The Filmfest München - Munich International Film Festival is consolidating its status as the premier platform for German filmmaking, placing particular emphasis on domestic productions through its New German Television Productions and New German Cinema sections (read our news). This year, the New German Television Productions section will showcase world premieres of ten films and five series on the cinema's grand stage.

Curated by Dr. Ulrike Frick, this selection of fifteen productions provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse landscape of German television production. Renowned directors such as Jan Georg Schütte and Michaela Kezele are among those at the helm, with casts featuring popular actors and actresses including Anke Engelke, Maria Furtwängler, Adele Neuhauser, Bastian Pastewka, Heiner Lauterbach, Charly Hübner, Rick Okon, and Damian Hardung.

This year's line-up addresses pressing concerns of our time. Dirk Kummer's Josefa's Return navigates the complexities of trans identity following a family tragedy; Johannes Schmid's Forever Us explores mental health within the context of a family drama; Lars Jessen and Jan Georg Schütte's Micha Thinks Big - a comedy about a struggle over property and water - explores themes of climate change and social disparities; Christine Hartmann's My Child – Моя Дитина (Germany/Croatia) sheds light on the war in Ukraine; and Hannu Salonen's political thriller series, Shadowtower, delves into issues of antisemitism and far-right extremism.

The selected productions also place a stark spotlight on harsh realities. For instance, Saralisa Volm's At the End of Truth presents a gripping drama depicting the scapegoating of sexual assault victims, while Elsa van Damke's SUPERmad offers a feminist dramedy series narrative featuring a chambermaid who confronts sex offenders with superpowers she develops following her own rape. In Marc Brummund's film, Where We Came From, the young protagonist grapples with familial violence, societal inequality, and the pursuit of seemingly elusive opportunities.

This particular section also presents timeless tales of heroism. The series Call Me Levi (Belgium/Germany/Italy) by Neele Leana Vollmar chronicles the journey of Levi Strauss, the visionary behind blue jeans. The biopic film Souls without Walls – Choreographing an Era, directed by Michaela Kezele, delves into the story of figure skater Katharina Witt and her coach, Jutta Müller (portrayed by Dagmar Manzel), as they strive for Olympic glory while navigating the complexities of identity in a unified Germany. Meanwhile, Hallo Spencer – The Movie, directed by Timo Schierhorn, offers a nostalgic reunion with beloved characters like Spencer, Elvis, and Lulu, who embark on a mission to save their home in a screenplay penned by renowned satirist Jan Böhmermann.

Crime thrillers and surprising love stories both feature prominently in this year's line-up too. In Alexander Dierbach's film Into the Dark – Hunting Shadows, a criminal investigator becomes a target, while Sabrina Sarabi's film Who Is Without Fault confronts a man with his own troubled history. On a lighter note, Sabine Boss and Nicolas Berse-Gilles' romantic comedy series, The Perfect Miss, explores a coming-of-age journey later in life, while Andreas Prochaska and Lea Becker's inventive series, Love Sucks, cleverly blends romantic drama with elements of the fantasy genre.

The Munich International Film Festival will also host the presentation of the two Bernd Burgemeister TV Production Awards for the best TV movie and TV series on 30 June. Sponsored by the VFF television royalty distributors, each award comes with prize-money of €25,000. This year, the three-member jury comprises Dagmar Rosenbauer (producer) as the jury chair, alongside Jan Kruse (Bavaria Fiction) and Martin Richter (Ratpack).