Thriving German Film Industry at Locarno Festival
At the 78th Locarno Film Festival, taking place from August 6th to 16th, German films and co-productions are making a strong presence.
Among the international competition lineup, several German productions are contenders for the prestigious Golden Leopard (Pardo d'oro). These include "Desire Lines" (Linije želje), a co-production involving Germany, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Netherlands, and Croatia by Dane Komljen.
Another German co-production, "Donkey Days" by Dutch director Rosanne Pel, is also in the running. The German film "Phantoms of July" (Sehnsucht in Sangerhausen), directed by Julian Radlmaier, is also a candidate for prizes due to its inclusion in the competition.
"White Snail," an Austrian-German film, portrays a love story involving a Belarusian model aspirant and an artist working in a morgue. This film, with its unique narrative, adds to the diversity of the competition.
These German films, along with other international productions by directors such as Radu Jude and Abdellatif Kechiche, create a competitive field with strong auteur-driven entries, reflecting the festival's artistic atmosphere.
While specific predictions about the likelihood of these German films winning awards at Locarno are not available, their inclusion in the competitive sections indicates they are part of the core selection the jury will evaluate.
The Locarno Film Festival, one of the most important European film festivals alongside Berlin, Cannes, and Venice, is led by Giona A. Nazzaro, the artistic director of the festival. The festival is known for valuing films that are formally daring and engage with political or social urgency, favouring works that go beyond clichés and commercial expectations. Given this, German co-productions like "Desire Lines" and "Donkey Days" that engage with such themes and aesthetics could be well-positioned for awards consideration.
The honours, including the audience award, will be presented late on the evening of August 16th on the picturesque Piazza Grande. The festival also rewards younger talents who stand out for their individuality and creativity.
During the presentation of the festival program in early July, Giona A. Nazzaro emphasized the importance of cinema "in a time when the world is violently shaken." The Locarno Film Festival, with its diverse and thought-provoking lineup, certainly lives up to this sentiment.
In addition to these German films, the Piazza program includes three international productions shot with German involvement: "The Dead of Winter" by British director Brian Kirk, "Sentimental Value" by Norwegian Joachim Trier, and "The Youngest Daughter" by French director Hafsia Herzi.
Four international co-productions involving Germany are screening in the central competition: "Dry Leaf" by Georgian director Alexandre Koberidze, "Donkey Days" by Dutch director Rosanne Pel, "White Snail" by Austrian-German directing duo Elsa Kremser and Levin Peter, and "With Hasan in Gaza" by Palestinian filmmaker Kamal Aljafari.
The archival footage in "With Hasan in Gaza" shows life possibilities that no longer exist today, making it a poignant reflection of daily life in Gaza from footage starting from 2001, which now seems almost surreal in the shadow of the current war.
The comedy "Sehnsucht in Sangerhausen" is financed exclusively by German producers and is generating high expectations at the Locarno Film Festival. Stars such as actresses Golshifteh Farahani, Emma Thompson, Lucy Liu, and actor Jackie Chan will receive awards before evening open-air galas on the Piazza Grande.
The Locarno Film Festival, taking place on the Swiss shores of Lake Maggiore, is a renowned holiday destination. With its impressive lineup of films, it promises to be an unforgettable event for film enthusiasts.
- The German co-productions "Desire Lines" and "Donkey Days," with their engaging themes and aesthetics, are strong contenders for awards consideration at the Locarno Film Festival, given the festival's preference for formally daring and socially urgent films.
- Movies-and-tv like "Sehnsucht in Sangerhausen" and others in the Piazza program, financed by German producers, are generating high expectations at the Locarno Film Festival, making it a must-visit event for film enthusiasts, especially with stars such as Golshifteh Farahani, Emma Thompson, Lucy Liu, and Jackie Chan attending.
