Photo: Zeca Miranda

After an acclaimed world premiere at the Rio Film Festival, Brazilian director Eduardo Nunes’ second feature film UNICORN will have its international premiere in Berlinale Generation.

Based on two stories by renowned Brazilian writer Hilda Hilst, UNICORN takes up many of the author’s themes – sexuality, physicality, desire, death, and the pain they can inflict, or that people inflict upon each other – in a visual form that enhances the tension between a reality depicted with great faith to details and the magical realism that characterizes much of Hilst’s work.

Maria, a prepubescent teenage girl, lives in an isolated hovel together with her mother, tending their farm. Scenes from her life are interspersed with conversations with her absent father in a cold, tiled room, far removed from her everyday reality. The arrival of a rough man, almost savage and in equal measure menacing and attractive, at the farm throws her mother, and her relationship with Maria, into confusion. 

In Maria's universe the appearance of a unicorn does not seem impossible, and many archetypal, fairy-tale tropes feel natural. None of these are easy symbols, they remain riddles, whose solutions are less important than their atmospheric properties.

World sales are handled by FiGa Films.

UNICORN (Unicórnio) by Eduardo Nunes

Brazil, 2017, 123 minutes

Cast: Patrícia Pillar, Barbara Luz, Zécharlos Machado, Lee Taylor

Produced by: 3 Tabela Filmes

World sales:

FiGa Films

contact@figafilms.com

+1 323 229 9816

For the 32nd time, the TEDDY AWARD will be awarded during the International Film Festival Berlin (Feb.15-25, 2018). This year the TEDDY will be supported for the first time by Destination Canada. Within the Premium Partnership with the TEDDY AWARD, Destination Canada will present daily TEDDY TV interviews with the filmmakers whose films are in the race for the 2018 TEDDY AWARDS, as well as the TEDDY AWARD Talk “Diversity & Gender Equality” with exciting guests in the Canadian Embassy in Berlin.

Among connoisseurs Canada has long been recognized as the Hollywood of the North. Nearly 80 percent of all Hollywood special effects are produced in the film studios in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. Canadian film studios are among the largest in the continent and are located only three hours by plane from LA. Countless mystery and science fiction productions such as “The X-Files”, “Alien vs. Predator”, “Mission Impossible” and “X-Men” originated in Canadian film studios, as well as animated films such as “Rio” or the 2018 production “Lost Case”, in which forgotten luggage at the airport takes an adventurous trip of its own.

“Twilight”, “Titanic” and “Brokeback Mountain” were all filmed in Canada. Bella married Edward in Squamish in British Columbia, Leonardo DiCaprio sank to the deep in the waves of Novia Scotia and the two lonely cowboys Ennis and Jack stayed silent in the forests of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Find out more about the film country Canada here: http://bit.ly/2Bxg1FX

Destination Canada is the official Canadian organization for the promotion of tourism, which wants to inspire the world to explore Canada. More information at www.keepexploring.de

For the past 32 years, the TEDDY AWARD has honoured films and filmmakers who, with queer themes and cinematic engagement, contribute to greater tolerance, equality, acceptance and diversity in our society. The TEDDY AWARD is conferred in the categories Best Feature Film, Best Documentary/Essay Film, Best Short Film, TEDDY Jury Award and SPECIAL TEDDY AWARD.

Tickets for the TEDDY AWARD Ceremony in the Haus der Berliner Festspiele on February 23, 2018 are now available at https://papagena-shop.comfortticket.de/de/tickets/32-teddy-award or via the Ticket Hotline 030-4799 74 74.

www.summerhillfilms.com I Contact I Marriott Hotel Stand #119I  Facebook I Twitter: @WatchCoolMovies

Our mission is twofold.  First, we are a home to independent filmmakers who have done the impossible, created a quality film ready for distribution.  Through our 25 years of experience, our contacts, our customer service and our accessibility & transparency, we will take your film to the next level and beyond.  We are not just a distributor, but a strategic partner who will work with you to achieve your goals.

Second, we are a reliable source of high quality films for our international buyers.  With our worldwide relationships and successful track record in the international licensing business, our team supplies our buyers with great films for their channels and labels meeting their volume, timeframe and financial requirements.  Additionally, we know how to deliver the goods.  Today’s international deliverable requirements are more complicated than ever.  Our knowledge and experience in the delivery process ensures successful and complete product delivery meeting each of our clients’ unique specifications

Opening on Jan 19th, “2018 Global Content Bazar” is India’s very first content market for buying and selling of films and content. As the only international pavilion and the largest exhibiting organization, China Pavilion has attracted great attention. Chinese film and TV content has become a hot topic among the participants.

China Pavilion is organized by The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of the People's Republic of China (SAPPRFT), and co-organised by Shanghai WingsMedia.

Under China Pavilion, there are 5 Chinese media and entertainment companies. Shanghai Media Group (SMG) is one of China’s largest media and cultural conglomerates, with the most complete portfolio of media and related businesses. China International TV Corporation (CCTV-CITVC) is a large-sized state-owned enterprise wholly funded by China Central Television (CCTV) and is responsible for marketing the copyrighted programs of CCTV and other excellent Chinese film and TV products. Shanghai Film Corporation (“SFC”) was jointly founded in July 2012 by Shanghai Film Group Corporation (“SFG”) and Shanghai JinWin Investment Co., Ltd.,. Media Caravan is a Beijing-based distribution/production company. It is currently involved in the development and production of both Chinese and international projects. Zhejiang Zhongnan Animation Co., Ltd. is one of the largest animation content producing firms in China with over 800 hours of original IPs in TV series and movies.

These leading Chinese companies has brought to the India market a number of outstanding films and television dramas, animation series, movies, documentaries and creative programs, which presents a visual feast for the Indian peers to attend the China Pavilion.

14 films, including six full-length fiction and four documentary films, will compete for the Kompass-Perspektive-Preis, endowed with 5,000 euros. In addition, a neighborhood film project that focuses on Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz in Berlin will be a guest at Perspektive Deutsches Kino 2018.

Sure, you can always take off. Soon. Right now. Or later. You could just be gone, just steal away from a fully furnished life. But then what happens? Everyone has thought about it but very few actually do it: leave their intended path. It’s risky, it’s exciting, it’s brave and whimsical. Paul Zeise (Sebastian Rudolph) goes for it in the debut film Whatever Happens Next (produced by The StoryBay, Salzwedel) by director Julian Pörksen. Paul travels across the country crashing funerals and parties, moves in with off-the-wall Nele (Lilith Stangenberg) for a while, and generally floats around in the wonderland we call life. A short film by director Julian Pörksen was presented at Perspektive Deutsches Kino in 2012. Whatever Happens Next is his first feature-length fiction work.

Director Susan Gordanshekan is also returning to Perspektive Deutsches Kino with her debut feature Die defekte Katze (A Dysfunctional Cat, produced by Glory Film, Munich). The film tells the story of an Iranian couple who only begin to get to know each other after entering traditional marriage, and then fall short of success when faced with the challenges of life together in Germany. The story is about liberating oneself from different lifestyle ideals and giving love a second chance.

The debut film Verlorene (Lost Ones, produced by VIAFILM, Munich) by Felix Hassenfratz takes us deep into provincial Baden, where everyone knows everybody and the siblings Maria (Maria Dragus) and Hannah (Anna Bachmann) live alone with their father (Clemens Schick) following the death of their mother. Director Felix Hassenfratz is well acquainted with the environment and tells a small town story where fear of the unknown is just as strong as a yearning for it.

The horror/love story Luz is the graduation film by director Tilman Singer and production designer Dario Méndez Acosta from the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. Luz, a young taxi driver from Latin America, stumbles into a police headquarters with the last of her strength. She’s being pursued by a demon, who is determined to finally be close to his beloved. Tilman Singer describes the work as an erotic 16mm thriller that plays with audience perception.

Three more documentary films (see Berlinale press release, December 21, 2017) have also been selected for the Perspektive programme. In The Best Thing You Can Do With Your Life (produced by Zita Erffa, Petruvski Films, in Tegernsee, with co-production by the HFF Munich), director Zita Erffa asks her brother László about his motivation for entering a Legion of Christ monastery. Eight years after his departure, she can finally visit him and ask why he left her alone in her family. For both, the camera functions as a catalyst to find harmony. The political documentary Impreza - Das Fest (Impreza - The Celebration, produced by DREIFILM, Munich) also takes a highly personal approach. Her aunt’s 50th wedding anniversary is an opportunity for director Alexandra Wesolowski to visit her family in Poland. But instead of being about the party, the conversations she documents soon focus completely on politics. In Überall wo wir sind (Everywhere We Are, produced by Veronika Kaserer) director Veronika Kaserer follows a family after the death of one of its members - the parents who lost a son and a sister who lost a brother. In the organisation of daily activities and the narratives of the protagonists, battling or grieving, we see the “pact with death” become a “pact with life”.

The 22-minute fiction film Kein sicherer Ort (No Safe Place, produced by Filmmagnet, Munich, with co-production by the HFF Munich) by director Antje Beine supplements the mostly mid-length programme with one more young protagonist (see Berlinale press release, December 21, 2017). Through the eyes of 10-year-old Marie (Lucia Stickel), we see what it means when you’re not allowed to be a child in the place you call home.

The series Film Wanderungen (Film Walks) completes the Perspektive Deutsches Kino programme. The project was invited to Perspektive 2018 as a guest. What does “neighbourhood” mean? And what is “home”? In the summer of 2017, 140 residents of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz area in the Mitte district of Berlin were interviewed. On the second Berlinale weekend, audiences are invited to take a trip through the living rooms of those residents to watch films together, and engage in conversation.

On Berlinale Publikumstag, February 25, 2018, Perspektive Deutsches Kino will present the winning work in the fiction film competition “Max-Ophüls-Preis 2018”, and the winner of the documentary film competition First Steps Award 2017 (Ohne diese Welt, directed by Nora Fingscheidt).

The Best Thing You Can Do With Your Life
By Zita Erffa
Documentary
World premiere

Die defekte Katze (A Dysfunctional Cat)
By Susann Gordanshekan
With Pegah Ferydoni, Hadi Khanjanpour, Henrike von Kuick, Constantin von Jascheroff, Arash Marandi
Feature film
World premiere

Impreza - Das Fest (Impreza - The Celebration)
By Alexandra Wesolowski
Documentary
German premiere

Kein sicherer Ort (No Safe Place)
By Antje Beine
With Lucia Stickel, Kristina Pauls, Robin Sondermann
Medium-long feature films
World premiere

Luz
By Tilman Singer
With Luana Velis, Jan Bluthardt, Julia Riedler, Nadja Stübiger, Johannes Benecke
Feature film
World premiere

Verlorene (Lost Ones)
By Felix Hassenfratz
With Maria Dragus, Anna Bachmann, Clemens Schick, Enno Trebs, Meira Durand
Feature film
World premiere

Whatever Happens Next
By Julian Pörksen
With Sebastian Rudolph, Lilith Stangenberg, Peter René Lüdicke, Christine Hoppe, Eike Weinreich
Feature film
World premiere

Überall wo wir sind (Everywhere We Are)
By Veronika Kaserer
Documentary
World premiere

Films announced so far:

draußen (outside)
By Johanna Sunder-Plassmann, Tama Tobias-Macht
Documentary
World premiere

Feierabendbier (After-Work Beer)
By Ben Brummer
With Tilman Strauß, Julia Dietze, Johann Jürgens, Christian Tramitz
Feature film
World premiere

Kineski zid (Great Wall of China)
By Aleksandra Odić
With Elena Matić, Tina Keserović, Faketa Salihbegović-Avdagić, Anja Stanić, Mugdim Avdagić
Medium-long feature film 
German premiere

Rå
By Sophia Bösch
With Sofia Aspholm, Lennart Jähkel, Lars T. Johansson, Ingmar Virta, Ivan Mathias Petersson
Medium-long feature film 
World premiere

Rückenwind von vorn (Away You Go)
By Philipp Eichholtz
With Victoria Schulz, Aleksandar Radenković, Daniel Zillmann, Angelika Waller
Feature film
World premiere

Storkow Kalifornia
By Kolja Malik
With Daniel Roth, Lana Cooper, Franziska Ponitz
Medium-long feature film 
World premiere

Guest Projects:

Film Wanderungen (Film Walks)
27 participants
Doc-series

Ohne diese Welt (Without This World)
By Nora Fingscheidt
Documentary

Award winner “Max-Ophüls-Preis 2018” for Best Feature Film 

For the 15^th time, the Berlinale Co-Production Market (February 17 – 21, 2018) will give ca. 550 producers and financers an opportunity to form new partnerships. The current selection comprises 36 new feature film projects that are looking for co-producers. In addition, five high-profile production companies will be introduced in the exclusive “Company Matching” programme.

Interested co-producers, world sales agents, distributors, broadcasters, film funds and financiers from all over the world will come together in Berlin in more than 1,200 prescheduled one-on-one meetings with the producers of the selected projects from a total of 28 countries. Each meeting will be organized based on specific partnering needs for each project.

The success of this targeted matchmaking can be seen in the more than 260 completed films that have resulted from the previous years’ markets. Two films to emerge from previous Co-Production Markets have already been confirmed for the Competition section of the upcoming Berlinale –Figlia mia (Daughter of Mine) directed by Laura Bispuri and Mein Bruder heißt Robert und ist ein Idiot by Philip Gröning.

For the 2018 market, 21 promising feature film projects, with budgets ranging from 750,000 to six million euros, were selected from 326 submissions. The projects, which will be presented by producers with international experience, already have either production support from their home countries, or financing of at least 30 percent in place.

Two additional film projects will participate in both the CineMart Rotterdam and the Berlinale Co-Production Market as part of the “Rotterdam-Berlinale Express”.

In the “Berlinale Directors” part of the market, three promising projects by directors whose work has already been seen in the festival will be introduced; those projects are in the early stages of seeking co-production and financing partners.

And the “Talent Project Market”, organised in cooperation with Berlinale Talents, will give ten new producers a chance to present their projects, which were selected from an additional 142 submissions in that category.

17 of the projects selected for the Berlinale Co-Production Market have women at the helm, meaning female directors make up almost 50 percent. They include well-known directors such as Aisling Walsh (Maudie) and Anna Muylaert (The Second Mother, Don’t Call Me Son), who have already had films in the festival, Katrin Gebbe (Nothing Bad Can Happen) and Franka Potente, whose producers are looking for co-production opportunities for the actor's feature directing debut. Other prominent directors with projects at the market include Todd Solondz, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Koen Mortier, Boris Khlebnikov, and Andreas Dalsgaard.

In addition to the meetings with potential partners, the producers of the selected projects have a chance to win high-profile prizes endowed by various entities, such as the Eurimages Co-Production Development Award (20,000 euros), the VFF Talent Highlight Award (10,000 euros), and the ARTE International Prize (6,000 euros).

The 550 participants can also ask for meetings with four companies from Germany, France, Uruguay and Lebanon as part of the “Company Matching” programme, aimed at discussing structural relationships or a production slate, and potentially establishing long-term cooperations.

An extensive side-bar programme will also provide participating producers with chances to network and get up-to-date information on current production issues.

The main partners of the Berlinale Co-Production Market are MDM - Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung and the Creative Europe - MEDIA Programme of the European Union.

The Berlinale Co-Production Market is part of the European Film Market. The Berlin House of Representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus) is once again a partner and the main event venue; it is directly across from the Martin-Gropius-Bau, which houses the European Film Market.

The official project-selection for the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2018 (in alphabetical order by production company):

- The Hole in the Fence (D: Joaquín del Paso), Amondo Cine, Mexico

- The Woman With the Gun (D: Yorgos Servetas), Argonauts Productions, Greece
- Home (D: Franka Potente), Augenschein Filmproduktion, Germany
- Nobody Likes Me (D: Tomas Weinreb, Petr Kazda), Black Balance & Love.Frame & Arizona Productions, Czech Republic / France

- Haunted (D: Koen Mortier), Czar Film & TV, Belgium

- Motel Acacia (D: Bradley Liew), Epicmedia Productions & Potocol, Philippines / Singapore

- Dr. Glas (D: Aisling Walsh), Fantastic Films & Makar Productions, Ireland / United Kingdom

- The Sound of Animals Fighting (D: Sibs Shongwe-La Mer), Fireworx Media, South Africa / Brazil

- Three (D: Juanjo Giménez), Frida Films, Spain

- My Camino (D: Louise Archambault), Item 7, Canada

- Pelican Blood (D: Katrin Gebbe), Junafilm, Germany

- The Siren (D: Sepideh Farsi), Les Films d'Ici & Lunanime, France / Belgium
- An Empty Goal (D: Sergio Castro), Manufactura de Películas & Bigbonsai, Chile / Brazil
- The War Has Ended (D: Hagar Ben Asher), Match Factory Productions & Madants & Transfax, Germany / Poland / Israel

- Abdullah and His Sons (D: Esen Isik), Maximage, Switzerland

- Advantages of Travelling By Train (D: Aritz Moreno), Morena Films & Señor & Señora, Spain

- My First Time of Dying (D: Cristiane Oliveira), Okna Produções, Brazil

- I, Alex (D: İlker Çatak), Riva Filmproduktion, Germany

- Soul Hunter (D: Andreas Dalsgaard), Savage Productions, Ireland

- The Quarters (D: Todd Solondz, Anna Muylaert, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Arsinée Khanjian), Six Island Productions & Green Productions & Impulse Pictures, Canada / Israel

- When I'm Done Dying (D: Nisan Dag), Solis Film, Turkey

“Berlinale Directors” projects:

- Doi Boy (D: Nontawat Numbenchapol), Anti-Archive & Mobile Lab Project, Cambodia / Thailand
- Three Minutes of Silence (D: Boris Khlebnikov), CTB Film Company, Russian Federation
- The Strangers of the Cold Mountain (D: Albertina Carri), El Borde, Argentina

“Rotterdam-Berlinale Express”:

- Mon legionnaire (D: Rachel Lang), Chevaldeuxtrois & Wrong Men, France / Belgium

- A White, White Day (D: Hlynur Pálmason), Join Motion Pictures & Snowglobe, Iceland / Denmark

“Talent Project Market” – projects and selected production talents (in alphabetical order by production company):

- Nudo Mixteco (D: Ángeles Cruz), Amard Bird Films (P: Paula Alamillo), Germany
- The Empty House (D: Rati Tsiteladze), ArtWay Film (P: Rati Tsiteladze), Georgia
- Mascot (D: Remy van Heugten), Bind (P: Joram Willink), Holland

- Lynx (D: Sharipa Urazbayeva), Filmstar.kz (P: Sharipa Urazbayeva) & Tandem Production, Kazakhstan / Germany
- Tropical Memories (D: Shipei Wen), Foolish Old Man Production (P: Jing Wang), People’s Republic of China

- Milk (D: Maya Kenig), Green Productions (P: Maya Fischer), Israel

- The Far Mountains (D: Mitra Tabrizian), Sonatine Films (P: Zadoc Nava), United Kingdom
- The Isle of the Demoiselle (D: Micha Wald), Stenola Productions (P: Anton Iffland Stettner), Belgium

- Flee (D: Jonas Poher Rasmussen), Sun Creature (P: Charlotte de la Gournerie) & Final Cut for Real, Denmark

- Sáve - The Last of the First (D: tba), The End (P: Khalid Maimouni), Norway

“Company Matching” programme (in alphabetical order by company):

- Heimatfilm, Germany

- Indie Prod / Indie Sales, France  

- Mutante Cine, Uruguay

- Schortcut, Lebanon

 Selected from considerably more than 2,000 submissions, this year a total of 65 full-length and short films from 39 production and co-production countries have been invited to compete in the Generation Kplus and Generation 14plus competitions. Highly contemporary, the selection reflects on both cinematic developments as well as current socio-political situations. The diversity in content and format relentlessly reflects a complex and frequently inconsistent world while at the same time leaving room for interpretation. In the zone between reality and imagination, the filmmakers open doors for alternative options - not only for the young protagonists - and simultaneously reframe a young generations’ yearning for commitment.

“Every single selection is an invitation to the audience to experience life from the perspective of youth. They are films with young people, as opposed to about them. An impressive characteristic throughout the programme is not only the deep respect with which the filmmakers paint portraits of their protagonists, but also the immediacy and intimacy with which they approach these very individual world views,” says section head Maryanne Redpath about this year’s programme.

Short films in Generation

In 2018, the Generation short film competitions present productions from a total of 25 countries. The three Kplus short film programmes and two 14plus programmes focus on big and small people and on other creatures; on love and longing for security, and on the banal tragedies of daily life. In addition, they give an insight in the stunning wealth of possibilities and eerie depths of the digital world.

Opening films

The Generation 14plus competition will open at Haus der Kulturen der Welt with the road movie 303, with director Hans Weingartner (White Noise and The Edukators, among others) and cast attending. The Generation Kplus competition will open with an adventurous journey of an altogether different nature: the fast-paced Danish animation Den utrolige historie om den kæmpestore pære (The Incredible Story of the Giant Pear) by Philip Einstein Lipski, Amalie Næsby Fick and Jørgen Lerdam.

In addition to the previously announced films, the following productions have now also been invited:

Generation14plus

Adam

Germany / Iceland / USA

by Maria Solrun

World premiere

After her debut film Jargo (Generation 14plus 2004), Icelandic director Maria Solrun presents a feature film for the second time in Generation. The aurally handicapped young protagonist Adam and his mother, a techno musician, have always lived in different worlds. At the same time, they are symbiotically connected: he feels her music directly with his body. When his mother is diagnosed with irreversible brain damage caused by alcohol, Adam suddenly has to look after himself. He faces his mother’s eager death wish in his very own laconic way, and the director gives him his voice, as well as plenty of space to develop.

Dressage

Iran

by Pooya Badkoobeh

World premiere

Motivated primarily by boredom rather than greed, Golsa and her friends rob a corner shop. But while evaluating the booty, they are dismayed to realise that they forgot to take the security camera footage. One of them must return to the crime scene and retrieve it. The vote falls on Golsa, who bravely completes the mission. Her friends’ behaviour makes her think, and she hides the hard drive somewhere secret. But her accomplices and their well-to-do families put more and more pressure on Golsa, worried about their social standing. Director Pooya Badkoobeh radically staged story about control, blackmail and the power of money holds an uncompromising mirror up to Iranian society.

Fortuna

Switzerland / Belgium

by Germinal Roaux

World premiere

Amidst the snow-covered mountains of the Swiss Simplon Pass, 14-year-old Fortuna clasps her hands in prayer. She hasn’t seen her parents since their traumatic crossing of the Mediterranean. Like many other refugees, the young girl from the Ethiopia/Eritrea border area has found refuge in an Augustinian monastery. The feelings of loneliness and yearning for love that tear at Fortuna are weighed against a secret that she can’t even tell the head friar - insightfully played by Bruno Ganz. Director Germinal Roaux fathoms the depths of Christian charity in expressive black-and-white imagery.

Hendi & Hormoz

Iran / Czech Republic

by Abbas Amini

World premiere

After Valderama (Generation 2016), Iranian director Abbas Amini presents his second feature film in Generation 14plus. Hendi & Hormoz takes place on Iran’s Hormuz Island in the Persian Gulf, where hematite deposits in the soil turn the ocean waves blood-red. 16-year-old Hormoz is married to Hendi, three years his junior, after he promises that he can work as a miner. But the young man, stirringly played by Hamed Alipour (Valderama), finds closed doors instead of a job. When Hendi becomes pregnant unexpectedly, Hormoz is forced to make an ill-advised pact with a smuggler. Director Amini portrays the existential struggle of two young people who must abandon their carefree youth in a harsh world.

High Fantasy

South Africa

by Jenna Bass

European premiere

After The Tunnel (Berlinale Shorts 2010), Berlinale Talents alumna and London native Jenna Bass now presents a film in Generation 14plus. Filmed by the four protagonists exclusively on smartphones in the wide expanses of the South African veldt, Bass’s second feature film High Fantasy brings a common vision to life: being inside the body of another person. When Lexi and her friends experience exactly that during a camping trip, a suspense-laden dynamic ensues between the three women and Thami, the only man with them, but also between Lexi, who is white and Xoli, who is black. A smart and biting essay on the unrelenting politics of the human body - and still highly relevant even decades after the alleged end of Apartheid.

Kissing Candice

Ireland / United Kingdom

by Aoife McArdle

European premiere

Candice, 17, has a vivid imagination. In the glaring and graphic realms she experiences during her epileptic seizures, a man appears with whom she falls in love. Soon after, she meets him in the real world. But that’s just one bit of trouble in the Irish town where the young people see a pony as a status symbol on par with a car. One boy is missing and a violent clique of youths is terrorising the village inhabitants. Candice’s father, a police officer who longs for the “good old days” of “the Troubles”, is on the case. In her debut film, director Aoife McArdle stages highly aesthetic chaos against the harsh backdrop of a coastal Irish village. The director’s ample experience making music videos is clearly visible throughout.

Retablo

Peru / Germany / Norway

by Álvaro Delgado-Aparicio L.

European premiere

14-year-old Segundo lives with his parents in a village high in the magnificent mountains of Peru. His father Noé is a respected artist and Segundo’s role model. Noé hand-crafts altarpieces, decorated shrines for church and home, and is teaching Segundo the necessary skills to carry on in his footsteps. But cracks have developed in their close relationship because Noé is keeping a dark secret. With brutal honesty and saturated colours, the film peeks behind the facade of a seemingly intact village community where homophobic attidtudes enforced by patriarchal laws are carried out with remorseless violence. It sketches a visually powerful panorama of a world in which a young artist is searching for his niche.

What Walaa Wants

Canada / Denmark

by Christy Garland

World premiere

The Palestinian girl Walaa - whose mother was incarcerated in an Israeli prison for eight years for allegedly aiding an assassination - shows little interest in school. She’d rather join the Palestinian National Authority - the provisional governmental body that governs the Palestinian territories in the West Bank and Gaza - as soon as possible, were it not for her distrust of any kind of authority. Director Christy Garland’s documentary follows the obstreperous young woman over the course of five years, from age 15 to 20. Always maintaining a level playing field with her young protagonist, Christy Garland gives an intimate look at the rebellious girl fighting at times uncontrollably but tenaciously for her dream.

The following films were announced in the previous press release (December 19, 2017):

303, Germany, Hans Weingartner — WP

Cobain, Netherlands / Belgium / Germany, Nanouk Leopold — WP

Danmark (Denmark), Denmark, Kaspar Rune Larsen — IP

Güvercin (The Pigeon), Turkey, Banu Sıvacı — WP

Les faux tatouages (Fake Tattoos), Canada, Pascal Plante — EP

Para Aduma (Red Cow), Israel, Tsivia Barkai Jacov — WP

Unicórnio (Unicorn), Brazil, Eduardo Nunes — IP

Virus Tropical, Colombia, Santiago Caicedo — EP

Short films in Generation 14plus

Fry-Up, United Kingdom, Charlotte Regan — EP

Follower, Germany, Jonathan B. Behr — WP

Je fais où tu me dis (Dressed for Pleasure), Switzerland, Marie de Maricourt — IP

Juck, Sweden, Olivia Kastebring, Julia Gumpert, Ulrika Bandeira — IP

Kiem Holijanda, Netherlands, Sarah Veltmeyer — IP

Na zdrowie! (Bless You!), Poland, Paulina Ziólkowska — WP

Neputovanja (Untravel), Serbia / Slovakian Republic, Ana Nedeljković, Nikola Majdak Jr. — WP

Nuuca, USA / Canada, Michelle Latimer — EP

Playa (Beach), Mexico, Francisco Borrajo — EP

Pop Rox, USA, Nate Trinrud — EP

Premier amour (First Love), Switzerland, Jules Carrin — IP

Sinfonía de un mar triste (Symphony of a Sad Sea), Mexico, Carlos Morales — EP

Tangles and Knots, Australia, Renée Marie Petropoulos — EP

Three Centimetres, United Kingdom, Lara Zeidan — WP

Vermine (Vermin), Denmark, Jeremie Becquer — WP

Voltage, Austria, Samira Ghahremani — IP

Generation Kplus

Blue Wind Blows

Japan

by Tetsuya Tomina

World premiere

In his poetic full-length film debut, director Tetsuya Tomina follows shy Ao, who lives with his mother and younger sister Kii on the Japanese island of Sado. Their father recently disappeared without a trace, but nobody talks much about that. Ao and Kii wander around the island and vent their incomprehension to the expanses of the sea. Then Ao finds a soulmate in the secretive Sayoko. These two daydreamers need only a few words and feel immediately connected to one another. Against the impressive backdrop of an industrial coastal village, Tomina (who also wrote the screenplay) tells a touching story about hope, loss and letting go.

Ceres

Belgium / Netherlands

by Janet van den Brand

World premiere

In her full-length documentary debut, Dutch director Janet van den Brand accompanies her four young protagonists as they go about their daily agricultural business. Piglets are born, as well as calves, lambs and chicks. Sowing, planting and harvesting. Butchering. No matter what, the camera is close by, along with Koen, Daan, Sven and Jeanine. They help with the farm work from a young age, learning to take responsibility, and to say farewell. Will they run their parents’ farms one day? Using documental imagery, Van den Brand presents a realistic picture of life and work in agriculture - one without idealism, and yet full of poetry.

Cirkeline, Coco og det vilde næsehorn (Circleen, Coco and the Wild Rhinoceros)

Denmark        

by Jannik Hastrup

World premiere

The works of Danish director Jannik Hastrup, seasoned master of animation film, have competed in the Generation programmes since 1985. This year he presents the fourth screen adventure of the matchbook-sized elf Cirkeline. Travel is once again on the agenda, this time with Princess Coco and a moody baby rhinoceros, who both want to return to their home in Africa. Cirkeline and her mouse friends spontaneously decide to go along. A musical story told in episodes and lively, colorful images, Hastrup’s film once again illustrates how travel can open our eyes, and that not everything is the way it seems at first glance.

Los Bando

Norway / Sweden

by Christian Lo

International premiere

Best friends Axel and Grim finally want to perform at this year’s Norwegian rock championship with their band, Los Bando Immortale. Nine-year-old runaway and cellist Thilda, and underage rally driver Martin complete the troupe, and the quartet sets off on a turbulent road trip to the wild north. With the police and crazy relatives on their tail, and confronted with harsh truths in life and love, the four friends continue toward their dream, unperturbed. After Bestevenner (2010), Norwegian director Christian Lo presents his second feature film in Generation Kplus.

Mochila de plomo (Packing Heavy)

Argentina

by Darío Mascambroni

World premiere

12-year-old Tomás tolerated it for far too long - being put off by the grownups, who built a labyrinth of silence, excuses and contradictions all around him. But today is the day of truth. Today, the man who killed his father will be released from prison. And Tomás is ready. In his rucksack is a loaded gun. Restless and determined to liberate himself from the half-truths of the adults, Tomás takes a trip through his hometown. Following his debut Primero enero (Generation Kplus 2017), director Darío Mascambroni once again demonstrates his talent for the attentively observed father-son narrative, told in atmospheric images and in close proximity to his protagonists.

Wang Zha de yuxue (Wangdrak's Rain Boots)

People’s Republic of China
by Lhapal Gyal
World premiere

After heavy rains, puddles and mud cover the streets of the Tibetan mountain village. It’s good for the crops, but bad for young Wangdrak, the only boy in the village without rubber boots. While his father is busy with other worries, Wangdrak’s mother fulfills her son’s wish. But new shoes bring new problems. For Wangdrak, a battle against the blue sky and for the rain begins, fought alongside his loyal friend Lhamo. Nestled in the inimitable mountain landscape, director Lhapal Gyal uses vivid imagery to show us a culture steeped in ancient traditions, paying special attention to the young protagonist’s dreams.

The following films were announced in the previous press release (December 19, 2017):

Allons enfants (Cléo & Paul), France, Stéphane Demoustier — WP

Den utrolige historie om den kæmpestore pære (The Incredible Story of the Giant Pear), Denmark, Philip Einstein Lipski, Amalie Næsby Fick, Jørgen Lerdam — IP

Dikkertje Dap (My Giraffe), Netherlands / Belgium / Germany, Barbara Bredero — IP

El día que resistía (The Endless Day), Argentina / France, by Alessia Chiesa — WP

Gordon och Paddy (Gordon and Paddy), Sweden, Linda Hambäck — IP

Les rois mongols (Cross My Heart), Canada, Luc Picard — EP

Sekala Niskala (The Seen and Unseen), Indonesia / Netherlands / Australia / Qatar, Kamila Andini — EP          

Supa Modo, Germany / Kenya, Likarion Wainaina— WP

Short films in Generation Kplus

A Field Guide to Being a 12-Year-Old Girl, Australia, Tilda Cobham-Hervey — IP

L’après-midi de Clémence (The Afternoon of Clémence), France, Lénaïg Le Moigne — WP

Vdol´ i poperyok (Between the Lines), Russian Federation, Maria Koneva — WP

Brottas (Tweener), Sweden, Julia Thelin — IP

Cena d’aragoste (Lobster Dinner), USA / Italy, Gregorio Franchetti — IP

De Natura, Romania, Lucile Hadžihalilović — IP

Fisketur (Out Fishing), Sweden, Uzi Geffenblad — IP

Fire in Cardboard City, New Zealand, Phil Brough — EP

Hvalagapet, Norway, Liss-Anett Steinskog — IP

Jaalgedi (A Curious Girl), Nepal, Rajesh Prasad Khatri — EP

Lost & Found, Australia, Bradley Slabe — WP

Neko no Hi (Cat Days), Germany, Jon Frickey — WP

Paper Crane, Australia, Takumi Kawakami — WP

Pinguin (Penguin), Germany, Julia Ocker — WP

Snijeg za Vodu (Snow for Water), Bosnia and Herzegovina / United Kingdom, Christopher Villiers — IP

Toda mi alegría (All My Joy), Argentina, Micaela Gonzalo — IP

Tråder (Threads), Norway / Canada, Torill Kove — EP

Trois rêves de ma jeunesse (Three Dreams of My Childhood), Romania, Valérie Mréjen, Bertrand Schefer — IP

Yover, Colombia, Edison Sánchez — WP

This year, Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art is putting on the Forum as part of the Berlinale for the 48^th time. The main programme consists of 44 films, 35 of which world premieres. This year’s Special Screenings will be announced in a second press release.

21 years after his directorial debut The Day a Pig Fell into the Well, Korean director Hong Sangsoo makes a more auspicious return to the Forum. Grass is another cheerfully melancholy story about the guests at a small café whose owner loves classical music. Kim Minhee, who won the Silver Bear for Best Actress in 2017, plays a café regular who always seems to be at the table in the corner writing on her laptop. She repeatedly draws inspiration from what’s happening around her, picking up the threads of the dialogue and spinning them further and sometimes even actively intervening in conversations. Is she perhaps the author of these relationship dramas in miniature, whose stores and themes mirror one another? 

French director Claire Simon is equally willing to try out new experiments in her documentary works. In her new film Premières solitudes (Young Solitude), she creates a cinematographic space for open, intimate discussion together with pupils from a school in the Paris suburbs. As they talk together about their backgrounds, parents, first loves, longings and fears for the future, ten ordinary teenagers forge ever closer bonds. It’s good to realise you’re not alone.

For his part, Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa is showing a film at the Berlinale for the very first time. In Den’ Pobedy (Victory Day), he observes the huge crowds that gather each year at the Soviet War Memorial in Berlin-Treptow on May 9th and records the hustle and bustle with quiet precision, as different moods come to the fore: pride, contemplation, patriotism, curiosity, the desire for recognition. 

Two films from this year’s programme draw on video material shot by their directors in periods of political upheaval and imbue it with new significance. At the end of the 1980s, Kristina Konrad collected opinions on the streets of Uruguay in relation to a referendum to be held on a law granting impunity to those responsible for the military dictatorship. Unas preguntas (One or Two Questions) takes a magnifying glass to the democratic process.

Around the same time, the scandal surrounding the Nazi past of former UN General Secretary and Austrian president Kurt Waldheim was making headlines worldwide. Edited together entirely from archive footage, Ruth Beckermann’s Waldheims Walzer (The Waldheim Waltz) is a documentary essay of frightening topicality. 

Julien Faraut also works with material largely shot in the 80s in L’empire de la perfection (In the Realm of Perfection). Back then, tennis-obsessed director Gil de Kermadec attempted to use film as means of analysing the game. His meticulously shot footage of John McEnroe matches during the French Open forms the starting point for an ironic look at the parallels between film and the sporting world: cinema lies, sport does not. 

Corneliu Porumboiu’s Fotbal Infinit (Infinite Football) takes an equally peculiar look at the world of sport, this time in provincial Romania, following a local official’s attempts to bequeath the world an improved version of the beautiful game. But does everything here really just revolve around football? 

Two features from the US shine a light on intellectual escapism. Ted Fendt’s second featureClassical Periodis once again shot in Philadelphia on 16mm and tells a drolly melancholy story about intellectualism and loneliness. The members of a reading group exchange cultural and literary references with such vigour that there’s little room for anything else: an attempt to leave the modern world behind or merely their own solitary existences?

Ricky D’Ambrose’s debut Notes On an Appearance may be set in Brooklyn, but unfolds in a similar milieu. Before the backdrop of the disquiet spread by the followers of a controversial philosopher, the film uses both real-life documents and smartly falsified writings to tell the story of a young man who one day disappears without warning. An eerie look at modern life with shades of dystopia. 

Josephine Decker’s Madeline’s Madeline on the other hand plunges into the analogies of creativity and insanity. The young titular heroine doesn’t like spending time with her mother, played by actress Miranda July, and feels far freer when with her theatre group. But where does the border lie between personality and role?

Two features from Morocco explore gender relations. Jahilya by Hicham Lasri (the title alludes to the pre-Islamic “time of ignorance”) is a furious condemnation of the misogyny of Moroccan society and all its attendant malice.

Narjiss Nejjar’s Apatride (Stateless) gives an account of a historical event from a female perspective, an event that still dictates the relationship between Morocco and Algeria to this day. Full of beguiling images, her feature shows how a gentle, yet determined woman attempts to prevail over the border between the two countries. 

It would be more than appropriate to refer to the electrifying directorial debut An Elephant Sitting Still as a new hope for Chinese cinema. But its 29-year-old director Ho Bu, who had previously made a name for himself with two novels, took his own life soon after the film was completed. This visually stunning work links together the biographies of a range of different protagonists in virtuoso fashion, narrating the course of one single, tension-filled day from dawn until dusk, painting a portrait of a society marked by selfishness in the process.

The films of the 48^thForum:

14 Apples von Midi Z, Taiwan / Myanmar – WP

Afrique, la pensée en mouvement Part I by Jean-Pierre Bekolo, Senegal – IP

Aggregat (Aggregate) by Marie Wilke, Germany – WP

Amiko by Yoko Yamanaka, Japan – IP

Apatride (Stateless) by Narjiss Nejjar, Morocco – WP

Aufbruch (Departure) by Ludwig Wüst, Austria – WP

La cama (The Bed) by Mónica Lairana, Argentina / Germany / Netherlands / Brazil – WP

La casa lobo (The Wolf House) by Joaquín Cociña, Cristóbal León, Chile – WP

Casanovagen (Casanova Gene) by Luise Donschen, Germany – WP

Classical Period by Ted Fendt, USA – WP

Con el viento (Facing the Wind) by Meritxell Colell Aparicio, Spain / France / Argentina – WP

Los débiles (The Weak Ones) by Raúl Rico, Eduardo Giralt Brun, Mexico – WP

Den' Pobedy (Victory Day) by Sergei Loznitsa, Germany – WP

Die Tomorrow by Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit, Thailand – IP

Djamilia (Jamila) by Aminatou Echard, France – WP

Drvo (The Tree) by André Gil Mata, Portugal / Bosnia and Herzegovina – WP

L'empire de la perfection (In the Realm of Perfection) by Julien Faraut, France – WP

An Elephant Sitting Still by Hu Bo, People’s Republic of China – WP

Fotbal Infinit (Infinite Football) by Corneliu Porumboiu, Romania – WP

Grass by Hong Sangsoo, Republic of Korea – WP

The Green Fog by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson, USA / Canada

+ Accidence by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson, Canada – WP

Interchange by Brian M. Cassidy, Melanie Shatzky, Canada – WP

Jahilya by Hicham Lasri, Morocco – WP

Kaotični život Nade Kadić (The Chaotic Life of Nada Kadić) by Marta Hernaiz, Mexico / Bosnia and Herzegovina – WP

Last Child by Shin Dong-seok, Republic of Korea – IP

Madeline's Madeline by Josephine Decker, USA – IP

Maki'la by Machérie Ekwa Bahango, Democratic Republic of the Congo / France – WP

Mariphasa by Sandro Aguilar, Portugal – WP

Minatomachi (Inland Sea) by Kazuhiro Soda, Japan/USA – WP

Notes On an Appearance by Ricky D'Ambrose, USA – WP

Old Love by Park Kiyong, Republic of Korea – IP

Our House by Yui Kiyohara, Japan – IP

Our Madness by João Viana, Mozambique / Guinea-Bissau / Qatar / Portugal / France – WP

Premières armes (First Stripes) by Jean-François Caissy, Canada – WP

Premières solitudes (Young Solitude) by Claire Simon, France – WP

SPK Komplex (SPK Complex) by Gerd Kroske, Germany – WP

Syn (The Son) by Alexander Abaturov, France / Russian Federation – WP

Teatro de guerra (Theatre of War) by Lola Arias, Argentinia / Spain – WP

Tuzdan Kaide (The Pillar of Salt) by Burak Çevik, Turkey – WP

Unas preguntas (One or Two Questions) by Kristina Konrad, Germany / Uruguay – WP

Waldheims Walzer (The Waldheim Waltz) by Ruth Beckermann, Austria – WP

Wieża. Jasny dzień. (Tower. A Bright Day.) by Jagoda Szelc, Poland – IP

Wild Relatives by Jumana Manna, Germany / Lebanon / Norway – WP

Yours in Sisterhood by Irene Lusztig, USA – WP 

Competition and Berlinale Special: Soderbergh, Diaz, Padilha, Ruizpalacios, and Lazarov in the Competition - Everett, Fischer Christensen, Lommel, Brinkmann, Nomura Schible, and Šulík in the Berlinale Special

Another five films have been invited to take part in the Competition of the 68^th Berlin International Film Festival. 23 of the 24 titles in the Competition have already been selected, 19 of the 24 films will be competing for the Golden Bear and the Silver Bears.

A further six films have been invited to participate in the Berlinale Special programme, which will include a total of twelve films and seven series.

The additional two Competition and Berlinale Special titles will be announced at the Programme Press Conference on February 6, 2018.

Berlinale Special Gala premieres will be held at the Friedrichstadt-Palast. For the first time the Zoo Palast will be the venue for the Berlinale Series of the Berlinale Special. Selected screenings at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele will again be followed by discussions about the films.

Competition

7 Days in Entebbe

USA / United Kingdom

By José Padilha (The Elite Squad, Garapa)

With Rosamund Pike, Daniel Brühl, Eddie Marsan, Lior Ashkenazi, Denis Menochet, Ben Schnetzer, Angel Bonanni, Juan Pablo Raba, Nonso Anozie
World premiere – Out of competition

Ága
Bulgaria / Germany / France

By Milko Lazarov (Otchuzhdenie)

With Mikhail Aprosimov, Feodosia Ivanova, Galina Tikhonova, Sergey Egorov, Afanasiy Kylaev

World premiere – Out of competition

Ang panahon ng halimaw (Season of the Devil)

Philippines
By Lav Diaz (A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery, The Woman Who Left)
With Piolo Pascual, Shaina Magdayao, Pinky Amador, Bituin Escalante, Hazel Orencio, Joel Saracho, Bart Guingona, Angel Aquino, Lilit Reyes, Don Melvin Boongaling

World premiere

Museo (Museum)

Mexico

By Alonso Ruizpalacios (Güeros)

With Gael García Bernal, Leonardo Ortizgris, Alfredo Castro, Simon Russell Beale, Bernardo Velasco, Leticia Brédice, Ilse Salas, Lisa Owen
World premiere

Unsane
USA
By Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, The Good German)

With Claire Foy, Joshua Leonard, Jay Pharoah, Juno Temple, Aimee Mullins, Amy Irving

World premiere – Out of competition

To date, the following countries are participating in the Competition programme: Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Uruguay and USA.

Berlinale Special

Berlinale Special Gala at the Friedrichstadt-Palast

The Happy Prince

Germany / Belgium / Italy

By Rupert Everett

With Colin Firth, Emily Watson, Colin Morgan, Edwin Thomas, Rupert Everett
European premiere - First Feature

Unga Astrid (Becoming Astrid)

Sweden / Germany / Denmark

By Pernille Fischer Christensen (A Soap, A Family, Someone You Love)
With Alba August, Trine Dyrholm, Magnus Krepper, Maria Bonnevie, Henrik Rafaelsen

World premiere

Berlinale Special at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele

AMERICA Land of the FreeKS– Documentary Form

Germany
By Ulli Lommel (Tenderness of the Wolves, The Boogey Man, Absolute Evil)
With Ulli Lommel, Tanner King Barklow, Nola Roeper, Gil Kofman, Chris Kriesa, Lilith Stangenberg, Tatjana Lommel, Max Brauer

World premiere

Tribute to Ulli Lommel

RYŪICHI SAKAMOTO: async AT THE PARK AVENUE ARMORY – Documentary

USA / Japan
By Stephen Nomura Schible (Ryūichi Sakamoto: Coda)
International premiere

Berlinale Special at Kino International

The Interpreter

Slovak Republic / Czech Republic / Austria

By Martin Šulík (The Garden, Landscape, Gypsy)

With Peter Simonischek, Jiří Menzel, Zuzana Mauréry, Attila Mokos, Anna Rakovská
World premiere

Usedom – Der freie Blick aufs Meer– Documentary
Germany
By Heinz Brinkmann (The Carbide Factory, Come Into The Garden, The Boehme Case – The Wondrous Life of a Left-Handed Man)

 

To date, the Berlinale Special includes titles from the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong – China, Italy, Japan, People’s Republic of China, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and USA.

In addition, Berlinale Series of the Berlinale Special is presenting productions from Australia, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Luxembourg, Norway, and USA.

Competition

3 Tage in Quiberon (3 Days in Quiberon) by Emily Atef (Germany / Austria / France)

7 Days in Entebbe by José Padilha (USA / United Kingdom) – Out of competition

Ága by Milko Lazarov (Bulgaria / Germany / France) – Out of competition
Ang panahon ng halimaw (Season of the Devil) by Lav Diaz (Philippines)
Black 47 by Lance Daly (Ireland / Luxembourg) – Out of competition
Damsel by David Zellner and Nathan Zellner (USA)

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot by Gus Van Sant (USA)
Dovlatov by Alexey German Jr. (Russian Federation / Poland / Serbia)
Eldorado by Markus Imhoof (Switzerland / Germany) – Documentary, out of competition

Eva by Benoit Jacquot (France)

Figlia mia (Daughter of Mine) by Laura Bispuri (Italy / Germany / Switzerland)
Las herederas (The Heiresses) by Marcelo Martinessi (Paraguay / Germany / Uruguay / Norway / Brazil / France) - First Feature

In den Gängen (In the Aisles) by Thomas Stuber (Germany)
Isle of Dogs by Wes Anderson (United Kingdom / Germany) – Animation
Khook (Pig) by Mani Haghighi (Iran)

Mein Bruder heißt Robert und ist ein Idiot (My Brother’s Name is Robert and He is an Idiot) by Philip Gröning (Germany / France / Switzerland)

Museo (Museum) by Alonso Ruizpalacios (Mexico)

La prière (The Prayer) by Cédric Kahn (France)

Toppen av ingenting (The Real Estate) by Måns Månsson and Axel Petersén (Sweden / United Kingdom)

Touch Me Not by Adina Pintilie (Romania / Germany / Czech Republic / Bulgaria / France) - First Feature

Transit by Christian Petzold (Germany / France)

Twarz (Mug) by Małgorzata Szumowska (Poland)

Unsane by Steven Soderbergh (USA) – Out of competition

Berlinale Special

AMERICA Land of the FreeKS by Ulli Lommel (Germany) – Documentary Form
The Bookshop by Isabel Coixet (Spain / United Kingdom / Germany)
The Happy Prince by Rupert Everett (Germany / Belgium / Italy)
Gurrumul by Paul Williams (Australia) – Documentary, debut film

The Interpreter by Martin Šulík (Slovak Republic / Czech Republic / Austria)

Monster Hunt 2 by Raman Hui (People’s Republic of China / Hong Kong, China)
RYŪICHI SAKAMOTO: async AT THE PARK AVENUE ARMORY by Stephen Nomura Schible (USA / Japan)– Documentary

Das schweigende Klassenzimmer (The Silent Revolution) by Lars Kraume (Germany)
Unga Astrid (Becoming Astrid) by Pernille Fischer Christensen (Sweden / Germany / Denmark)

Usedom – Der freie Blick aufs Meer by Heinz Brinkmann (Germany) – Documentary
Viaje a los Pueblos Fumigados (A Journey to the Fumigated Towns) by Fernando Solanas (Argentina) - Documentary

Berlinale Special – Berlinale Series

Bad Banks - Director: Christian Schwochow - Head writer: Oliver Kienle,  based on a concept by Lisa Blumenberg (Germany / Luxembourg)

Heimebane (Home Ground) - Creator: Johan Fasting - Director: Arild Andresen (Norway)

Liberty - Creator: Asger Leth - Director: Mikael Marcimain (Denmark)

The Looming Tower - Creators: Dan Futterman, Alex Gibney, Lawrence Wright - Director: Alex Gibney - Written by Dan Futterman, based on the book by Lawrence Wright (USA)

Picnic at Hanging Rock - Director: Larysa Kondracki (episodes 1-3 ) - Written by Beatrix Christian, Alice Addison (Australia)

Sleeping Bears - Creator and director: Keren Margalit (Israel)

The Terror - Showrunners: David Kajganich and Soo Hugh - Director: Edward Berger (episodes 1-3), (USA)

The 68^th Berlin International Film Festival will take place from February 15 to 25, 2018.

The complete programme will be presented on February 6, 2018.

The Award Ceremony will be held at the Berlinale Palast on Saturday, February 24, 2018. The Festival will close with the Berlinale Publikumstag on Sunday, February 25, 2018.

14-18 NOW AND IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUMS PRESENT THE WORLD

PREMIERE OF PETER JACKSON’S FIRST WORLD WAR FILM

• Includes never-before-seen First World War archival footage restored with the finest digital technology: in full 3D, hand-colourised, and with original audio

• Accompanied by learning resources that will reach all secondary schools in the UK

• Broadcast premiere on BBC One for Armistice 2018

14-18 NOW, the UK’s official arts programme for the First World War centenary, and Imperial War Museums have commissioned internationally acclaimed filmmaker Peter Jackson – of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit fame – to create a new film about the First World War. The new work has been created exclusively with original, archive footage from the Imperial War Museums’ film archive and audio from the BBC archives. The film will be broadcast on BBC One following a UK-wide premiere as part of the BFI London Film Festival in 2018. The BBC will accompany the film with a ‘making-of’ documentary with behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with Peter Jackson and an in-depth look at the creative and technical process behind the work.

Peter Jackson said:

“I’ve always been fascinated by the First World War due to my own family history and the Centenary felt like a unique opportunity to make a personal contribution to the commemoration. I wanted to find a way to bring new life to the stories of ordinary people living through extraordinary times.”

The Academy Award-winning director spent months immersed in Imperial War Museums’ original First World War footage and BBC audio to discover stories and perspectives on the war never-before presented to the public, and has brought them to life using the techniques he has become famous for. Each frame of the film has been hand-colourised, 3D-digitised, and restored with modern production techniques so that it is as impactful today as it would have been when originally presented in cinemas to a wartime audience during the First World War.

The careful treatment and restoration of the original footage has resulted in a unique film, bringing back to life the stories that were captured in moving footage a century ago. The film will also feature original audio sourced from the BBC archives, giving audiences a chance to hear from the people who experienced the First World War, telling their stories in their own words.

Young people form a central part of the film’s distribution with learning resources that will reach all secondary schools in the UK. A copy of the film will be given to every secondary school for the 2018 Autumn term. The programme will also include curriculum-linked learning materials presented with TES (Times Educational Supplement), and the film will feature in the Into Film Festival which takes place in the lead-up to 11 November 2018. The film has been produced by WingNut Films in New Zealand, who are world-renowned for their innovative work on The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and King Kong, and is Executive Produced by BAFTA Award-winner Tessa Ross at House Productions. Trafalgar Releasing will be coordinating a simultaneous screening of the film in cinemas around the UK to coincide with the UK premiere.

Jenny Waldman, Director of 14-18 NOW, said:

“When Peter and I first met, he said he wanted to create a piece of film that would bring the experience of the First World War to life for young people today, which is precisely our focus in this last season of 14-18 NOW. We are delighted to be working with such an exceptional filmmaker on this ground-breaking production and visionary resource that will enable all secondary school students in the country to see the film.”

Diane Lees, Director-General of Imperial War Museums, said:

“After many years of swapping ideas with Peter Jackson, IWM are delighted to now be working with him on this extraordinary film to mark the centenary of Armistice in 2018. Through this unique production, Peter will reinterpret IWM’s rich First World War film archive to create an exceptional film which will be shared with audiences across the UK. This innovative new production will bring to life the stories of those who lived, fought and died during the First World War as well as revealing never-before-seen footage from IWM’s film archive from more than 100 years ago.”

Charlotte Moore, Director BBC Content, said:

“The culmination of the BBC’s ambitious four years of programming to mark the World War One centenary is being honoured on BBC One with the world premiere of a very special film from the highly acclaimed Peter Jackson that will bring unheard voices from a hundred years ago to life for a whole new generation to experience.”

14-18 NOW is funded by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England, and by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. 14-18 NOW is an independent programme hosted within Imperial War Museums.

14-18 NOW would like to acknowledge its partnership with the BBC on projects in the 2018 season.

Co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW and the Imperial War Museums. Special thanks to Matthew & Sian Westerman with additional support from The Taylor Family Foundation, The Moondance Foundation, British Council, Jacqueline & Richard Worswick and one anonymous donor. With support from the National Lottery through Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, and from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.

For details of the full programme please see:

www.1418now.org.uk

Read more

WorldFest was founded over 50 years ago as an International Film Society in August, 1961. WorldFest became the third competitive international film festival in North America, following San Francisco and New York. WorldFest is the oldest Independent Film & Video Festival in the World. It evolved into a competitive International Film Festival in April, 1968. It was founded by award-winning producer/director Hunter Todd to present a quality film festival for the Independent filmmakers. Hunter Todd has been honored with more than 115 international awards for creative excellence in film production, and he has been the producer, director, writer and/or cameraman on more than 300 motion picture and video productions. The mission/vision statement of WorldFest is to recognize and honor outstanding creative excellence in film & video, to validate brilliant abilities and to promote cultural tourism for Houston, to develop film production in the region and to add to the rich cultural fabric of the city of Houston. All members of the WorldFest staff are filmmakers.

WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival (now it’s 50th year!) continues with its totally dedicated Independent Film screening format for the upcoming April 21-30, 2017 unspooling at the flagship AMC Studio 30 Dunvale Theaters. WorldFest will screen just 55-60 feature film premieres, with a complete and absolute emphasis on the American and International Independent feature films and with a continuing annual spotlight on an individual country and its films. WorldFest also offers competition in TV Production, Documentary, Corporate & Business Films, Student & Experimental, TV Commercials, Film & Video Production, Music Videos, New Media (Interactive, Web Sites & 3D Productions), Screenplays, Print and Radio.

The late, great Chuck Jones, with his wife Marian, Kathleen Haney and Hunter Todd.

WorldFest is one of the oldest and largest film & video competitions in the world, with more than 4,500 category entries received from 37 countries in 2006. Actually WorldFest is 12 Major film & video competitions in one event, unlike Cannes, Sundance and Toronto, which are just 2 competitions for shorts and features only. Because of our 12 major competitions and the 200+ sub-categories, WorldFest does give a lot of awards, but they are both earned and deserved. No awards are given in any category unless the scores from the juries are high enough to place for honors. Overall only 15-20% of the total category entries actually win an award at WorldFest. However, everyone attending the Grand Awards Gala wins an award, as we only invite the actual winners, which makes for a delightful and enjoyable evening, since there are no disappointed “nominees” that do not win anything. Those that do not win an award are informed by email or letters prior to the festival.

WorldFest Artistic and Program Director Kathleen Haney stated, “We feel that it is impossible to properly emphasize individual films when the festival screening schedule is too large. We must consider both our festival audience and our independent filmmakers. A huge slate of 150-300 films cannot possibly do justice to each individual film. Further, it is impossible to see more than 50-60 films (with four shows a day) in a ten-day festival, so it is foolish to program more than that.” Haney continued, “We will concentrate on only the very best, selecting new American & Foreign Independent films that truly deserve a premiere at WorldFest. By doing so, we can concentrate on the films and their filmmakers and enable our faithful audience the opportunity to see each and every film!” All 35mm films and Digital entries are screened at the AMC Studio 30 Dunvale Theatre, 2949 Dunvale Road, WorldFest – the Indie Film Festival for the New Millennium!

8.15 -9.00 Meet and toast with the team of Chimera open for ticket holders and guests. Photocall with props from the movie.

Jeff and the director of the movie Susan Kucera. 

View Sneak Peek Preview: 

Jeff Bridges presents this beautifully photographed tour de force of original thinking on who we are and the environmental challenges we face. Bridges, alongside expert scientists and authors, weaves evolution, emergence, entropy, dark ecology, and what some are calling the end of nature, into a story that helps us understand our place among the species of Earth’s household. The film upends our way of thinking and provides original insights into our subconscious motivations, the unintended consequences, what to do about our fossil slaves, and how our fundamental animal nature influences our future as Humankind. 

Living in the Future’s Past will premiere at Metro 1 on Thursday February 1st at 8.00pm and screen at Lobero Theatre on Monday February 5th at 2.00pm at Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Livinginthefuturespast.com

For further information please contact:

Sicily Publicity: Sisi Cronin – Sisi@sicilypublicity.com / +1 917-213-0254

About Vision Films

Vision Films is an Independent Worldwide Distributor and VOD Aggregator of over 800 Feature Films, Documentaries and Music Programs across all available rights from Theatrical, DVD, Television and VOD/Digital Media in both the International and Domestic marketplaces. 

The 2018 SBIFF will offer 200+ films representing 58 countries, 45 World premieres, and 53 U.S. premieres, along with tributes with the year’s top talent, panel discussions, and free community education and outreach programs.
 
Below is the list of features and short films at the 2018 SBIFF. For the complete list of films, synopses, and other special events please visit www.sbiff.org and download the SBIFF app.

 
23 WORLD PREMIERE FEATURE FILMS (listed alphabetically)
 
A Sniper’s War, USA, Ukraine, Russia
Directed by Olya Schechter
 
Acid Horizon, USA
Directed by Ivan Hurzeler
 
Broke: The Santa Barbara Oil Pipeline Spill of 2015, USA
Directed by Gail Osherenko
 
Chasing the Thunder, USA
Directed by Mark Benjamin and Marc Levin
 
The Doctor From India, USA
Directed by Jeremy Frindel
 
The End of Meat (Eine welt ohne fleisch), Germany
Directed by Marc Pierschel
 
The Independents, USA
Directed by Greg Naughton
 
Living in the Futures Past, USA
Directed by Susan Kucera
 
Making Babies, USA
Directed by Josh Huber
 
Metamorphosis, Canada
Directed by Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper
 
My Indiana Muse, USA
Directed by Ric and Jen Serena
 
¡Oh Mamy Blue!, Spain
Directed by Antonio Hens
 
Off the Menu, USA
Directed by Jay Silverman
 
One Last Night, USA
Directed by Anthony Sabet
 
the public, USA
Directed by Emilio Estevez
 
The Push, USA
Directed by Grant Korgan
 
Scotch: A Golden Dream, USA
Directed by Andrew Peat
 
Silicon Beach, USA
Directed by Max Gold
 
Threesome (Le trip à trois), Canada
Directed by Nicolas Monette
 
Waiting for the Drop: Rise of the Superstar DJs, USA
Directed by Alexei Barrionuevo
 
The War in Between, USA
Directed by Riccardo Ferraris
 
We Are Galapagos, USA
Directed by Kum-Kum Bhavnani
 
The White Orchid, USA
Directed by Steve Anderson
 
46 U.S. PREMIERE FEATURE FILMS (listed alphabetically)
 
3 Things (3 ting), Denmark
Directed by Jens Dahl
 
A Land Without Borders, Israel
Directed by Michael Alalu and Nir Baram
 
Adventures in Public School, Canada
Directed by Kyle Rideout
 
Before I Forget (Antes que eu me esqueça), Brazil
Directed by Tiago Arakilian
 
Beyond - An African Surf Documentary, Austria
Directed by Mario Hainzl
 
Beyond Dreams (Dröm vidare), Sweden
Directed by Rojda Serkersöz
 
Big Wata, Netherlands
Directed by Jan Paul Van der Velden
 
Bingo: The King of the Mornings (Bingo: O rei das manhãs), Brazil
Directed by Daniel Rezende
 
Black Kite, Canada, Afghanistan
Directed by Tarique Qayumi
 
The Butterfly Tree, Australia
Directed by Priscilla Cameron
 
Cardinals, Canada
Directed by Grayson Moore & Aidan Shipley
 
Catch the Wind (Prendre le large), France
Directed by Gaël Morel
 
Darling, Denmark
Directed by Birgitte Stærmose
 
Daybreak (Dita zë fill), Albania
Directed by Gentian Koçi
 
The Double Lover (L'amant double), France
Directed by François Ozon
 
Edie, UK
Directed by Simon Hunter
 
The Eternal Road (Ikitie), Finland
Directed by Antti-Jussi Annila
 
Euthanizer (Armomurhaaja), Finland
Directed by Teemu Nikki
 
The Faithful Son (La part sauvage), Belgium
Directed by Guérin van de Vorst
 
Fence Your Best, Israel
Directed by Liat Mer
 
Fifty Springtimes (Aurore), France
Directed by Blandine Lenoir
 
Filthy (Spina), Czech Republic, Slovakia
Directed by Tereza Nvotová
 
Get the Weed (Misión no oficial), Uruguay
Directed by Denny Brechner, Alfonso Guerrero and Marcos Hecht
 
Giant (Handia), Spain
Directed by Jon Garaño and Aitor Arregi
 
Grace and Splendor (Donaire y esplendor), Panama
Directed by Arturo Montenegro
 
Grand Cru, Canada
Directed by David Eng
 
Guerrero, Mexico
Directed by Ludovic Bonleux
 
Imposed Piece (Opgelegd Werk), Belgium
Directed by Brecht Vanhoenacker
 
In Love and In Hate (Los que aman, odian), Argentina
Directed by Alejandro Maci
 
The Island, Israel
Directed by Adam Weingrod
 
The Last Suit (El último traje), Argentina
Directed by Pablo Solarz
 
Maracaibo, Argentina
Directed by Miguel Angel Rocca
 
Mary Goes Round, Canada
Directed by Molly McGlynn
 
Meditation Park, Canada
Directed by Mina Shum
 
Modified, Canada
Directed by Aube Giroux
 
The Order of Things (L'ordine delle cose), Italy
Directed by Andrea Segre
 
Sad Hill Unearthed, Spain
Directed by Guillermo de Oliveira
 
Secret Ingredient (Iscelitel), Greece
Directed by Gjorce Stavreski
 
Soviet Hippies, Estonia, Germany, Finland
Directed by Terje Toomistu
 
Sunshine That Can Move Mountains, China
Directed by Qiang Wang
 
Star Boys (Kaiken se kestää), Sweden
Directed by Visa Koiso-Kanttila
 
The Swan (Svanurinn), Iceland, Estonia, Germany
Directed by Ása Hjörleifsdóttir
 
The Unseen (Los últimos), Argentina
Directed by Nicolás Puenzo
 
Unwanted (T'padashtun), Kosovo, Netherlands
Directed by Edon Rizvanolli
 
Wall, Canada
Directed by Cam Christiansen
 
While We Live (Mens vi lever), Denmark
Directed by Mehdi Avaz
 
NON-PREMIERE FEATURE FILMS (listed alphabetically)
 
All You Can Eat Buddha, Canada, Cuba
Directed by Ian Lagarde
 
Angels Wear White (Jia nian hua), China, France
Directed by Vivian Qu
 
Arrhythmia (Aritmiya), Russia, Finland, Germany
Directed by Boris Khlebnikov
 
Back to Burgundy (Ce qui nous lie), France
Directed by Cédric Klapisch
 
Beartrek, USA, Canada, Indonesia, Peru
Directed by Chris Morgan & Joe Pontecorvo
 
Blue, Australia
Directed by Karina Holden
 
Borg vs. McEnroe, Sweden, Denmark, Finland
Directed by Janus Metz
 
Breath (Nafas), Iran
Directed by Narges Abyar
 
Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred Beckey, USA, Canada, China
Directed by Dave O'Leske
 
Elish's Notebooks, Israel
Directed by Golan Rise
 
The Essential Link - The Story of Wilfred Israel, Israel
Directed by Yonatan Nir
 
Faces Places (Visages, villages), France
Directed by JR and Agnès Varda
 
The Future Ahead (El futuro que viene), Argentina
Directed by Constanza Novick
 
The Gospel According to André, USA
Directed by Kate Novack
 
Gutland, Luxembourg, Germany, Belgium
Directed by Govinda Van Maele
 
Holy Camp! (La Llamada), Spain
Directed by Javier Ambrossi & Javier Calvo
 
Hotel Salvation (Mukti Bhawan), India
Directed by Shubhashish Bhutiani
 
Icarus, USA
Directed by Bryan Fogel
 
In Syria (Insyriated), Belgium, France, Lebanon
Directed by Philippe Van Leeuw
 
The Insult (L'insulte), Lebanon
Directed by Ziad Doueiri
 
Just Like Our Parents, Brazil
Directed by Laís Bodanzky
 
Killer Bees, USA
Directed by Ben & Orson Cummings
 
Kim Swims, USA
Directed by Kate Webber
 
Leaning Into the Wind: Andy Goldsworthy, USA
Directed by Thomas Riedelsheimer
 
The Line (Čiara), Slovakia, Ukraine
Directed by Peter Bebjak
 
Love Means Zero, USA
Directed by Jason Kohn
 
Miracle on 42nd Street, USA
Directed by Alice Elliott
 
Montana, Israel
Directed by Limor Shmila
 
Nelson Algren Live, USA
Directed by Oscar Bucher
 
Oh Lucy!, USA, Japan
Directed by Atsuko Hirayanagi
 
The Party, USA
Directed by Sally Potter
 
Point of No Return, USA
Directed by Quinn Kanaly & Noel Dockstader
 
The Quartette (Kvarteto), Czech Republic
Directed by Miroslav Krobot
 
Racer and the Jailbird (Le fidèle), Belgium
Directed by Michaël R. Roskam
 
Scaffolding (Pigumim), Israel, Poland
Directed by Matan Yair
 
Scary Mother, Georgia, Estonia
Directed by Ana Urushadze
 
Skid Row Marathon, USA
Directed by Mark Hayes
 
Sky and Ground, USA, Serbia/Montenegro, Macedonia, Hungary, Greece, Germany, Austria
Directed by Joshua Bennett & Talya Tibbon
 
Something New (Qualcosa di nuovo), Italy
Directed by Cristina Comencini
 
Soufra, Singapore, USA, Lebanon
Directed by Thomas A. Morgan
 
The Starry Sky Above Me, (Le ciel étoilé au-dessus de ma tête), France
Directed by Ilan Klipper
 
Streetlight Harmonies, USA
Directed by Brent Wilson
 
The Third Murder, (Sandome no Satsujin), Japan
Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda
 
Tulipani: Love, Honour and a Bicycle (Tulipani: Liefde, Eer en een Fiets), Netherlands
Directed by Mike van Diem
 
Triumph: The Untold Story of Perry Wallace, USA
Directed by Rich Gentile
 
Under the Tree (Undir Trénu), Iceland, Denmark, Poland & Germany
Directed by Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson
 
Wife and Husband (Moglie e marito), Italy
Directed by Simone Godano
 
You Disappear (Du forsvinder), Denmark, Sweden
Directed by Peter Schønau Fog
 
SHORTS FILMS (listed alphabetically)
 
22 WORLD PREMIERES / 7 U.S. PREMIERES
 
72%, Spain - US Premiere
Directed by Lluis Quilez
 
Abroad, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Zayn Alexandar
 
Aeris, USA
Directed by Paul Castro Jr.
 
Afterwork, Spain, Peru, Ecuador - World Premiere
Directed by Luis Uson
 
The Artist & The Great Bear, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Jeff Mcloughlin
 
As Long As It Takes (Le temps qu’il faut), Canada
Directed by Abeille Tard
 
Audition, USA
Directed by Richard Van
 
Bargain, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Clifford Miu
 
Basha Man, China
Directed by Daniel Chein
 
Bigfoot’s Love Slave, USA
Directed by Heather Tom
 
The Cannonball Woman, (La femme canon), France, Switzerland, Canada - US Premiere
Directed by David Toutevoix and Albertine Zullo
 
Cascarón, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Casey McGarry
 
Catacomb, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Alex Z. Avila
 
Couch for Sale, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Takashi Doscher
 
Cowboy of Mount Laurier (Le cowboy du mont Laurier), Canada - US Premiere
Directed by Gabriel Vilandré
 
Crossing the Channel, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Ryan Slattery
 
Cuba: Music Revolution, USA
Directed by Juan Ponce de León
 
Dancing with Dragons, USA, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Mexico, Belize
Directed by Mark Romanov
 
Don’t Mind Alice, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Maude Apatow & Olivia Rosenbloom
 
The Driver Is Red, USA
Directed by Randall Christopher
 
Field Song (Canción de Campo), USA
Directed by Brad Bischoff
 
Fern, UK - US Premiere
Directed by Johnny Kelly
 
Ferryman at the Wall, USA
Directed by David Freid
 
Fingerprints, USA
Directed by Don Hardy
 
From Golf Course to Wetland, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Michael Love
 
Hide and Seek (Bújócska), Hungary
Directed by Gábor Benő Baranyi
 
Home Shopper, USA
Directed by Dev Patel
 
Hybrids, France
Directed by Florian Brauch, Kim Tailhades, Matthieu Pujol, Romain Thirion and Yohan Thireau
 
Keep Calm and Tampon, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Claudia Lonow
 
Killing Games: Wildlife in the Crosshairs, USA
Directed by Camilla H. Fox
 
The Last Man You Meet, USA
Directed by Chris Bone
 
Long Term Delivery, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Jake Honig
 
Los Comandos, USA
Directed by Joshua Bennett
 
Lunch Ladies, USA
Directed by J.M. Logan
 
Mariela, UK
Directed by Victoria Romero
 
Martien, Switzerland
Directed by Maxime Pillonel
 
Me, My Phone and I, USA
Directed by Luke Mullen
 
Mott Haven, USA
Directed by Kyle Morrison
 
Negative Space, France
Directed by Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata
 
Online Shopping, Iran
Directed by Ghasideh Golmakani
 
Out of the Ashes, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Hallie Brown
 
Poles Apart, USA
Directed by Paloma Baeza
 
Phototaxis, USA
Directed by Melissa Ferrari
 
The Red Flag, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Mike Winger
 
RFLKTR, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Matt K. Turner
 
Santa Claus, USA
Directed by Jeff Man
 
Sequin, Taiwan - US Premiere
Directed by Yachi Yang
 
Siren Song: Women Singers of Pakistan, USA, Pakistan, and India
Directed by Fawzia Afzal-Khan
 
Shadow Boxer (Skyggebokser), Denmark - World Premiere
Directed by Andreas Bøggild Monies
 
Shark Bight, USA - US Premiere
Directed by Stephanie Foster
 
The Shift, USA
Directed by Elivia Shaw
 
Simularity, USA
Directed by Ryan O’Nan
 
Soul of the City, USA - World Premiere
Directed by John Klein
 
Souls of Totality, USA
Directed by Richard Raymond
 
Space Butthole, USA
Directed by David Chai
 
The Take Off, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Ryan Kalil
 
The Tesla World Light, (Tesla: Lumière Mondiale), Canada
Directed by Matthew Rankin
 
Tigerstyle, United Kingdom, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Elliott Powell, Jordyn Romero, Paloma Young, Rachel Lattin, and Riani Singgih
 
The Tipping Point, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Danielle Cohen
 
Toward the North (Hacia el norte), USA
Directed by Elivia Shaw, Jessica Chermayeff, and Joshua Bennett
 
Towards the Sun (Hacia el sol), United Kingdom
Directed by Monica Santis
 
Two Balloons, USA - US Premiere
Directed by Mark C. Smith
 
Under Her Wing, USA
Directed by Keenan McGuckin
 
Undiscovered, USA
Directed by Sara Litzenberger
 
Virtually Yours, USA - World Premiere
Directed by Andrea Lithner
 
Wildlife and the Wall, USA
Directed by Ben Masters
 
You Are Here, United Kingdom
Directed by Nicholas Jones
 
Yours Sincerely, Lois Weber, USA
Directed by Svetlana Cvetko
 
ABOUT SBIFF
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema. Over the past 32 years, SBIFF has become one of the leading film festivals in the United States – attracting 100,000 attendees and offering 11 days of 200+ films, tributes and symposiums, fulfilling their mission to engage, enrich, and inspire the Santa Barbara community through film.
 
 
SBIFF continues its commitment to education and the community through free programs like its 10-10-10 Student Filmmaking and Screenwriting Competitions, Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies, National Film Studies Program, AppleBox Family Films, 3rd Weekend and educational seminars. In June of 2016, SBIFF entered a new era with the acquisition of the historic and beloved Riviera Theatre.  The theatre is SBIFF’s new home and is the catalyst for program expansion and marks the first time that Santa Barbara has had a 24/7 community center to expand their mission of educational outreach.