04/04/2008

German cinema will be at the heart of the 2008 edition of the EuropaCinema festival (held in Viareggio, Tuscany from April 15-19). Founded 25 years ago with the collaboration of Federico Fellini (who designed the logo of the first poster), the event thought up and directed by Felice Laudadio was the first in the world to specialise in European cinema.

After last year’s focus on Spain, EuropaCinema is turning its full attentions to an industry undergoing rebirth, which peaked last year with the Oscar to 34-year-old Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck for the Lives of Others [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Florian Henckel von Donners…
interview: Ulrich Muehe
film profile].

Seven competition films by young filmmakers (Martin Theo Krieger, Marco Kreuzpaintner, Brigitte Bertele, Marc Meyer, Ben Reding e Dominik Reding, Maggie Peren, Florian Mischa Boeder) will screen in Viareggio, as well as three out-of-competition titles, all recent productions.

The latter section includes Volker Schlöndorff’s latest project, Ulzhan [+see also:
trailer
film profile], shot under difficult conditions in Kazakhstan.

There is also anticipation over the world premieres of two 2008 documentaries: Reverse Shot – Rebellion of the Filmmakers by Dominik Wessely and Laurens Straub, on the legendary FilmVerlag der Autoren; and Eye to Eye: All About German Film by Michael Althen and Hans Helmut Prinzler, a look at 100 years of German cinema through renowned filmmakers who discuss the films that influenced them the most.

The five “Film Lessons”, in collaboration with the University of Pisa, will be held by actress Ingrid Caven, the first wife of Rainer W. Fassbinder, with producer-director Michael Fengler, Peter Lilienthal (Das Autogramm), Edgar Reitz (Heimat), Schlöndorff and Margarethe von Trotta.

Said Laudadio: "In order to best promote German cinema and to aid in possible distribution of the selected titles in Italy, the films will also screen in Rome from April 21-25.” He further announced that next year’s focus would be on France.

(Translated from Italian)