Friday at the 35th FilmFestival Cottbus
Friday at the FilmFestival Cottbus is devoted to resistance, reflection, and remembrance. From urban activism to historical truth-seeking, today’s program dives deep into the intersections of art, politics, and social courage.
The day starts at 10 a.m. in the Kammerbühne with URBAN DISOBEDIENCE TOOLKIT by Vladimír Turner. Following a group of guerrilla artists in Prague, the film documents their creative defiance against the privatization of public space. Through spontaneous, subversive interventions, they reclaim the city as a playground for collective imagination – a passionate call for civic creativity.
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At 11:40 a.m., the Talk: CLOSE-UP: ESTONIA at the Stadthaus highlights the vibrant diversity of Estonian cinema, from dark comedies to poetic documentaries. Moderated by Andrei Liimets, Estonian member of this year’s FIPRESCI jury, the discussion brings together filmmakers and producers to explore the identity and direction of one of Europe’s most dynamic film cultures. Organized in cooperation with connecting cottbus and FIPRESCI, celebrating its 100th anniversary.
At 6:45 p.m., THE BIG CHIEF by Tomasz Wolski screens at the Obenkino. The documentary revisits the story of Leopold Trepper, founder of the anti-Nazi resistance network “The Red Orchestra,” who was later persecuted by the socialist regime in Poland. A gripping story of conviction and betrayal.
The night’s screenings bring cinematic contrast: THE DEATH OF DRACULA (8:30 p.m., Kammerbühne) reimagines the lost 1921 Dracula film with a surreal Transylvanian twist – eerie, playful, and visually stunning.
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Simultaneously, TWO PROSECUTORS (8:30 p.m., Weltspiegel Saal 2) by Sergej Loznitsa offers a chilling dive into Stalin’s purges of 1937, where justice becomes a trap for its own defenders.
Finally, the night ends with the Black Party at Comicaze, starting at 10 p.m. – the festival’s signature late-night celebration with music, dance, and atmosphere. Entry: 5 EUR.
Festival tickets are available online and at all venues.
