When you think of major European film events, Cannes and the Berlinale are the first to come to mind. Munich, on the other hand, isn’t exactly known as a film capital, yet it, too, can celebrate cinematic masterpieces. For over four decades, the Munich Film Festival has been all about film production, spotlighting both German and international films across all genres. This year, too, you can once again look forward to numerous premieres and high-profile guests.
By and for film fans
The Munich Film Festival took place for the first time in 1983 with the goal of providing a platform for German cinema. From the very beginning, however, international productions were also represented, and that hasn’t changed. This year, 130 films will celebrate their German, European, or even world premieres at the festival, with 56 countries represented. From the U.S. to Japan, from Afghanistan to Venezuela, you’ll travel around the globe during the festival. The variety of genres ranges from documentaries to dramas to comedies.
Several star guests have also been invited to personally present their works. The festival kicks off with “Vaterland,” which tells the story of Thomas and Erika Mann, who return to Germany after 1949. The two lead actors, Hanns Zischler and Sandra Hüller, will be on hand at the Isarphilharmonie alongside director Paweł Pawlikowski . Actor David Duchovny is traveling all the way from the U.S. for the closing event. He will not only present his latest film, “See You When I See You,” but will also accept the Cinemerit Award. Italian actor Tony Servillo will also be honored with the award and will be in attendance in person.
Supporting Program at the Filmfest
From June 26 through July 5, you can catch this year’s Filmfest screenings at the festival cinemas, the Deutsches Theater, and the Mond & Sterne cinema in Westpark. There’s not only plenty of cinema, but also an extensive supporting program. Look forward to numerous talks on the topic of film, during which some participants will share insider stories and offer behind-the-scenes insights . In conjunction with CSD and Pride Weeks, the Filmfest, together with the Queer Film Festival, will take part in the parade on June 27.
There are various workshops, networking events, guided tours, and more— some of which you can attend on the spot, while others require prior registration. Join a yoga class together, visit the SAP Garden, or celebrate with like-minded people at a party. Of course, there’s also an awards ceremony to honor the best films and the creatives behind them, and CineKindl has plenty to offer for children as well. You can find all the details and more information about the program here. Ticket prices for the film festival start at just 10€; the festival pass costs 250€.
