15th Berlin & Beyond Film Festival Catalog by Berlin & Beyond Film Festival

Photo © Constantin Film Verleih GmbH

OPENING NIGHT: VINCENT WANTS TO SEA

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE SAN FRANCISCO

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26

THE CASTRO THEATRE PRINCIPAL VENUE

2:30pm

THE LAST GIANTS - OCEANS IN DANGER p.22 preceded by Lebensader p.19 PIANOMANIA p.15 THE ROBBER p.15

429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 5:00pm 8:00pm

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22 6:30pm 8:00pm

Opening Night Party p.7 Opening Night Film: VINCENT WANTS TO SEA p.7

1:00pm 3:30pm 6:00pm

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23 12:00pm 2:30pm 4:45pm 7:30pm

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27

THE WOMAN WITH THE 5 ELEPHANTS p.17 MEN IN THE CITY p.26 HUMAN FAILURE p.22 POPE JOAN p.8

THE WELFARE WORKER p.16 KRAUTS, DOUBTS & ROCK ‘N’ ROLL p.24 WILL YOU MARRY US? p.17 preceded by It’s Me, Helmut p.18 THE SILENCE p.27 preceded by The Last Wheel p.18

9:00pm

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24 2:30pm 5:00pm 7:30pm 9:30pm

12:00pm SILVER GIRLS p.23 preceded by Edgar p.18 2:00pm ANIMALS UNITED 3D p.9 4:45pm AUTUMN GOLD p.21 preceded by Side by Side p.19 7:00pm Centerpiece Film: WHEN WE LEAVE p.10 9:30pm RUN IF YOU CAN p.26 preceded by The Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation p.19

HOME FROM HOME p.21 WEDDING FEVER IN CAMPOBELLO p.29 Closing Night Film: JULIA’S DISAPPEARANCE p.11 Closing Night Party p.11

SAN JOSE CAMERA CINEMA 12 ENCORE DAY 201 South Second Street, San Jose, CA 95113

MONDAY, OCTOBER 25

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30

2:00pm 4:00pm 6:30pm

12:30pm ROCK HUDSON: DARK AND HANDSOME STRANGER p.23 2:30pm HOME FROM HOME p.21 5:00pm JULIA’S DISAPPEARANCE p.11 7:00pm San Jose Exclusive: SOUL KITCHEN p.27 9:30pm MEN IN THE CITY p.26

IN THE SHADOWS p.24 DRAFT DODGERS p.16 ROCK HUDSON: DARK AND HANDSOME STRANGER p.23 SURPRISE FILM (film to be announced) p.12

8:45pm

INDEX 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Welcome to the Festival Sponsors and Partners Opening Night Spotlight: Book to Screen Spotlight: 3D Film Centerpiece Closing Night

12 12 12 12 13 15 16

Educational Programs Free Film for Students Surprise Film Encore Day Conversations with the Stars Austrian Films Luxembourg Special

16 18 21 24 30 36 36

Swiss Films Short Films German Docs German Films Credits and Acknowledgments Tickets and Venues Contact Information

Festival Program Catalog Editor: Sophoan Sorn Proofreaders: Madeleine Cornu Catero, Emma Mascall, Michaelanne Petrella

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15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

WELCOME TO THE FESTIVAL

Dear Friends, Guten Tag! Welcome to the 15th Anniversary Berlin & Beyond Film Festival. Join us in celebrating the festival’s new era October 22nd through 28th, 2010 at the glorious and historic 1,400-seat Castro Theatre in San Francisco; along with a new encore day of screenings at Camera Cinemas 12 in Downtown San Jose, on October 30th.

RUDOLF DE BAEY

For the first time, we are thrilled to join forces with our sister festival, German Currents in Los Angeles, as a united West Coast German Film Event - sharing a selection of brilliant films and dazzling talents! Berlin & Beyond Film Festival, a presentation of the Goethe-Institut San Francisco, has been America's premier festival of new cinema from Germany, Austria and Switzerland since 1996. The festival has been serving as a gateway for the American public to experience the diversity, history and progression of the German-speaking countries in Europe. In the last 14 years, over 500 films have been presented to 100,000+ people, along with the memorable presence of hundreds of guest artists.

SOPHOAN SORN

For our 15th Anniversary, join us on a magical and spirited adventure with 24 captivating feature films from seasoned masters and up-and-coming innovators, and six short films from bright new talents. A sensational roster of artists and luminaries - including Michael Verhoeven, Benjamin Heisenberg, Feo Aladag, Florian David Fitz, and Donna Woolfolk Cross - will be joining us live onstage. Film highlights include: Opening Night with the adventurous Vincent Wants to Sea, of a young man dealing with Tourette Syndrome hitting the road; Our Centerpiece, When We Leave, a story of a battered wife who fights for an independent and self-determined life against the resistance of her family; the epic Pope Joan, about the legendary woman who wrestled with faith, love, and women’s role in society; Autumn Gold, a documentary about athletes between 80 and 100 years old in their extraordinary race against time; Germany’s first RealD 3D animated feature, Animals United 3D - a wild feast for the senses; Closing Night with Julia’s Disappearance, a witty comedy from Switzerland about age, youth and other eternal truths; war drama Draft Dodgers - our first-ever Luxembourg special; and two thrilling films - Pianomania and The Robber - celebrating Austria’s National Day on October 26th. Thank you to: our Festival Team; our generous partners and sponsors, led by German Films and Lufthansa; Goethe-Institut in San Francisco and in Los Angeles; the Castro Theatre’s staff, filmmakers, producers and actors for sharing your cinematic works with us; our visiting artists; our dedicated and hardworking volunteers; and our patrons for your empowering support. Lastly, we salute Dr. Ingrid Eggers for her 14 years of creative spirit, dedicated service, and impassioned leadership. Here’s a toast to another 15 years and beyond! Respectfully,

Rudolf de Baey, President

Sophoan Sorn, Festival Director

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15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS IN COOPERATION WITH

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SPECIAL SUPPORT

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OFFICIAL SHIPPING PARTNER

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

OFFICIAL VEHICLE

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All photos on this page © Constantin Film Verleih GmbH

OPENING NIGHT

VINCENT WANTS TO SEA VINCENT WILL MEER Friday, October 22 at 8:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco This road movie tells the story of three young people, who break out of their everyday lives, which are dominated by therapy, and dare to have an adventure together. Florian David Fitz wrote the original script and - with lots of dedication and charm - plays the part of defiant-but-shy eponymous hero Vincent. Vincent is on the run – he escapes from the clinic, where he is supposed to be learning to deal with his Tourette syndrome. He wants to go to the sea in Italy, even though his father says he won’t make it to the corner store. In his jacket pocket, Vincent carries a candy jar containing his mother’s ashes. He is determined to fulfill her last wish to visit the sea one last time. Along for the ride, in a stolen car, is his anorexic friend Marie and his obsessive-compulsive roommate Alexander. Vincent’s trip to Italy is a catastrophe for his father, who is an ambitious politician running for election and only interested in his own reputation. His father finds his only ally in psychologist Dr. Rose, who is understandably concerned about her unpredictable charges. Together, the two set off in pursuit of the runaways. Vincent, Marie, and Alexander try their best to navigate life in their own way – even if they keep driving each other crazy. At the end of the trip, no one is cured, but everything has changed.

• Sponsored by German Films and Lufthansa • Special Thanks to Constantin Film

In Person: Actor and Screenwriter Florian David Fitz US West Coast Premiere with Los Angeles Germany (2010), 35mm, cs, 96min; in German with English subtitles

Director: Ralf Huettner Producers: Viola Jäger, Harald Kügler Screenwriter: Florian David Fitz Cinematographer: Andreas Berger Editor: Kai Schroeter Music: Stevie B-Zet, Ralf Hildenbeutel

Cast: Florian David Fitz, Karoline Herfurth, Heino Ferch, Katharina Müller-Elmau, Johannes Allmayer Production: Olga Film GmbH Print courtesy of: Beta Cinema (Beta Film GmbH) www.betacinema.com

OPENING NIGHT PARTY 6:30pm | Castro Theatre’s Mezzanine, San Francisco Join us before the film to celebrate the Opening Night Party of the 15th Anniversary Berlin & Beyond Film Festival! Mingle with old and new friends, meet guest stars, and savor culinary delights and signature drinks from San Francisco and beyond! ($40.00 film & party)

About Director Ralf Huettner: Ralf Huettner graduated from the University of Television & Film in Munich (HFF) in 1985. His feature debut Cripples Go Christmas in 1987 was a major success and nominated for the European Film Prize. His breakthrough came along with the Musterknaben trilogy (2001). Further well-acclaimed feature films include Thirtysomething (1995) and Reine Formsache (2006). In 2008, Ralf Huettner won a Grimme Prize for directing the hit series Dr. Psycho.

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15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

Photo © Constantin Film Verleih GmbH

SPOTLIGHT: BOOK TO SCREEN

In Person: Author Donna Cross

POPE JOAN

Special Screening Germany (2009), 35mm, cs, 148min; in English

Saturday, October 23 at 7:30pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Could there possibly have been a female Pope? Based on the novel by Donna Woolfolk Cross, the film tells the fascinating story of the 9thcentury woman who, disguised as a man, rises through the ranks of the Catholic Church to become the one and only woman to sit on the throne of St. Peter. Johanna Wokalek (The Baader Meinhof Complex) plays the title role, wrestling with issues related to faith, love, women’s role in society, and religious dogma. David Wenham (The Lord of the Rings) plays the man who causes Joan to question her ambitions; John Goodman plays a Pope with a prodigious appetite and a laconic sense of humor; Iain Glen plays Joan’s brutal father, a man deeply opposed to the education of women. This lavish, sweeping, epic tale, with careful attention to period detail, rivals full-scale Hollywood productions as it depicts the inspiring story of a woman whose strength of vision led her to defy the social restrictions of her day.

Director: Sönke Wortmann Producers: Martin Moszkowicz, Oliver Berben Screenwriters: Heinrich Hadding & Sönke Wortmann Cinematographer: Tom Fährmann Editor: Hans Funck Music: Marcel Barsotti Cast: Johanna Wokalek, David Wenham, John Goodman Based on the novel by: Donna Woolfolk Cross

Festivals: Berlinale International Film Festival 2010, Audi Festival of German Films in Australia 2010 Production: Constantin Film, Medusa Film, Ikiru Films, UFA Filmproduktion, NDR/MDR/SWR/WDR/Degeto Print courtesy of: Summit Entertainment www.summit-ent.com

Photo © Constantin Film

DIE PÄPSTIN

BOOK SIGNING WITH DONNA WOOLFOLK CROSS 5:30pm | Books, Inc. (Castro) at 2275 Market St., San Francisco

Courtesy of Donna Cross

Hear celebrated American author Donna Woolfolk Cross discuss her novel Pope Joan, her research into the subject, and Joan's enduring message for women today. Book signing afterward. The novel Pope Joan became an international bestseller soon after its publication, selling millions of copies worldwide--over five million copies, in book and audio format, in Germany alone.

• Special Thanks to Constantin Film and Donna Woolfolk Cross • Co-presented by Books, Inc. 8

15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

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About Director Sönke Wortmann: Sönke Wortmann, born in Marl, Germany, in 1959, is one of the most famous and successful German film directors. His most recent films The Miracle of Bern (2003) and Germany: A Summer’s Fairytale (2006) were major movie events, each drawing four million viewers in Germany. Wortmann, who graduated from the Münchner Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film and the Royal College of Art in London, had already become well-known with his first film productions Alone Among Women (1991) and Little Sharks (1992); he then made his ultimate breakthrough with the massive success of Maybe... Maybe Not, which drew more than 6.5 million people into cinemas in 1994. Wortmann is also active as a producer of cinema and TV films with his company Little Shark Entertainment.

Books, Inc. (Castro) phone: 415-864-6777

All photos on this page: © Constantin Film Verleih GmbH

SPOTLIGHT: 3D FILM

ANIMALS UNITED 3D KONFERENZ DER TIERE Sunday, October 24 at 2:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Experience Germany’s first RealD 3D animated feature! The animals in the African savannah are confused: where has all the water gone? It should have come gushing in from a mountain canyon a long time ago. Their thirst and worries continue to grow, especially since the only little water hole is being closely guarded by ferocious buffaloes and rhinos. The brave little meerkat Billy and the peace-loving lion Socrates take off in search of water. They encounter the Gallic rooster Charles, who single-handedly led a polar bear, a kangaroo, a Tasmanian devil, and two Galapagos turtles to Africa, where they are now hoping for a better life in the Okavango Delta. But even this last reserve has been taken over by humans. The hotel owner Smith had a huge dam built and is wasting all the water for a luxury hotel. It is here, of all places, that politicians are holding a conference about the protection of the environment. So, the animals answer to this with their own conference: elephant Angie calls on everything that can run, fly, trample, or crawl to defend themselves, in what becomes the kick-off to a turbulent offensive full of beastly tricks.

• Special Thanks to Constantin Film • Presented by nordmedia: Thomas Schäffer and Jochen Coldewey (in person)

• Co-presented by ASIFA-SF International Animated Film Society

In Person: Directors Reinhard Klooss and Holger Tappe Special Screening | Film for the Family Germany (2010), 3D DCP, 93min; in English

Directors/Producers: Reinhard Klooss, Holger Tappe Exec. Producer: Martin Moszkowicz Screenwriters: Oliver Huzly, Reinhard Klooss Music: David Newman Inspired by the Novel “The Animals’ Conference” by: Erich Kästner

Voice Cast: Jim Broadbent, James Corden, Dawn French, Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley, Billie Piper, Vanessa Redgrave, Andy Serkis Production: A Constantin Film Production in association with Ambient Entertainment and White Horse Pictures Print courtesy of: Constantin Film www.constantin-film.de

About the Directors: Reinhard Klooss studied Comparative Literature in Marburg and London before he started working as a freelance writer for radio, print and television media. He entered the film industry in 1986, and worked on over 20 German and international movies, including Go Trabi Go (1991), Comedian Harmonists (1997), Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar (1999), and Buffalo Soldiers (2001). In 2006, Klooss joined Constantin Film as a producer. Holger Tappe studied at the Berlin Academy of Photography and the Hanover Academy of New Media Design. In 1999, he founded Ambient Entertainment, specializing in 3D animation, CGI film production and digital post-production. His film Back to Gaya (2004) was the first completely digitally produced German animation film. After Impy's Island (2006) and Impy's Wonderland (2008), Animals United is the third CGI animation film that he and Reinhard Klooss have made together. www.berlinbeyond.com

15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

Photo © Independent Artists Filmproduktion/Manfred Horen

CENTERPIECE

In Person: Director Feo Aladag

WHEN WE LEAVE

Special Screening Germany (2010), 35mm, cs, 119min; in German, Turkish, with English subtitles

Sunday, October 24 at 7:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco

Photo © Independent Artists Filmproduktion

Starring Sibel Kekilli (best known for her leading role in Fatih Akin’s international sensation Head-On). What would you sacrifice for your family’s love? Your values? Your freedom? Your independence? German-born Umay flees her oppressive marriage in Istanbul, taking her young son Cem with her. She is hoping to find a better life with her family in Berlin, but her unexpected arrival creates intense conflict. Her family is trapped in their conventions, torn between their love for her and the values of their community. Ultimately they decide to return Cem to his father in Turkey. To keep her son, Umay is forced to move again. She finds the inner strength to build a new life for herself and Cem, but her need for her family’s love drives her to a series of ill-fated attempts at reconciliation. What Umay doesn’t realize is just how deep the wounds have gone and how dangerous her struggle for self-determination has become...

Director/Screenwriter: Feo Aladag Producers: Feo Aladag, Züli Aladag Cinematographer: Judith Kaufmann Editor: Andrea Mertens Music: Stéphane Moucha, Max Richter Cast: Sibel Kekilli, Derya Alabora, Settar Tanrioegen, Nizam Schiller, Tamer Yigit, Serhad Can, Almila Bagriacik, Florian Lukas Production: Independent Artists Filmproduktion, ARTE, RBB, WDR

Festivals/Awards: Berlin International Film Festival 2010 (Europa Cinemas Award); Tribeca Film Festival 2010 (Best Narrative Feature Award and Best Actress Award), German Film Awards 2010 (6 nominations including 2 wins for Best Film Bronze and Best Leading Actress) Print courtesy of: CINEPOOL www.telepool.de

About Director Feo Aladag: Feo Aladag was born in 1972 in Vienna, Austria. She began her career as an actress, completing her training in London and Vienna from 19901995. While studying acting she completed a masters in Psychology and Journalism, continuing on to receive her PhD in 2000. She acted in numerous acclaimed film and television productions while attending various master classes and directing seminars at the European Film Academy as well as the German Film and Television Academy. During this time she also maintained a successful career as an actress, a scriptwriter and commercial film director. In 2005 Aladag founded the production company Independent Artists, responsible for her debut as the producer, director and writer of Die Fremde.

Co-presented by Mill Valley Film Festival and San Francisco Women’s Film Festival

15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

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©Brigitte Dummer/Berlinale

DIE FREMDE

Photos on this page: © T&C Film AG

CLOSING NIGHT

JULIA’S DISAPPEARANCE GIULIAS VERSCHWINDEN Thursday, October 28 at 7:30pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco A comedy about aging, youth and other eternal truths. Of all days, precisely on her 50th birthday, Julia has to experience that age makes you invisible. Frustrated, she goes shopping and makes an acquaintance, spontaneously deciding to spend the evening with this stranger, rather than with the guests of her own birthday party. They wait for her in a restaurant, all dressed up and groomed, lively debating the years that have passed. The truths and wisdom of Julia's closest friends on aging and growing old are drowned increasingly in sufficient quantities of alcohol. In the mean time, on her 80th birthday, Leonie, sulking over the loss of youth, is rebelling against her daughter, the senior citizen's home, conventions, and old age in general - and joyfully sabotaging the party in her honor.

CLOSING NIGHT PARTY 9:30pm | Castro Theatre’s Mezzanine, San Francisco

In Person: Director Christoph Schaub Special Screening Switzerland (2009), 35mm, cs, 87min; in German with English subtitles

Director: Christoph Schaub Producer: Marcel Hoehn Screenwriter: Martin Suter Cinematographer: Filip Zumbrunn Editor: Marina Wernli Music: Balz Bachmann Cast: Corinna Harfouch, Bruno Ganz, Stefan Kurt, Sunnyi Melles, André Jung

Award: Locarno International Film Festival 2009 (Piazza Grande World Premiere, Prix du Public honoree) Production: T&C FILM AG Print courtesy of: T&C Edition AG www.tcfilm.ch

About Director Christoph Schaub: Christoph Schaub, born in Zurich in 1958, is an autodidact, who has been realizing movies and documentaries for theaters and television since 1984. Since 1988, he has focused on his work as a director and less so on his activities as a screenplay writer and producer. In the field of documentaries, he has specialized on films on architectural themes. He has been invited to show his films at festivals throughout the world and has won national and international awards. Sternenberg (2004), Jeune Homme (2006), and Happy New Year (2008) have all garnered Swiss Film Prize nominations.

After the film, celebrate another captivating and vibrant festival with film friends - while meeting guest stars, and savoring culinary delights and signature drinks from San Francisco and beyond! ($40.00 film & party)

ENCORE SCREENING IN SAN JOSE Saturday, October 30 at 5:00pm | Camera Cinemas 12, San Jose

Presented with the support of the Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco and the United Swiss Societies of Northern California

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15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

NEW PROGRAMS

Photo © Constantin Film Verleih GmbH

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

BOOK TO SCREEN

SURPRISE FILM

Berlin & Beyond Film Festival celebrates the art of storytelling, the joy of reading, and the importance of literacy through the new Book to Screen program. The program showcases books that have been adapted into films presented at the festival, and hosts a special booksigning and interactive discussion with a noteworthy author.

Guess what? On Monday, October 25th at 8:45pm, the festival will present its first-ever Surprise Film program. The film might be announced days prior, or it might be kept a secret until the lights go out!

Book Signing: Hear celebrated American author Donna Woolfolk Cross discuss her international bestselling novel, Pope Joan. Book signing afterward.

ENCORE DAY IN SAN JOSE

Saturday, October 23rd at 5:30pm Books, Inc. (Castro) 2275 Market St., San Francisco (415) 864-6777 For more info. on the screening of Pope Joan film, see p.8.

Selected Books: Spotlight - Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross On the Run by Martin Prinz (English version of The Robber) Rock Hudson: His Story by Rock Hudson and Sara Davidson

Hello, Silicon Valley! For the first time, the festival will present an encore day of screenings in downtown San Jose, at Camera Cinemas 12, on Saturday, October 30th. There will be four encore screenings and one San Jose-only presentation of the latest film from Fatih Akin. Schedule: 12:30pm - Rock Hudson: Dark and Handsome Stranger (p.23) 2:30pm - Home from Home (p.21) 5:00pm - Julia’s Disappearance (p.11) 7:00pm - Soul Kitchen (p.27) San Jose Special 9:30pm - Men in the City (p.26) For more information on Camera Cinemas 12, see back cover.

Books are available for purchase at Books, Inc. (Castro).

Presenting Sponsor: SAP In association with Books, Inc.

www.booksinc.net/SFCastro

AUDIENCE AWARD FREE FILM FOR STUDENTS In association with the acclaimed Language Program at Goethe-Institut San Francisco and select schools from across the Bay Area, the festival will host a free educational screening for middle school, high school and college students on the morning of Tuesday, October 26th. Film will be announced via festival’s website.

15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

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Your vote counts! Help determine the winner of the Audience Award. Upon entry into the theatre’s auditorium, pick up a ballot. At the end of the film, fill out the ballot, and place it in the ballot box upon exit. The winning feature for the Audience Award will be announced before the screening of the Closing Night Film on October 28th.

Top Image: From Pope Joan

CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STARS Among the many fascinating film festival experiences are the Q&As with visiting artists, directors, and producers. For updates on expected guests, go to www.berlinbeyond.com. Free to ticket holders for the film that precedes the Q&A.

FLORIAN DAVID FITZ Friday, October 22 at 8:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Saturday, October 23 at 2:30pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco San Francisco welcomes Florian David Fitz, the writer and star of the festival’s Opening Night film - the road movie, Vincent Wants to Sea (info. p.7). He was also part of an all-star cast in the box office hit, Men in the City (info. p.26). Join us for engaging conversations with Florian after the screenings of these two films (S.F. shows only). Saturday, October 23 at 12:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Director Vadim Jendreyko followed the great translator Swetlana Geier back to the place of her childhood in Ukraine, in the inspiring documentary, The Woman with the 5 Elephants. Hear his stories at the Q&A following the film’s screening. More info. p.17

©Angabe Nadja Klier

FLORIAN DAVID FITZ

VADIM JENDREYKO

MICHAEL VERHOEVEN Saturday, October 23 at 4:45pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Celebrated director Michael Verhoeven returns to Berlin & Beyond Film Festival with his documentary Human Failure. German Consul General Peter Rothen will host a conversation with Dr. Verhoeven following the film’s screening. More info. p.22

DONNA WOOLFOLK CROSS Saturday, October 23 at 7:30pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco The epic tale, Pope Joan, is based on the bestselling novel by American author Donna Woolfolk Cross. Join Donna for a vivacious Q&A as she discusses Pope Joan and the grueling, often hilarious, path her novel traveled between page and screen. More info. p.8

REINHARD KLOOSS & HOLGER TAPPE

BENJAMIN HEISENBERG Tuesday, October 26 at 8:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Benjamin Heisenberg returns to Berlin & Beyond Film Festival with his latest work, The Robber, a film adapted from Martin Prinz’s eponymous novel of the true story of Austria’s infamous “Pump-gun Ronnie.” Join the talented director for a thrilling conversation following the film’s screening. More info. p.15

CHRISTIAN GÖRLITZ Wednesday, October 27 at 3:30pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Writer-director Christian Görlitz brings his comedic music film Krauts, Doubts and Rock ‘n’ Roll to San Francisco. Join us after the film for a Q&A. More info. p.24

Sunday, October 24 at 2:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Animals United 3D is Germany’s first RealD 3D animated feature film. Directors Reinhard Klooss and Holger Tappe, along with Thomas Schäffer and Jochen Coldewey from nordmedia, will conduct a Q&A with the audience. More info. p.9

Wednesday, October 27 at 6:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Writer-director Nicolas Steiner will introduce his sensational and unforgettable short film It’s Me, Helmut. More info. p.18

JAN TENHAVEN & CHRISTIAN BEETZ

SUNG-HYUNG CHO

Sunday, October 24 at 4:45pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Following the screening of Autumn Gold, join director Jan Tenhaven and producer Christian Beetz for a charming conversation about this heartwarming film. More info. p.21

Thursday, October 28 at 2:30pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Saturday, October 30 at 2:30pm | Camera Cinemas 12, San Jose America welcomes director Sung-Hyung Cho, best known for the surprise hit, Full Metal Village (Wacken). Following both screenings of her latest film, Home from Home, hear the personal stories behind her work. More info. p.21

FEO ALADAG Sunday, October 24 at 7:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Dr. Feo Aladag wrote, produced, and directed the deeply-affecting Centerpiece film, When We Leave. Join us for a captivating Q&A following the film’s screening. More info. p.10

ANDRÉ SCHÄFER Monday, October 25 at 6:30pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco André Schäfer co-wrote and co-directed the documentary Rock Hudson: Dark and Handsome Stranger with Andrew Davies. Join André after the film’s screening for an insightful conversation about the film and the Hollywood star that it examines. More info. p.23

NICOLAS STEINER

NEELE LEANA VOLLMAR Thursday, October 28 at 5:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Get acquainted with director Neele Leana Vollmar, through a delightful conversation, following the screening of her third feature film, Wedding Fever in Campobello. More info. p.29

CHRISTOPH SCHAUB Thursday, October 28 at 7:30pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Meet Closing Night film director Christoph Schaub, whose film, Julia’s Disappearance, won the Prix du Public at its premiere at Switzerland’s glorious Locarno International Film Festival. More info. p.11

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15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

CELEBRATING AUSTRIA’S NATIONAL DAY OCTOBER 26, 2010

PIANOMANIA

AUSTRIAN FILMS

THE ROBBER

Photo courtesy of Films Distribution

Photos on this side courtesy of Oval Filmemacher

DER RÄUBER

Tuesday, October 26 at 5:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco

Tuesday, October 26 at 8:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco

Austria, Germany (2009), 35mm, 93min; in German, English, with English subtitles

In Person: Director Benjamin Heisenberg

Directors/Writers/Producers: Robert Cibis, Lilian Franck Cinematographers: Robert Cibis, Jerzy Palacz Editor: Michèle Barbin Music: David Benedikt, Ina Nikolow, Matthias Petsche Cast: Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Alfred Brendel, Aleksey Igudesman, Richard Hyung-Ki Joo, Stephan Knüpfer, Lang Lang

California Premiere with Los Angeles Austria, Germany (2010), 35mm, cs, 90min; in German, with English subtitles

Festivals/Awards: Diagonale Graz 2009 (Austrian Award for Best Editing in Documentary), Locarno Int’l 2009 (Critic's Week Prize), San Francisco Int’l 2010 (Best Documentary) Production: WILDart Film (Vienna) Oval Filmemacher (Berlin) Print courtesy of: Oval Filmemacher GbR www.oval-film

Director: Benjamin Heisenberg Producers: Nikolaus Geyrhalter, Markus Glaser, Michael Kitzberger, Wolfgang Widerhofer, Peter Heilrath Screenwriters: Benjamin Heisenberg, Martin Prinz Cinematographer: Reinhold Vorschneider Editors: Andrea Wagner, Benjamin Heisenberg Music: Lorenz Dangel

Pianomania is a film about love, perfection and a little bit of madness. “The tone isn’t breathing,” complains pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard, distraught. This is a typical sentence in Steinway & Sons’ chief technician and Master Tuner Stefan Knüpfer’s normal work day. Each piano has its own personality, each piece demands its own timbre, and every interpretation has a particular temperament. Pianomania takes the viewer along on a humorous journey into the secret world of sounds, and accompanies Stefan Knüpfer at his unusual job with world famous pianists like Lang Lang, Alfred Brendel, Rudolf Buchbinder and PierreLaurent Aimand, among others. This unusual film tells – with devotion and humor – of moments of absolute love of attention to detail and perfection. Pianomania observes, from unique angles, the suspenseful search for the perfect tone.

Presented with the support of the Austrian Consulate General in Los Angeles

Based on the eponymous novel by Martin Prinz of the true story of Austria’s infamous “Pump-gun Ronnie” and starring Andreas Lust from Revanche! Johann Rettenberger - a misfit in the world he’s been released into and driven by his endorphin addiction - embarks on a spellbinding journey to run marathons and rob banks. Motivated by the pure beauty of the criminal campaigns he executes, he is both cool and calculated whilst also fast and resourceful. His emotional indifference is shattered when Erika steps back into his life during a chance meeting. She offers him refuge, however the dark secrets he hides soon overwhelm him. Misguided in his dual search for love and freedom, the authorities finally begin to close in on the robber. Moved by an over-powering inner energy he attempts to flee the largest deployment of police forces in Austria’s modern history!

Photo © Benjamin Heisenberg

About Directors Robert Cibis and Lillian Franck: Robert Cibis and Lilian Franck have been creating documentary films together for ten years with their production company Oval Filmemacher. Their film Jesus Loves You (2008), which observes self-appointed missionaries in their bid to convert soccer fans at the World Cup, premiered at the Berlinale in the Perspektive Deutsches Kino section. --San Francisco International Film Festival

Cast: Andreas Lust, Franziska Weisz, Markus Schleinzer Festivals/Awards: Berlinale 2010, Seattle Int’l 2010, Bavarian Film Awards 2010 (Best Newcomer Award for Benjamin Heisenberg) Production: Nikolaus Geyrhalter Filmproduktion, Peter Heilrath Filmproduktion Print courtesy of: Films Distribution www.filmsdistribution.com

About Director Benjamin Heisenberg: Benjamin Heisenberg was born in 1974 in Tübingen, Germany. He is the grandson of Nobel Prize winning physicist Werner Heisenberg (via his father Martin Heisenberg). He has directed seven films since 1996. Sleeper (Schläfer, BBFF 2006) screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2005 Festival de Cannes. The Robber was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival and garnered him the Best Newcomer Award the 2010 Bavarian Film Awards.

• Presented with the support of the Austrian Consulate General in Los Angeles • Co-presented by the San Francisco Film Society www.berlinbeyond.com

15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

LUXEMBOURG SPECIAL

SWISS FILMS THE WELFARE WORKER

RÉFRACTAIRE

DER FÜRSORGER

Monday, October 25 at 4:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco

Wednesday, October 27 at 1:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco

Northern California Premiere | Luxembourg, Switzerland (2009), 35mm, cs, 97min; in French, with English subtitles

US West Coast Premiere | Switzerland, Luxembourg, Germany (2009), 35mm, 93min; in Swiss German, German, with English subtitles

Director: Nicolas Steil Producers: Nicolas Steil, Gerard Ruey Screenwriters: Jean-Louis Schlesser, Nicolas Steil Cinematographer: Denis Jutzeler Editor: Lorédana Cristelli Music: André Mergenthaler, Michel Wintsch

Director: Lutz Konermann Producers: Rolf Schmid, Paul Thiltges, David Grumbach, Anita Elsani Screenwriters: Lutz Konermann & Felix Benesch, Cinematographer: Sten Mende Editor: Thierry Faber Music: Anselme Pau

Photos on this side © IRIS Productions

Photos on this side © Paul Thiltges Distributions

DRAFT DODGERS

Cast: Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Marianne Basler, Carlo Brandt, Michel Voïta, Arthur Dupont, Thierry Van Werveke Festival: Montreal 2010 Production/Print courtesy of: IRIS Productions www.irisproductions.lu

Luxembourg’s entry to the 2010 Academy Awards: Collaborate with the enemy, or resist? Take on the role of a victim, or try to survive... but at what cost? François, 21, is living in a country that Nazi Germany has just annexed. His father, who collaborates with the fascist regime, forced him to go to a German university. But François committed a first act of disobedience and decided to run away from the racial hatred that they preached. Now he is facing a Cornelian choice: Accepting to get forcibly enrolled and leave for the Russian front to fight the Allies? Or becoming a draft dodger, and burying himself alive for months on end, in the cold and humidity of the iron mines? With the anguish of knowing that his parents would be deported…

Cast: Roeland Wiesnekker, Katharina Wackernagel, Claude De Demo, Johanna Bantzer, Andrea Guyer Festivals: Filmfestival Max Ophüls 2010, Brooklyn Int'l 2010 Production/Print courtesy of: Paul Thiltges Distributions www.ptd.lu

Based on the memoirs of notorious Swiss embezzler Hans-Peter Streit: Welfare worker Hans-Peter possesses the secret code to happiness: a money-multiplying strategy which promises incredible wealth to its hand-picked investors - and a life of leisure and luxury. He himself embezzles millions and takes women’s hearts by storm. But when a stupid mistake trips him up, the mask of seemingly respectful citizenship drops to reveal a host of other personae: the unscrupulous swindler, the love-hungry ladykiller, the remorseful family man... In short, nothing is what it seems.The Welfare Worker is an entertaining comedy about human blindness in the face of big money. Director Lutz Konermann has found the perfect balance between farce and seriousness. This film delights with its surprising turns, a warm and lovingly constructed set and outstanding actors and actresses.

About Director Nicolas Steil: Nicolas Steil, born in 1961, began his career as a journalist in written press, radio, and television, before founding his production company, Iris Productions S.A. in 1986, in Luxembourg. He has produced or co-produced thirty fiction, animation or documentary feature films in French, German and English. Furthermore, Nicolas Steil is the Exclusive Legal Representative in the Grand-Duchy of International Copyright Collecting Agency, AGICOA, since 1989. In 1987, he founded the first producers' union in the Grand-Duchy (P.A.L.), which led him to participate, through talks with government authorities, in the setting up of Luxembourg's audiovisual production double support scheme. His directorial debut, Draft Dodgers (which he also co-wrote and co-produced), was Luxembourg’s official entry in the race for the 82nd Best Foreign Film Academy Award. It will be released in France and the UK in November 2010.

About Director Lutz Konermann: Lutz Konermann, born in Bardenberg, Germany, in 1958, has worked as an actor, director, cinematographer and screenwriter for 25 years, and participated in over 100 productions. As a member of the board of FOCAL, the Swiss Foundation for Continuous Training in Audiovisual Skills, and of the Swiss Association of Film Directors and Screenwriters, FDS, he has actively contributed to the shaping of the Swiss film landscape. Since 1991, Konermann has taught directing and cinematography at Ludwigsburg’s Film Academy Baden-Württemberg. Among his films, Aufdermauer (1982) garnered a German Film Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Direction and Schwarz und ohne Zucker (1985) won the Promotional Award at Max Ophüls Festival.

• Presented with the support of the Consulate General of Luxembourg in San Francisco • Special Thanks to IRIS Productions

Presented with the support of the Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco

15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

www.berlinbeyond.com

SWISS FILMS THE WOMAN WITH THE 5 ELEPHANTS

DIE STANDESBEAMTIN

DIE FRAU MIT DEN 5 ELEFANTEN

Wednesday, October 27 at 6:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco

Saturday, October 23 at 12:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco

Switzerland (2009), 35mm, 90min; in Swiss German, German, with English subtitles

In Person: Director Vadim Jendreyko Swiss/German Co-Production

Photo courtesy of Nour Films

Photo © Schweizer Fernsehen, Daniel Ammann

WILL YOU MARRY US?

Director: Micha Lewinsky Producer: Ann-Catherine Lang Majer Screenwriters: Micha Lewinsky, Jann Preuss Cinematographer: Pierre Mennel Editor: Bernhard Lehner Music: Markus Schönholzer, Marcel Vaid Cast: Marie Leuenberger, Dominique Jann, Oriana Schrage, Beat Schlatter, Beat Marti, Jörg Schneider

US West Coast Premiere with Los Angeles | Switzerland, Germany (2009), 35mm, 93min; in German, Russian, with English subtitles | Documentary

Festivals/Awards: Palm Springs Int’l 2010; Cinequest 2010; Traverse City 2010; Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic 2010; Best Actress for Marie Leuenberger at both 2009 Montréal World Film Festival & 2010 Swiss Film Prize Production: Langfilm, Schweizer Fernsehen (SF) Print courtesy of: CINEPOOL

Director/Writer: Vadim Jendreyko Producers: Hercli Bundi, Vadim Jendreyko, Thomas Tielsch Cinematographers: Niels Bolbrinker, Stéphane Kuthy Editor: Gisela Castronari-Jaensch Music: Daniel Almada, Martin Iannaccone Cast: Swetlana Geier, Anna Götte, Hanna Hagen, Jürgen Klodt Prod.: Mira Film, Filmtank, ZDF/3sat, SF

www.telepool.de

Rahel Hubli works as a civil registrar documenting and administering marriages. She regularly witnesses the joy and happiness of others, but her own marriage hasn't been all that successful. One day, she runs into an old friend in a local bookstore, and her passion begins to flicker again. Years ago, Ben and Rahel played in the same band together and were very close, but he moved away to Berlin, had a hit solo album, and is now engaged to Tinka, an actress,who has accompanied him on this trip back home. In fact, they intend to get married and Ben would like Rahel to officiate. Despite the fact that he prepares for the big event with another woman, Ben and Rahel find that they still have feelings for each other. Rahel suddenly remembers what it feels like to be truly in love. Can Ben reciprocate? Or will real life interfere? About Director Micha Lewinsky: Micha Lewinsky was born in 1972 in Kassel, Germany, but grew up in Switzerland. Since 2000 he has been a writer for such films as Weihnachten (2002), Little Girl Blue (2003) directed by Anna Luif, and Sternenberg (2004) directed by Christoph Schaub. He began directing in 2005. With his directorial debut The Friend (2008, BBFF 2009), he was honored with Best Film at the 2008 Swiss Film Prize and Best First Feature Award at the 2009 Berlin & Beyond Film Festival. Will You Marry Us? is his second feature.

Festivals/Awards: Locarno Int’l 2009; European Film Awards 2009 (Best Documentary Nominee); Swiss Film Prize 2010 (Best Documentary); Hot Docs, Toronto 2010; SilverDocs, DC 2010 (Sterling World Feature Award); Taiwan Documentary Film Festival 2010 Print courtesy of: Goethe-Institut, Munich, www.goethe.de

Swetlana Geier is considered the greatest translator of Russian literature into German. She has just concluded her lifework for Zurich’s Ammann publishing house – completing new translations of Dostoyevsky’s five great novels – known as the five elephants. Her work is characterized by a great and sensual feeling for language and an uncompromising respect for the writers she translates. Her life has been overshadowed by Europe’s varied history. Together with the film’s director, the 85-year old Swetlana Geier makes her first trip from her chosen home in Germany back to the places of her childhood in Ukraine. The film interweaves the story of Swetlana Geier’s life with her literary work and traces the secret of her inexhaustibly hard work. It tells of great suffering, silent helpers, and unhoped-for chances – and a love of language that outshines all else.

Presented with the support of the Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco

Photo courtesy of Vadim Jendreyko

• Preceded by short film, It’s Me, Helmut, directed by Nicolas Steiner. More details on page 18.

About Director Vadim Jendreyko: Vadim Jendreyko was born in 1965 in Germany and grew up in Switzerland. He received his education at the Basel School of Applied Art and the Düsseldorf Art Academy. He directed his first film in 1986. In 2002, he and Hercli Bundi founded Mira Film GmbH, where he also works as producer and co-producer. He is the father of two children and lives in Basel. His other documentaries are: Bashkim (2002), which won the Swiss Film Prize for Best Documentary; Transit - Zurich Airport (2003); and Maximum Performance (2004).

www.berlinbeyond.com

15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

SHORT FILMS IT’S ME, HELMUT

THE LAST WHEEL

ICH BIN’S, HELMUT

DAS LETZTE RAD

Sunday, October 24 at 12:00pm Castro Theatre, San Francisco Precedes Silver Girls see pg.23

Wednesday, October 27 at 6:00pm Castro Theatre, San Francisco Precedes Will You Marry Us? see pg.17

Wednesday, October 27 at 9:00pm Castro Theatre, San Francisco Precedes The Silence see pg.27

US West Coast Premiere Germany (2009), 35mm, 12min; in German, with English subtitles

In Person: Director Nicolas Steiner

North American Premiere Germany (2009), DigiBeta, 8min; no dialogue

Photos of films and directors from left to right: ©Kontrastfilm; ©Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg; ©University of Film and Television "Konrad Wolf"

EDGAR

Director/Screenwriter: Fabian Busch Producer: Dirk Wellbrock Cinematographer: Bernd Löhr Editor: Sabine Brose Music: Julian Tyrasa Cast: Wilfried Dziallas, Charly Hübner, Julia Brendler, Horst-Günter Marx Festivals: Locarno Int’l, Switzerland, 2009; Oldenburg Int’l, Germany, 2009; Tribeca, USA, 2010 Production/Print courtesy of: Kontrastfilm www.kontrastfilm.de

Since his wife died two years ago, Edgar has been alone. His life has been left without purpose. One day, he leaves his house, determined to find a job. But the saleswoman in the store is not interested. On his way out, Edgar, lost in thought, picks up an umbrella. The store detective detains him. Suddenly, Edgar has his chance. About Director Fabian Busch: Fabian Busch was born in 1975, in Berlin. Both his parents are dancers. Although without training as an actor, Busch got the leading role in Wolfgang Kohlhaase’s Inge, April and May in 1993. Other films are: Matthias X. Oberg’s road movie Under the Milky Way (1996), in Hans Christian Schmid’s hacker thriller 23 (1998); and Zehn wahnsinnige Tage (2000) which earned him a nomination at the German TV awards. Edgar is his directorial debut.

15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

Northern California Premiere Germany (2009), 35mm, 12min; in Swiss German, German with English subtitles Director/Screenwriter: Nicolas Steiner Producers: Anna-Luise Dietzel, Nicolas Steiner Cinematographer: Clemens Baumeister Music: Hidden White Horn Jazz Band Cast: Mathias Zelic, Andreas Herzog, Suly Roethlisberger Festivals/Awards: Best Swiss Film Winterthur 2009; Palm Springs Int’l 2010; Minister of Fine Arts Promotion Prize Dresden 2010 Production/Print courtesy of: Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg www.filmakademie.de

Helmut celebrates his 60th birthday on the day he is actually turning 57 (his wife miscalculated). As a facade of petit-bourgeois domesticity peels away, old friends drop by to offer some well-meaning advice through bizarre declarations of love and transience… Shot in Engersch, a mountain village in the south of Switzerland. About Director Nicolas Steiner: Nicolas Steiner was born in 1984 in Turtmann, Switzerland. After studying at European Film College in Denmark, Zurich University in Switzerland, and Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg in Ludwigsburg, Germany - he is currently at the San Francisco Art Institute, with the support of the Fulbright program. His short films include: Snatch & Kittie (2006), Sticky(2008), Blitz und Donner, Windgefauch (2009), and It’s Me, Helmut (2009).

www.berlinbeyond.com

Director/Screenwriter/Producer: Olaf Held Cinematographer: Dylan E. Thompson Animation: Mario Anger Editor: Rico Heinisch Music: Benjamin Dickmann Cast: Axel Ranisch, Heiko Schramm, Peter Fröhlich, Philip Shafer, Yves Apel Festivals: São Paulo Int'l Short Film Festival, Brazil, 2009; Festival of German Films, London 2009; ICPFF, Seoul, Korea 2009 Production/Print courtesy of: University of Film and Television "Konrad Wolf" (HFF), Potsdam www.hff-potsdam.de

In a dark, damp jail, the inmates hatch strange ideas. To break out of their confinement, they use their own bodies in a very idiosyncratic way. An impressive mixture of animation and feature film with atmospheric images and a very ornate presentation. About Director Olaf Held: Olaf Held was born in 1970. He co-organized the Kulturfabrik Voxxx from 1994-2004 and worked for the Chemnitzer Filmwerkstatt from 2005-2006. Since 2006 he has been studying Script Writing and Drama at the University of Film and Television “Konrad Wolf” in Potsdam. His films include Schicht Engelbertstrasse (2006), Duel in Griesbach (2006), Petzold’s Whistles (2008), and The Last Wheel (2009).

SHORT FILMS THE LOST AND FOUND BOX OF HUMAN SENSATION

SIDE BY SIDE

Tuesday, October 26 at 2:30pm Castro Theatre, San Francisco Precedes The Last Giants see pg.22

Sunday, October 24 at 9:30pm Castro Theatre, San Francisco Precedes Run if You Can see pg.26

Sunday, October 24 at 4:45pm Castro Theatre, San Francisco Precedes Autumn Gold see pg.21

US West Coast Premiere Germany (2009), DigiBeta, 6min; no dialogue

Germany (2010), DigiBeta, 15min; in English

Northern California Premiere Germany (2010), 35mm, 13min; in German, with English subtitles

NEBENEINANDER

Photos of films and directors from left to right: ©Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg; ©Dancing Squirrel; ©Voilà Film

LEBENSADER

Director/Screenwriter/Animator: Angela Steffen Producers: Sinje Gebauer, Claudia Krueger Music: Clangoin Festivals/Awards: Ottawa, Canada 2009 (Best Graduate Animation); Annecy, France 2010 (Special Distinction); Edinburgh, UK 2010; SICAF Seoul 2010 Production/Print courtesy of: Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg www.filmakademie.de

Directors: Martin Wallner, Stefan Leuchtenberg Producers: Nils Dünker, Anatole Taubman Screenwriter: Martin Wallner Commissioning Editors: Claudia Gladziejewski, Kerstin Welter Music: Lars Deutsch Voice Cast: Sir Ian McKellen, Joseph Fiennes Festivals/Awards: Ottawa, Canada, 2010; Palm Springs Int’l ShortFest 2010; First Steps Award 2010 Production/Print courtesy of: Dancing Squirrel, Lailaps Pictures www.dancing-squirrel.com, www.lailaps-pictures.com

A little girl finds the whole world inside a leaf. About Director Angela Steffen: Angela Steffen was born in Dannenberg in 1979. From 2001 - 2002 she studied Animation at the Animation School Hamburg, and then at the Institute of Animation at the Baden-Wuerttemberg Film Academy, graduating in 2009. During her studies she developed a personal and poetic style culminating in her diploma film Lebensader (2009). Her previous film Wie ich mich traf (2004) won numerous awards in Germany and abroad. Her other films include: Shadow Play (2002, co-director) and Loko Mare (2005).

Narrated by Sir Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings). When his father dies unexpectedly, a young man seeking to cope with his grief goes on a powerful emotional journey through time and space. About the Directors: Martin Wallner has studied at the University of Applied Sciences in Augsburg and at the University of Newcastle (Australia). A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation is his directing debut. Stefan Leuchtenberg has been a freelance illustrator since 1999. He has studied at the University of Applied Sciences in Augsburg and Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design in Budapest. He and Martin Wallner founded Dancing Squirrel, a studio for conception and development of interactive media and animation.

Director: Christoph Englert Producers: Kiri Kristin Trier, Felix von Poser Screenwriters: Sarah Bräuer, Christoph Englert Cinematographer: Jenny Bräuer Editor: Jana Krohn Music: Martina Eisenreich Cast: Michael Hanemann, Petra Kelling, Johannes Silberschneider, Lisa Wagner, Felix Rech, Tanja Frehse Festivals: Max Ophüls Preis 2010, Palm Springs Int’l ShortFest 2010 Production/Print courtesy of: Voilà Film www.voila-film.de

A day at the lake, a bench in the park. Rosemarie waits for her husband, Walter, but a different man sits beside her instead. About Director Christoph Englert: Writer, director and editor Christoph Englert was born in 1977. He lives in Munich, Germany and studies at the city’s University of Television and Film (HFF). His other short films include: Little Things (2004); The Watchman and the Little Girl (2007), which played at festivals around the world from Seattle to Giffoni to Istanbul, and won Best Student film at San Joaquin International Film Festival in California. His latest work Side by Side (2009) was recently honored with Runner Up for the Best Student Short Film Award at the Palm Springs International ShortFest 2010.

www.berlinbeyond.com

15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

GERMAN DOCS HOME FROM HOME

HERBSTGOLD

ENDSTATION DER SEHNSÜCHTE

Sunday, October 24 at 4:45pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco

Thursday, October 28 at 2:30pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Saturday, October 30 at 2:30pm | Camera Cinemas 12, San Jose

Photos on this side © Flying Moon Filmproduktion

Photos on this side © Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion

AUTUMN GOLD

In Person: Director Jan Tenhaven & Producer Christian Beetz US Premiere with Los Angeles | Germany, Austria (2010), 35mm, 94min; in German, English, Italian, Czech with English subtitles Director/Writer: Jan Tenhaven Producers: Christian Beetz, Johannes Rosenberger Cinematographer: Marcus Winterbauer Editor: Jürgen Winkelblech Music: Andy Baum Cast: Alfred Proksch, Gabre Gabric, Herbert Liedtke, Ilse Pleuger, Jirí Soukup

Festivals/Awards: Diagonale, Austria 2010; HotDocs, Toronto, Canada 2010 (Filmmakers Award) Production: Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion/Berlin, Navigator Film/Vienna Print courtesy of: Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion www.beetz-brothers.eu www.autumngold-movie.com

People in most Western countries are getting older – but also much fitter. As sport clubs are losing members among the young ones, old people flock to the stadiums and compete in championships. This film tells the life-affirming stories of five senior athletes across the world who all have one goal – to take part in the track and field World Masters Championships in Finland. The biggest challenge is their age, as all athletes are between 80 and 100 years old. Giving five veteran athletes a voice, this film shows their extraordinary race against time and age as they jump, run and throw the discus. In their lives, each has faced many crises, losses, wars, and diseases. But as the clock is still ticking, they are united in one goal. Autumn Gold is an hommage to life: not smooth and wrinkle-free but full of humor and determination. About Director Jan Tenhaven: Jan Tenhaven, born 1969 in Essen, Germany, works as a writer and director of documentaries in Berlin and Leipzig. Since 2001 he directs films at MDR television, and has worked with Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion since 2007. He has studied Social Sciences and Journalism in Bochum and Berlin, and was a RIAS Media Fellow at Duke University, USA, in 1999. Since 2004 he is a lecturer at the EMS Electronic Media School in PotsdamBabelsberg. For Autumn Gold, his first theatrical documentary, he received the Filmmakers Award at 2010 Hot Docs in Toronto. • Preceded by short film, Side by Side, directed by Christoph Englert. More details on page 19.

• Sponsored by the Excelsior German Center at the Altenheim • Co-presented by the Mill Valley Film Festival

In Person: Director Sung-Hyung Cho (at both shows) US Premiere | Germany, South Korea (2009), DigiBeta, 95min; in German, Korean, English, with English subtitles

Director/Writer/Editor: Sung-Hyung Cho Producers: Helge Albers, Nicole Baum, Roshanak Behesht Nedjad Cinematographers: Stefan Grandinetti, Ralph Netzer, Axel Schneppat Festival: Berlinale 2009

Cast: Young-Sook Theis, Armin Theis, Chun-Ja Engelfried, Willi Engelfried, Woo-Za Straus-Kim, Ludwig Straus-Kim Production/Print courtesy of: Flying Moon Filmproduktion www.flyingmoon.com

From the director of Full Metal Village (Wacken), picture this: A German village in Korea – with garden gnomes in the land of smiles! Three women return to South Korea after spending over thirty years in Germany. Together with their German husbands, they live in the "German Village," a quirky tourist attraction replete with red tiled roofs, Bockwurst and Pumpernickel. However, the wounds of the wives are deeper: They once went to Germany as nurses, and now have come back home with suitcases filled with “open bills.” But it’s only when they get to Korea that they first realize: Germany is more than just a foreign country which they left behind. Now they miss Germany and they realize that it was home for them, too. Director Sung-Hyung Cho plumbs the depths of this balancing act between two cultures with humor and sensitivity, while questioning what "home" really means and whether one can ever really find it again. About Director Sung-Hyung Cho: Sung-Hyung Cho was born in 1966 in Busan, South Korea. She received her education at the Yon-Sei University in Seoul, South Korea, and at Phillipps-University Marburg in Germany. From 1997 through 2002, her work was focused in music video and short film productions. In 2007, her documentary Full Metal Village became a surprise hit, winning a Max Ophuels Award and attracted over 190,000 cinemagoers in Germany. Both Full Metal Village and Home from Home reflect Sung-Hyung's own life and her experiences between the two cultures of Germany and Korea.

Co-presented by the Center for Asian American Media www.berlinbeyond.com

15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

GERMAN DOCS THE LAST GIANTS - OCEANS IN DANGER

MENSCHLICHES VERSAGEN

THE LAST GIANTS - WENN DAS MEER STIRBT

Saturday, October 23 at 4:45pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco

Tuesday, October 26 at 2:30pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco

In Person: Director Michael Verhoeven Introduction by German Consul General Peter Rothen

Germany, Spain (2009), DigiBeta, 90min; in German, with English subtitles

US West Coast Premiere | Germany (2008), DigiBeta, 91min; in German, with English subtitles

Director/Writer/Producer: Daniele Grieco Editor: Achim Schunck Cinematographers: Gerd Hägele, Kathleen Herbst, Francisco Gil Vera, Herwarth Voigtmann, Michael Weyhers Music: Stefan Mohr

Photos on this side © Sentana Film

Photos on this side photo © Progress Film-Verleih

HUMAN FAILURE

Director/Producer: Michael Verhoeven Writers: Luise Lindermair & Michael Verhoeven Cinematographers: Britta Becker, Matthias Boch, Joseph McCarthy, Jokl Hausleitner Editor: Gabriele Kroeber Music: Sami Hammi

Festivals/Awards: Yad Vashem Chairman's Award, Jerusalem FF 2009; Top Prize, German Documentaries on Jewish Themes, Berlin Jewish FF 2009 Production: Sentana Filmproduktion Print courtesy of: Menemsha Films www.menemshafilms.com

From celebrated Director Michael Verhoeven: The expropriation of assets from German Jews during the Third Reich benefitted virtually every other German citizen. It was not the Gestapo who invaded Jewish residences in order to confiscate all property, from bank accounts to the last shirt, it was the German tax officials. A bizarre competition evolved between bureaucrats as to how to organize the robbery of the Jews before they were expelled, or sent to their deaths. Larger assets went to tax offices, and the smaller assets and goods were sold to friends and neighbors in public auctions of “Non-Aryan“ property. Many documents proving this expropriation were lost or destroyed; ones that remained were hidden away. A search for traces... About Director Michael Verhoeven: Dr. Michael Verhoeven was born in Berlin in 1938, the son of actor-director Paul Verhoeven and actress Doris Kiesow. His gigs as a stage actor in his younger years and a screen actor in the 50s and 60s financed his study in medicine. He married actress Senta Berger in 1966, and the couple co-founded Sentana Film. He quit the medical profession in 1973 to focus only on film. The subject of most of his films are about the Holocaust. He gained worldwide acclaim with: The White Rose (1982); The Nasty Girl (1990) which received an Academy Award nomination, a BAFTA Award and a Berlinale Silver Bear; and My Mother’s Courage (1996), based on the play of theatre legend George Tabori. In 2006, Dr. Verhoeven was honored by Berlin & Beyond Film Festival with the Award for Lifetime Achievement in Directing.

• Sponsored by the Consulate General of Germany, San Francisco • Co-presented by the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival 22

15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

www.berlinbeyond.com

Cast: Katharina Heyer, Ernst-August Schepmann Production: Stella Maris Film Print courtesy of: Progress Film-Verleih GmbH www.progress-film.de

Until a few years ago, neither scientists nor the public were aware that the Strait of Gibraltar was such a unique natural paradise: in no other place on earth you can find as many whale species living in such a confined area. But the strait is also one of the choke-points of global trade with a volume of shipping traffic unparalleled in the world. Where modern routes of transport and ancient migration routes meet, we witness a showdown of the ocean giants. Again and again, whales are run over, get caught in ships' propellers, are poisoned by waste water or strand disoriented by the underwater noise pollution.Ten years ago, Swiss-born Katharina Heyer discovered that there are whales in this junction between Europe and Africa – and that these whales show unique behaviors due to their close co-existence. In order to protect their habitat, the former fashion designer changed her life and moved into the region. This film documents her fight for a hospital – a hospital for whales. About Director Daniele Grieco: Daniele Grieco was born in 1967 and initially studied Marine Biology in Naples and later worked for the German broadcaster WDR as a radio reporter. He graduated from a film school in New York and worked as an author and assistant director in New York and Cologne. Active as a producer, director and scriptwriter, The Last Giants – Oceans in Danger (2009) is his first feature-length film. • Preceded by short film, Lebensader, directed by Angela Steffen. More details on page 19.

GERMAN DOCS ROCK HUDSON: DARK AND HANDSOME STRANGER

SILVER GIRLS

Monday, October 25 at 6:30pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Saturday, October 30 at 12:30pm | Camera Cinemas 12, San Jose

Sunday, October 24 at 12:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco

FRAUENZIMMER

In Person: Director André Schäfer (at Castro show only) US West Coast Premiere with Los Angeles | Germany (2010), DigiBeta, 95min; in English, French, with English subtitles Directors/Writers: Andrew Davies, André Schäfer Producer: Marianne Schäfer Cinematographer: Tom Kaiser Editor: Martin Schomers Music: Ritchie Staringer

Festivals: Berlinale 2010; Newfest, NYC 2010 Production: Florianfilm, ARTE Print courtesy of: SND Films www.sndfilms.com

If Hollywood star Rock Hudson had not died of AIDS 25 years ago, it would have been his 85th birthday this November. The film portrays a very masculine-looking gay leading man who had to perform a secret balancing act between the heterosexual Hollywood world and the dark side of closeted sexuality. As someone who always needed to tell lies, he became a very good actor even in real life. The film includes interviews with: his French doctor, Dr. Philippe Siou; Dr. Michael Gottlieb, Rock’s American doctor who became the first physician to describe a new disease that would later become known as AIDS; friends like Stockton Briggle; his secretary Mark Miller; his French PR manager Yanou Collart; author Armistead Maupin; film historian Richard Dyer; Robert Hofler, author of The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson; and Hollywood reporter Rona Barrett. About the Directors Andrew Davies was born in 1951 in Walsall, Great Britain. He has an MA in Fine Art, Art History and Philosophy from Birmingham College of Art and The Royal College of Art in London. He has translated for film, TV and radio - and has been a writer and director for WDR, NDR, 3sat, ZDF and ARTE, and FLORIANFILM in Cologne. André Schäfer was born in 1966 in Troisdorf, Germany. He has degrees in History and Journalism from Ludwig-Maximillians-University and German School of Journalism in Munich. He has served as: a freelance journalist for diverse newspapers; freelance director of WDR, ARD, stern TV, 3sat, ZDF and Arte since 1992; and a partner of FLORIANFILM since 2002.

US Premiere | Germany (2010), DigiBeta, 74min; in German with English subtitles

Director/Writer: Saara Alia Waasner Producer: Caroline Daube Cinematographers: Eva Maschke, Stefan Arendt Editor: Elisabeth Raßbach

Music: Sebastian Pille Festival: Berlinale 2010 Production/Print courtesy of: Royal Pony Film www.royalponyfilm.com

This documentary tells the story of three senior women who earn a living as prostitutes. Christel, Paula and Karolina either work in their own apartment, in a brothel, or receive clients at a dominatrix studio. They have no desire to justify what they do, nor do they make a show of their profession. These three women are engaged in a constant merry-go-round of slipping into different identities, selling dreams and trying to manage their own private life. Their multifaceted personalities make it clear just how differently they go about their trade, and what made them choose to earn their bread as a sex worker. The film provides an insight into the lives of Christel, Paula and Karolina and their sometimes surprisingly middle-class routine. These women are extremely frank and open in the way they allow the viewers into their lives. Self-confident and proud, sometimes without saying a word at others, loquacious, but often with plenty of humor, they tell us what being a sex worker means to them. They also tell us about how much real love - the kind that isn’t for sale - they have to give. A film about emotions, in a profession that requires you to conceal your emotions beneath a facade of makeup and well-rehearsed sentences; a film that is also about growing old. About Director Saara Alia Waasner: Saara Alia Waasner was born in Starnberg, Germany in 1981. During her education, she worked on several short films. After the completion of her final school examinations in 2001, she interned for various film and television productions. She began her studies at Baden-Württemberg Film Academy in 2003. Silver Girls is her graduation film and held its World Premiere at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival. • Preceded by short film, Edgar, directed by Fabian Busch. More details on page 18.

Co-presented by Frameline

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15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

GERMAN FILMS KRAUTS, DOUBTS AND ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

IM SCHATTEN

FLEISCH IST MEIN GEMÜSE

Monday, October 25 at 2:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco

Wednesday, October 27 at 3:30pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco

US Premiere | Germany (2010), 35mm, 85min; in German, with English subtitles

In Person: Director Christian Görlitz

IN THE SHADOWS

Director/Writer: Thomas Arslan Producer: Florian Koerner von Gustorf, Michael Weber Cinematographer: Reinhold Vorschneider Editor: Bettina Blickwede Music: Geir Jenssen Cast: Mišel Matičević, Karoline Eichhorn, Uwe Bohm, Rainer Bock

Special Screening | Germany (2008), 35mm, 97min; in German, with English subtitles

Festival: Berlinale 2010 Production: Schramm Film Koerner & Weber Print courtesy of: Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen www.deutsche-kinemathek.de

Director/Writer: Christian Görlitz Producers: Susanne Freyer, Doris J. Heinze Cinematographer: Andreas Höfer Editor: Klaus Dudenhöfer Cast: Maxim Mehmet, Heinz Strunk, Andreas Schmidt, Oliver Bröcker, Anna Fischer, Susanne Lothar, Jona Mues, Martin Brauer

Trojan is a professional criminal who specializes in armed robbery. Released from prison, he picks up from where he left off before he was arrested. But now he has to begin again almost from scratch. Numerous obstacles get in the way of his pressing need for independence. He is almost broke and most of his old contacts prove to be less than reliable. Richard Bauer, who owes Trojan money from an earlier heist, has no intention to pay him off. Instead, he sets his thugs on Trojan to get rid of him. Dora Hillmann, whom he sees for the first time in a long time, arranges for him to take part in the robbery of an armored car. When Trojan makes preparations for the job with his old friend Nico, the corrupt cop Meyer tags along with him. In this web of distrust, betrayal, shadowing and violence Trojan has to keep track of everything at once.

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Hamburg, the leafy suburb of Harburg in the mid-1980s. Plagued by crater-like eruptions on his skin, the young Heinz Strunk also has to deal with his sick mother and the delicate woman next door. Dance music is what gets him through life. As saxophonist in the weekend band Tiffanys he comes alive at shooting festivals and village weddings, leading a bizarre existence that revolves around schnapps, joke hits and barbecued pork chops.While the unpredictable bandleader Gurki initiates Heinz into the mysteries of show-biz, our young hero attempts to escape from this purgatory into a solo career as a hit record producer. He’s convinced that his future happiness lies with the two girl back-up singers Anja and Jette. But fate is unkind to “Heinzer”, at least initially, and his career only really seems to take off when band legend Oliver Bendt bursts into flames onstage…

About Director Thomas Arslan: Thomas Arslan was born in Braunschweig in 1962. He attended primary school in Ankara, Turkey and took final school examinations in Essen, Germany. He completed his community service in Hamburg, Germany, in 1984, spending 1985/86 in Munich where he studied German language, literature and history for two terms. He studied at the film school Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin (dffb) in Berlin from 1986-92 and has been a screenwriter and filmmaker ever since. He took part in the Panorama section of the Berlinale in 1994 with Mach die Musik leiser; his documentary Aus der Ferne was shown in the Forum in 2006. His most recent works are Vacation (2007) and In the Shadows (2010).

Based on the novel by: Heinz Strunk Award: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for Andreas Schmidt at 2009 German Film Awards Production: ndF: neue deutsche Filmgesellschaft mbH www.ndf.de Print courtesy of: Universal Pictures Germany

About Director Christian Görlitz: Christian Görlitz was born in 1944 in Hamburg, Germany. He studied in Hamburg (diploma in Psychology) and at the University of Pennsylvania (American Literature). Since 1975, he has been working in film and television. He is married, has two children, and lives and works as a script-author and director in Hamburg, Germany. Some of his work include: Das Ende vom Anfang (1981), Die Bombe (1988, winner of Audience Award and the Silver Nymph at Monte Carlo International Film Festival), Der kleine Vampir (1994, winner of Adolf-Grimme-Preis), Freier Fall (1998, winner of Adolf-Grimme-Preis). Krauts, Doubts and Rock 'n' Roll is his second film for cinema.

GERMAN FILMS RUN IF YOU CAN

MÄNNERHERZEN

RENN, WENN DU KANNST

Saturday, October 23 at 2:30pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco Saturday, October 30 at 9:30pm | Camera Cinemas 12, San Jose

Sunday, October 24 at 9:30pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco

Photos on this side courtesy of Beta Film

photos on this side courtesy of Wüste Film West

MEN IN THE CITY

In Person: Actor Florian David Fitz (at Castro show only) US Premiere | Germany (2009), DigiBeta, 107min; in German,with English subtitles Director/Writer: Simon Verhoeven Producers: Jakob Claussen, Uli Putz, Cristiano Bortone Cinematographer: Torsten Breuer Editor: Bernd Schlegel Music: Niki Reiser Cast: Til Schweiger, Jana Pallaske, Elyas M'Barek, Florian David Fitz, Emma Schweiger, Nadja Uhl, Dennis Gansel, Justus von Dohnanyi, Wotan Wilke Möhring, Maxim Mehmet,

Cast (cont.): Inez Björg David, Christian Ulmen, Simon Verhoeven Festivals/Awards: Bavarian Film Awards 2009 (Best Screenplay by Simon Verhoeven), German Film Awards 2009 (2 nominations), Audi Festival of German Films, Australia 2010 Production: Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion Print courtesy of: Beta Film www.betafilm.com

Five men visit a fitness centre in Berlin, not knowing each other at first, but eventually becoming friends. They discover what it means to be in a relationship, to commit to another person, to realize who you really are. The English title reflects “Sex and the City” but from a more amusing male perspective, while the literal English translation “Men’s Hearts” provides a clearer idea of the story. Simon Verhoeven wrote, directed and starred in this film and the central ideas are based on research he did on the state of play of relationships and commitment in the 21st Century. Starring Til Schweiger as a music producer whose life takes a sharp turn, Christian Ulmen as lonely heart, whose relationships are only internet based and Maxim Mehmet as a dad-to-be whose girlfriend asks for some essential changes. A very enjoyable and breezy comedy, with some serious intent, which will appeal to many tastes. --Audi Festival of German Films, Australia About Director Simon Verhoeven: Simon Verhoeven was born in Munich in 1972. He studied Performing Arts in New York, Film Music in Boston and Film Directing at the Tisch School of the Arts in New York. He has appeared in numerous television and feature films, including: Partygirl (1993), Vasilisa (1998), Star Star Star (1999), Vino Santo (1999) and Bride of the Wind (2000). He has directed several music videos and short films, including: Water (1997), Phone (1997) and Nice Meeting You (1999), all three of which were Showcase Winners at NYU Film Festivals. After 100 Pro (2001), Men in the City (2009) is his second feature.

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California Premiere | Germany (2010), 35mm, 112min; in German, with English subtitles Director: Dietrich Brüggemann Producers: Ralph Schwingel, Sabine Holtgreve Screenwriters: Dietrich Brüggemann, Anna Brüggemann Cinematographer: Alexander Sass Editor: Vincent Assmann

Cast: Robert Gwisdek, Anna Brüggemann, Jacob Matschenz, Franziska Weisz, Leslie Malton Festivals: Berlinale 2010, Seattle 2010 Production: SWR, WDR, Wüste Film Ost, Wüste Film West, arte Geie Print courtesy of: Wüste Film West www.wuestefilm-west.de

Benjamin is bound to a wheelchair. He is intelligent, funny, and frustrated. Love is out of the question for him, at least that’s what he explains to his new social worker Christian. Christian takes life easy: he is going to stay half a year with Ben and then go his own way. Annika studies the cello, but her music studies and the merciless drive for perfection weigh heavy on her. She passes Benjamin’s apartment every day on her bicycle, while he watches her wistfully from his balcony. But it takes Christian’s collision with Annika one morning for the trio to get to know each other and become friends. Together they create their own world of longing and imagination. But of course, the boys want more from Annika than just to be her friends. Annika cannot decide between the two. She likes Christian and his playfulness, but she actually feels a closer connection to Ben. What starts out as a game for all three soon becomes serious with Ben having to face his biggest fears, depths from which he will not return without help. About Director Dietrich Brüggemann: Dietrich Brüggemann, born 1976 in Munich, completed his directorial studies at the HFF Konrad Wolf in Potsdam-Babelsberg in 2006. His short film Warum läuft Herr V. Amok? (2002/03) was shown around the world, including the 2003 Berlinale. Neun Szenen, his HFF thesis film composed of only nine long shots, was presented at the 2006 Berlinale - and nominated for a First Steps Award, the New Berlin Film Award, among others. His directorial debut Run If You Can was co-written with his sister Anna Brüggemann. Other activities include writing for the film magazine Schnitt and accompanying silent films on the piano. • Preceded by short film, The Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation, directed by Stefan Leuchtenberg and Martin Wallner . More details on page 19.

GERMAN FILMS THE SILENCE

SOUL KITCHEN

Photos on this side courtesy of IFC Films

DAS LETZTE SCHWEIGEN

Wednesday, October 27 at 9:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco

Saturday, October 30 at 7:00pm | Camera Cinemas 12, San Jose

Invited Guest: Director Baran bo Odar (to be confirmed)

San Jose Special

North American Premiere with Los Angeles Germany (2010), 35mm, 118min; in German with English subtitles

Germany (2009), 35mm, 99min; in German, Greek, with English subtitles

Director/Screenwriter: Baran bo Odar Producers: Frank Evers, Jörg Schulze, Florian Schneider, Maren Lüthje Cinematographer: Nikolaus Summerer Editor: Robert Rzesacz Music: Michael Kamm, Kris Steininger Cast: Ulrich Thomsen, Wotan Wilke Möhring, Sebastian Blomberg, Katrin Saß, Burghart Klaußner

Based on a book by: Jan Costin Wagner Festivals: Munich Int’l 2010, Locarno Int’l 2010 (Piazza Grande) Production: cine plus Filmproduktion & luethje & schneider Filmproduktion Print courtesy of: Bavaria Film International www.bavaria-film-international.de

A bicycle found in a wheat field. A missing girl. Is history repeating itself? 23 years ago, a young girl named Pia was raped and murdered at this exact spot. Has the same thing happened now to 13-year-old Sinikka? Krischan, the retired police inspector who led the first investigation, is convinced that there’s a connection between the two crimes. His efforts to capture the killer were unsuccessful; this time, he is determined to bring him to justice together with his younger colleague David. While Sinikka’s parents are trapped in an agonizing period of waiting and uncertainty, their daughter’s fate rips open old wounds in the heart of the first victim´s mother. She, in turn, has the unsettling feeling that a visitor to her home - a nice young man, married with two children - is her daughter’s killer. As the days go by, an unbearable heat lies over the town’s modest homes like a bell jar. And behind the doors, once intact worlds begin to fall apart. About Director Baran bo Odar: Baran bo Odar studied at the Munich University of Film and Television and participated in the 2003 Berlinale Talent Campus. He also studied in the Master Class of Commercial and Image Films. His films include 216 (1998), Und wir suchen nach dem Glück (2002), Kill Your Stereo (2003), Squeak (Quietsch, 2005), Under the Sun (Unter der Sonne, 2006). The Silence (Das letzte Schweigen, 2010) is his second feature-length film. • Preceded by short film, The Last Wheel, directed by Olaf Held. More details on page 18.

Director: Fatih Akin Producers: Fatih Akin, Klaus Maeck Screenwriters: Fatih Akin, Adam Bousdoukos Cinematographer: Rainer Klausmann Editor: Andrew Bird Music: Klaus Maeck Cast: Adam Bousdoukos, Moritz Bleibtreu, Birol Ünel, Anna Bederke, Udo Kier, Wotan Wilke Möhring

Festivals/Awards: Venice Film Festival 2009 (Special Jury Prize, Young Cinema Award Honoree); Toronto Int'l 2009; San Francisco Int'l 2010 Production: Corazón International, NDR, Pyramide Productions, Dorje Film Print courtesy of: IFC Films www.ifcfilms.com

The latest from Fatih Akin, the celebrated director of Head-On and The Edge of Heaven: Young restaurant owner Zinos is down on his luck. His girlfriend Nadine has moved to Shanghai, his Soul Kitchen customers are boycotting the new gourmet chef, and he‘s having back trouble! Things start looking up when the hip crowd embraces his revamped culinary concept, but that doesn‘t mend Zinos’ broken heart. He decides to fly to China for Nadine, leaving the restaurant in the hands of his unreliable ex-con brother Illias. Both decisions turn out disastrous: Illias gambles away the restaurant to a shady real estate agent and Nadine has found a new lover! However, brothers Zinos and Illias might still have one last chance to get Soul Kitchen back if they can stop arguing and work together as a team. About Director Fatih Akin: Fatih Akin was born in 1973 in Hamburg and began studying Visual Communications at Hamburg's College of Fine Arts in 1994. In 1995, he wrote and directed his first short film, Sensin You're The One!, which received the Audience Award at the Hamburg International Short Film Festival. His feature debut, Short Sharp Shock (1998), won the Bronze Leopard at Locarno and the Bavarian Film Award (Best Young Director) in 1998. His other films include: In July (Im Juli, 2000), Wir haben vergessen zurückzukehren (2001), Solino (2002), the Berlinale Golden Bear-winner and winner of the German and European Film Awards Head-On (Gegen die Wand, 2004), Crossing the Bridge - The Sound of Istanbul (2005), The Edge of Heaven (Auf der anderen Seite, 2007, BBFF 2008), and Soul Kitchen (2009).

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15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

MARIA, IHM SCHMECKT'S NICHT

Thursday, October 28 at 5:00pm | Castro Theatre, San Francisco In Person: Director Neele Leana Vollmar North American Premiere | Italy, Germany (2009), 35mm, 96min; in German, Italian, with English subtitles Director: Neele Leana Vollmar Producer: Jakob Claussen, Uli Putz, Cristiano Bortone Screenwriters: Daniel Speck, Jan Weiler Cinematographer: Torsten Breuer Editor: Bernd Schlegel Music: Niki Reiser Cast: Lino Banfi, Christian Ulmen, Mina Tander, Maren Kroymann, Grundi Ellert, Peter Prager

Festivals/Awards: Shanghai Int’l, China, 2010 (Best Actor Award for Christian Ulmen); Audi Festival of German Films, Australia, 2010 Production: Claussen+Wöbke+Putz Filmproduktion, with Schubert International Filmproduktions, Orisa Produzioni, ZDF, Constantin Film Print courtesy of: The Match Factory www.the-match-factory.com

Based on Jan Weiler's bestselling novel Maria, He Doesn't Like It! Jan wants to marry the German-Italian Sara. Nothing spectacular. Just a small civil marriage. However, Jan had not quite reckoned with his future father-in-law. Antonio, who had come to Germany in 1965 as a guest worker and is married to the German Ursula, insists on having the wedding in Southern Italy. Basta! Jan, Sara, and her parents set off to Campobello to organize the large wedding with the entire clan. Confronted with a southern temperament, foreign cuisine, soft beds and rigid bureaucracy, Jan is forced to ask himself whether Sara and her family are really the right thing for him ... About Director Neele Leana Vollmar: Neele Leana Vollmar was born in Bremen in 1978. In 2000, she began her film studies at the Baden-Württemberg Film Academy in Ludwigsburg, which she completed in 2005. In 2003, she received a Caligari fellowship and participated in both the Berlinale Talent Campus and the Hollywood Master Class. During her studies, she made several short films, one of which is My Parents (2003), which played at over 250 film festivals and won 40 awards. Her feature film debut and graduation film at the Ludwigsburg Film Academy Vacation from Life (2004) opened the 39th Hof International Film Festival. Since 2005, Neele Leana Vollmar has been working as a freelance film and advertising director. After Peaceful Times (2008), Wedding Fever in Campobello is her third feature film.

Co-presented by the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco

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15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

OFFICIAL PARTNERS AND SPONSORS

PRESIDENT Rudolf de Baey

IN COOPERATION WITH German Films Lufthansa

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR Sophoan Sorn

MAJOR SUPPORT San Francisco Grants for the Arts

EXECUTIVE TEAM Emma Mascall Anna Miessl Sophia Koenen

SPECIAL SUPPORT German Consulate General in San Francisco Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco Goethe-Institut Los Angeles / German Currents Film Festival Austrian Consulate General in Los Angeles Consulate General of Luxembourg in San Francisco

WEBSITE Madeleine Cornu Catero Jens Herrmann Sander Dijkstra

MAJOR SPONSORS Kuehne + Nagel BMW Group

PUBLICIST Michaelanne Petrella

SUPPORTING SPONSORS Books, Inc. Excelsior German Center at the Altenheim Montage Services, Inc. Nordmedia GmbH SAP United Swiss Societies of Northern California Cultural Committee

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR Rickey Lee Bauman SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR Tony Moraga PRINT TRAFFIC COORDINATOR Jesse Dubus

MEDIA PARTNERS San Francisco Bay Guardian Metro Radio Goethe Peter Buhrmann Radio Show

PUBLICATIONS DISTRIBUTOR Juan Ramirez V.I.P. HOSPITALITY MANAGER Ingrid Twohey

HOTEL PARTNERS Beresford Hotel Hotel Carlton Hotel Rex

FESTIVAL TRAILER Boris Schaarschmidt

EVENT SPONSORS Bionade Blue Angel Spirits, LLC. Chrissa Imports Esther’s Bakery Fond O’ Foods, Inc. Hot Cookie Judy’s Breadsticks Mikaku Sushi Muracci’s Japanese Curry & Grill Pure Swiss Water The Sausage Factory, Inc. St. George Spirits Suppenküche Walzwerk

PRESIDENT’S PARTY CHEF Christiane Frederikson SELECTION COMMITTEE Anna Miessl Annette Rupp Emma Mascall Margit Kleinman Nicole Kaufmann Rudolf de Baey Sophoan Sorn Sophia Koenen

CASTRO THEATRE

COMMUNITY CO-PRESENTERS ASIFA-SF International Animation Society Center for Asian American Media Frameline Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco Mill Valley Film Festival San Francisco Film Society San Francisco Jewish Film Festival San Francisco Women’s Film Festival

DIRECTOR Don Nasser OPERATIONS MANAGERS Mark Ganter Gary Olive EVENT COORDINATOR / OFFICE MANAGER Brian Collette TECHNICAL / PREMISE LIASON Bill Longen

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CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS SPECIAL THANKS German Films: Nicole Kaufmann Lufthansa: Peter Ulmer Sydney Jones San Francisco Grants for the Arts: Kary Schulman German Consulate General in San Francisco: Consul General Peter Rothen Consul Eberhard Brockmann Consul Michael Ahrens Consulate General of Switzerland SF: Consul General Julius Anderegg Consul Francesco Ottolini Martin Schwartz Goethe-Institut Los Angeles: Annette Rupp Margit Kleinman Sylvia Mogel Marian Baukrowitz Austrian Consulate General in Los Angeles: Consul General Karin Proidl Consul Andreas Lins Honorary Consul of Austria in San Francisco Hon. Dr. Peter Fredericks Consulate General of Luxembourg, SF: Consul General Georges Schmit Castro Theatre: Brian Collette Bill Longen Kuehne + Nagel: Tom Weber BMW: Andreas Klugescheid Isabel Grossman Constantin Film: Kat Kleiner Nordmedia: Thomas Schäffer Jochen Coldewey Books, Inc.: Ken Irish Darrell Scheidegger Jordan Cavalier Hotel Beresford: Tricia Lo German Embassy, Washington, DC: Natalie Kauther United Swiss Socities of Northern California: Judit Van Caenegem Montage Services, Inc.: Scott Wentz Jan Macek Wells Fargo, Branch Union Square: Denise Woo Gio Mamoud Goethe-Institut, Headquarters, Munich: Christian Lueffe Marina Ludemann Hans Kohl Jens Herrmann Kinderstube: Karina Racz Bob Meier Stefanie Then

SPECIAL THANKS cont. Claudia Schaller German American Business Association: Stefanie Bastian Caroline Raynaud SAP: Christine Johnson Excelsior German Center at the Altenheim: Michael Willis GUEST ARTISTS André Schäfer Benjamin Heisenberg Christian Beetz Christian Görlitz Christoph Schaub Donna Woolfolk Cross Dr. Feo Aladag Florian David Fitz Holger Tappe Jan Tenhaven Dr. Michael Verhoeven Neele Leana Vollmar Nicolas Steiner Reinhard Klooss Sung-Hyung Cho Vadim Jendreyko ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Aaron and Matt Hulme Amelia Carpenito Antonucci Andreas Hildebrandt Andrew Davies Anke Hah Anna Furlong Angela Hawkins Angela Steffen Angela Petrella Arndt Peltner Barbara Mientus Ben Zwanzig Benjamin Leers Birgit and Kurt Huffman Bi-Rite Market Caroline Daube Castro Theatre Staff Chi-hui Yang Christian Beetz Christiane Schmidt Christoph Englert Claudia Romdhane Dawn Pepka Desiree Buford Dominic Testa Dulcinea Gonzalez Elizabeth Brambilla Emily Ballus Eva Steegmayer Evelyn Austin Galina Stoletneya Giovanni Galati Gurvinder Malhi Harris Kornstein Jacob Andrew Newsom Janis Plotkin Jay Rosenblatt

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS cont. Jeff White Jen Cox Jessica Bazzoli Jim Carrico John Cardellino Jonathan Bibayan Julia Radke Lehr’s Deli Karl Cohen Olivier Zobrist Masashi Niwano Michael Gant Moritz Hemminger Neil Friedman Robert Distelrath Sandra Meier Scarlett Shepard Scott Burchell Seattle International Film Festival Shira Zucker Sophat and Sovanna Sorn Stefanie Zeitler Stein Petersen Steve Indig Susan Oxtoby Susa Katz Sylvia Mogel Trader Joe’s Xavier Bon Zoë Elton

GOETHE-INSTITUT SAN FRANCISCO DIRECTOR Rudolf de Baey CULTURAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR Emma Mascall LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT Ursula Dinter Annette Liebergesell Julia Koch Peter Zygowski ADMINISTRATION Astrid Kraft Alonzo IT/MEDIA TECHNICIAN Werner Buchart SECRETARY OF THE DIRECTOR Madeleine Cornu Catero INTERNS Anna Miessl Sophia Koenen Ulrike Hack

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15th BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL

HOW TO BUY TICKETS

PASSES

ADVANCE TICKETS

SAN FRANCISCO PASS

• On the web at www.BerlinBeyond.com • At Goethe-Institut SF (September 28 to October 21, 2010) (Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm) cash only

One pass good for all public shows and events at San Francisco’s Castro Theatre, including: Opening Night and Closing Night films and parties; Centerpiece; Spotlights; and the Surprise Film. Limited availability. - $250.00 (value of $337.50)

WALK-UP / ON THE DAY OF SHOW • At the Castro Theatre (October 22-28, 2010) • At Camera Cinemas 12 (October 30, 2010) no checks please, all orders are final

SAN JOSE PASS

TICKET PRICES AND PACKAGES

THEATRES

INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS

CASTRO THEATRE IN SAN FRANCISCO

• General Admission - $11.50 • Seniors 65+, Students, Members (with ID) • $10.00

429 Castro Street (at Market), San Francisco, CA 94114 Public Transportation (highly recommended): • MUNI Metro lines: K, L, M (exit at Castro station) • F Market streetcar • Bus lines: 33, 35, 37, 24 • BART transfers to MUNI Metro at: Embarcardero, Montgomery, Powell, Civic Center Regarding parking, please add extra travel time if coming by car for a prompt arrival at the theatre. Parking can be difficult. The Castro Theatre is wheelchair accessible. Theatre info: (415) 621-6120 www.thecastrotheatre.com

SPECIAL PROGRAMS Opening Night • Opening Night Film only (Vincent Wants to Sea) - $15.00 • Opening Night Film & Party - $40.00 Closing Night • Closing Night Film only (Julia’s Disappearance) - $15.00 • Closing Night Film & Party - $40.00 Special Screenings • Centerpiece Film (When We Leave) - $13.00 • Spotlight: Book to Screen (Pope Joan) - $13.00 • Spotlight: 3D Film (Animals United 3D) - General Admission - $13.00 - Children 12 and under - $10.00

DISCOUNT 10-FLIX VOUCHER PACKS Good for 10 regular-priced tickets of your choice. Not good for any special programs (see above). Redeem your tickets at the box offices of respective theatres throughout the festival or in advance at the Goethe-Institut. Vouchers cannot guarantee tickets to sold-out shows, so redeem early if you know your selection. Vouchers are fully transferable; share with family and friends. Great for gifts! - $90.00 (value of $115.00)

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15TH BERLIN & BEYOND FILM FESTIVAL GOETHE-INSTITUT SAN FRANCISCO 530 Bush Street, Suite 204 San Francisco, CA 94108

The Goethe-Institut is Germany’s official cultural center in over 80 countries worldwide. We promote art and films from Germany, the study of the German language, and encourage the international cultural exchange with Germany.

One pass good for all shows at San Jose’s Camera Cinemas 12. Limited availability. - $45.00 (value of $57.50)

CAMERA CINEMAS 12 IN DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE 201 South Second Street, San Jose, CA 95113 Check theatre’s website for directions and parking information. Camera Cinemas 12 is wheelchair accessible. Theatre info: (408) 998-3300 www.cameracinemas.com

OFFICE GOETHE-INSTITUT SF (for advanced tickets) 530 Bush (at Grant), Suite 204 (2nd floor) San Francisco, CA 94108 Across from the Stockton/Sutter Garage (near Chinatown gate) Nearest BART station is Montgomery Info: (415) 263-8760 www.goethe.de/sanfrancisco

email: festival@sanfrancisco.goethe.org