With the Munich Film Art Weeks having just wrapped up in mid-August, the next major film event is already in the starting blocks: Starting in early September, the area around the five lakes southwest of the city on the Isar will once again transform into a haven for film lovers. This year marks the 20th edition of the Five Lakes Film Festival, which will once again bring numerous gems of German-language and international cinema to the big screen.
Diverse Film Program at the Five Lakes Film Festival
In 2007, the Five Lakes Film Festival celebrated its premiere, born from the idea of providing a platform for films that had been rejected by German theaters and other festivals. Since then, the event has continued to grow and has taken place at various venues around the lakes of the Five Lakes Region. This year marks its 20th edition, featuring a total of 150 films in Starnberg, Gauting, Seefeld, and Weßling. The films will be shown on 10 screens, where you’ll be able to watch both fictional stories and documentaries.
The focus is primarily on productions from the DACH region, as has always been the tradition at the event. In addition, other Central European films will be screened, and, of course, guest countries have once again been invited. This time, Taiwan and Japan will have the honor of presenting works from their respective homelands at the Five Lakes Film Festival. Look forward to highlights such as “Two Seasons, Two Strangers,” “In the Realm of the Senses,” and “The Journey to Tokyo” from Japan, as well as “The Foggy Tale” and a surprise film from Taiwan. Of course, anime classics are a must: the lineup includes Hayao Miyazaki’s “Princess Mononoke” and Satoshi Kon’s “Perfect Blue.”
Guests and Award Ceremonies
The Five Lakes Film Festival offers more than just great movies. There are also other events surrounding the film program that you can look forward to. Exciting guests will be on hand to share insights into their daily lives on set and give you a behind-the-scenes look at their work. Among them are costume designer Monika Buttinger and director Marcus Rosenmüller. Several of Rosenmüller’s films will be screened during the festival, including “Wer früher stirbt ist länger tot,” “Extrawurst,” and “Dreiviertelblut – Weltraumtouristen.” His film “Pumuckl” is sure to delight the youngest moviegoers.
This year, the Five Lakes Film Festival runs from Thursday, September 3, through Sunday, September 13. During this time, several awards will be presented: The Five Lakes Film Award honors the best Central European film, the Documentary Film Award recognizes the best documentary production, and the Hannelore Elsner Award celebrates the best acting performances. So if you’re a true movie fan, don’t miss this event. And if you’d also like to get a taste of the film world yourself, apply to be an extra for a Netflix production set to be filmed during Oktoberfest in Munich.
📅 Dates: Thursday, September 3, through Sunday, September 13
📍 Locations: Starnberg, Gauting, Weßling, and Seefeld
