classic, which celebrated its German premiere at the FFC in the digitally remastered version.

Another highlight of the day was the ecumenical reception in the Oberkirche Cottbus. The film NO BODY AND THE BLUE SKY was shown here free of charge, followed by a discussion with the filmmaker. Every year, the Oberkirche becomes a very special cinema venue with free admission.

Cottbus filmmaker Ralf Schuster also presented his works from Super-8 to 35 mm on Thursday.

The so-called SLOW-TALKS, so called because they take place in the SLOW room in the Glad-House, delve thematically into the films shown. There is also an opportunity to ask questions. For example, filmmakers and experts were present for the Slow Talk ECO EAST.

Browse through the gallery of the Festival Thursday here:

Festival Friday

Friday was mainly dedicated to Ukraine. In this festival year, a total of 13 films from Ukraine and 3 films about Ukraine were represented in the programme of the FilmFestival Cottbus. Thus, the FFC presented at least one Ukrainian contribution in almost every section. Upon presentation of a valid Ukrainian passport, there is free admission to ALL films shown on the Friday of the festival.

The day began with a panel discussion on 3,187 days of war against Ukraine - how do filmmakers deal with it? Filmmakers become chroniclers of the war, but also participants in it. What can still be filmed, what budgets are available? This highly exciting event, at which there was much discussion, took place in cooperation with connecting cottbus. In the afternoon, there was another discussion at SLOW in the Glad House: The Ukrainian directors Taras Dron, Kristof Gerega and Kornii Hritsyuk were present.

A total of six films from or about Ukraine were shown on this Friday of the festival.

Many students went to see LARRY in the morning at the Kammerbühne. From stuttering shepherd to YouTube star, this story (directed by Szilárd Bernath) got under the skin.

The day was also marked by LIVE radio: from 5 to 6 p.m. rbbKultur broadcast from the Stadthalle. Andrea Handels and Carsten Beyer led through the programme, met exciting film guests and took a look behind the scenes of the festival. Then it was straight on at 7 pm: Radioeins Filmtalk with festival guests, film and festival makers. Moderated by Kino KingKnut Elstermann. There will be live broadcasts again next year. Come by our festival centre in the Stadthalle, make yourself comfortable and listen to exciting conversations.

Another extraordinary programme item was the 360° FullDome programme in the "Juri Gagarin" space flight planetarium (5, 7 and 9 pm).  The dome becomes a screen for abstract representations of technical processes and human emotional worlds. A unique cinema experience!

A highlight and always well attended is the LONG NIGHT OF SHORT FILMS at Weltspiegel Cottbus. Full auditorium, great films - for festival newcomers this event is a must. But if you've been once, you'll come again and again, so make sure you get your tickets in time.

The festive finale was in the evening: two bands and a DJ heated up the Scandale at the Bunten Bahnhof from 8 pm! Clear the stage for ACHT EIMER HÜHNERHERZEN, VIZEDIKTATOR and DJ KATE KAPUTTO.A big thank you to SCANDALE, our official festival club.

Browse through the gallery of the Festival Friday here:

Festival Saturday

On this Saturday, the focus is of course on the award ceremony in the evening. All the winners were discussed overnight, so our jury members did not have an easy task.

We had an international premiere in the afternoon in the Weltspiegel: ONE OF US, a Balkan neo-noir from Albania.  One of the main actors was Kasem Hoxha, a member of this year's International Festival Jury.

For all fans of the HOME/DOMOWNJA/DOMIZNA section, there was the LONG NIGHT OF SHORT LAUSITZERS. The best of the best from the Lusatian film scene met here. The latest work by Erik Schiesko and Sophie Riedel, REMIS, or THE EASTER RIDERS by Sophia Zisch, in which the question of why only men are allowed to carry out the tradition of Easter riding was discussed - great films from the region, so if you missed it, make a note for 2023.

In the evening, the festive award ceremony took place in the Cottbus Stadthalle. Christian Matthée hosted the evening.

Browse through the gallery of the Festival Saturday here, with all the award winners:To read about all the award winners, click here.