10/04/2003

German cinema is coming to Italy with nine feature films and a selection of short titles produced in 2002. The idea behind the German Film Festival , that will run in Rome’s Barberini Cinema from 10-14 April, is to showcase that country’s brightest young talents and raise the international and European profile of the German film industry.
The event is interesting both in terms of its cultural value and the commercial prospects of the films being screened. It is no coincidence that the event was organised by Export-Union and the Goethe Institute.

This year’s review is taking place under the patronage of Istituto Luce, a clear sign of the heightened interest that Italians have for German films. The speech Luciano Sovena made when he presented the festival was clear and unequivocal: "Our interest in European co-productions is growing. Up until now our partners of choice were France and the United Kingdom but we fully intend to establish a relationship with Germany that includes distribution and production.”

Giovanni Spagnoletti, whose expertise in German cinema is acknowledged by all, selects the films. In past years he managed to combine a variety of different genres, ranging from melodrama to comedy, documentary to children’s films. “I am absolutely convinced that all this talk of a “New Wave” in German cinema is out of place. They have a number of talented directors who work independently. I think that the most interesting thing here is to introduce them to a wider audience. That applies both to German directors and their Spanish and Italian counterparts. European unity can and must be achieved by comparing the different languages and cultures that enliven our Continent,” he said.