Film and Photography in Germany
These links focus on the masters of still as well as moving pictures.
AG Kurzfilm - German Short Film Association
Experimental ground for innovative storytelling: The short film inspires a loyal following of fans at many different film festivals throughout Germany. AG Kurzfilm – the German Short Film Association networks distributors, festival organizers and universities. The association promotes German productions and represents the industry in the political arena.
German Association of Audio-Visual Media
Cineasts enjoy films on the "big screen" right at home from tearjerkers to action-packed thrillers in video format. The German Association of Audio-Visual Media (BVV – Bundesverband Audiovisuelle Medien e.V.) represents the interests of German video program suppliers. The BBV has been supporting its members with advice in industry-specific matters and compiling statistics since 1982. In addition, the BVV regularly launches campaigns against illegal pirate copying.
German Film Academy
The Deutsche Filmakademie e.V. was founded by prominent German filmmakers in Berlin in the fall of 2003. The independent institution aims to focus attention on promoting the art of filmmaking, sharing film-related experiences and introducing the subject of "filmmaking" in schools, alongside "art" and "music". One of the most important tasks of the institution is to present the annual German Film Award.
German Society of Photography
An open forum for anyone interested: the German Society of Photography (DGPh – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie e.V.) represents the cultural concerns of photography and related image media. The society focuses on representing and communicating pioneering achievements in photography and supporting training programs for professional photographers.
Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum for Film and Television
From the first moving pictures to digital film: there are thousands of films dating from as early as 1895 stored in the archives of the Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum for Film and Television. The Berlin-based foundation collects, restores and saves flicks from Germany and from around the world. The film building on Potsdamer Platz is also home to costume sketches, scripts, posters and cameras.
The German Film Institute
The German Film Institute (DIF – Deutsche Filminstitut e.V.) guards precious treasures from the world of German film. Whether it’s “Metropolis”, directed by Fritz Lang, or “The Blue Angel”, starring Marlene Dietrich: More than 20,000 reels of film, 2.3 million photos and approximately 40,000 cinema posters are stored in one of the largest archives in Germany. The oldest cinematic institution in Germany promotes film culture and attracts cinema fans back into the movie theaters for special events.
Festival of German Film
Discussing cinematic art on deck chairs on the shores of the Rhine: the Festival of German Film is a very unique event. In the early summer, cinema buffs meet on the Ludwigshafen Park Island to enjoy high-quality films off the beaten track of the mainstream. The competition features movies with an innovative, opinionated point of view - producers, directors and actors vie for the coveted awards.
www.festival-des-deutschen-films.de
Dresden Film Festival - International Short Film Festival
Animated and short films as well as documentaries and experimental films from Germany and around the world compete each year to win the coveted “Golden Horseman” award. The Dresden Film Festival already began before German Unification in 1989 and featured films made in the GDR (German Democratic Republic) that were rarely seen or had never been shown before. Today, it is considered as one of the major short film festivals in Europe.
Filmfest München / Munich International Festival of Film Schools
“And action!” resounds the cry every summer in Bavaria’s media capital, when the Free State of Bavaria, the City of Munich and the Umbrella Organization of the Film Industry (Spitzenorganisation der Filmwirtschaft, SPIO) hold the renowned “Filmfest München” (Munich Film Festival). Parallel to this, young filmmakers meet at the Munich International Festival of Film Schools (Internationales Festival der Filmhochschulen München).
German Federal Film Board
Cinema as a cultural asset: In the 1960s, the German film industry was confronted with a crisis – the state reacted by forming the German Federal Film Board (FFA). The Federal Film Board under public law receives fees from cinema operators, video program vendors and TV stations. It supports filmmakers and the quality of German productions and is also involved in marketing these films abroad.
Film Portal
Raise the curtain for German cine films! Whether you’re looking for current news on festivals and awards, film history or film previews: filmportal.de takes a close look at film culture and the movie industry in Germany and also shows you the “big picture”. The project is run by the German Film Institute – DIF e.V. and the CineGraph – Hamburg’s Center for Film Research, among others.
German Films
Film as an export article: “Das Leben der Anderen” (The Life of the Others) or “Good bye, Lenin!” delighted foreign critics and viewers alike. Which new productions are of interest to an international audience? German Films Service + Marketing GmbH is the national information and advisory center for the worldwide presentation of German feature films as well as documentaries, TV movies and short films.
www.german-films.de
Berlin International Film Festival
Every February the Berlinale conjures up the glitz of the film world amidst the towers and crystal palaces of Potsdamer Platz: an international jury chooses the winners of the Golden and the Silver Bear.
Hof International Film Festival
Where careers are made: such famous filmmakers as Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Werner Herzog and Wim Wenders first showed their early works at the International Film Festival in Hof. Each year, this city in Bavaria is transformed into a Mecca for moviemakers and film buffs alike.
International Short Film Festival Oberhausen
Such world-renowned directors as Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, David Lynch, Werner Herzog and François Ozon presented their first films here in Oberhausen in North Rhine-Westphalia. The International Short Film Festival Oberhausen was held for the first time in 1954 and is known as the oldest short film festival in the world.
Children’s and Young People’s Film Center in Germany
Film, photography, video and multimedia – these are the four categories in which the Children’s and Young People’s Film Center in Germany (KJF – Kinder- und Jugendfilmzentrum in Deutschland) organizes projects and campaigns across the country. The Film Center is sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Seniors, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ – Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend).
kinofenster.de – The online portal for film education
Raise the curtain! The National Center for Political Education (bpb) screens film classics and current movies for kids and teens. kinofenster.de, the online portal for film education, is designed to encourage young people to watch movies and gives teachers suggestions and ideas on how to prepare their lessons.
photokina
Germany's first trade fair featuring everything that has to do with the world of photography first took place under the name of "Photo- und Kino-Ausstellung" (Photo and Cinema Exhibition) in 1950. It has been called "photokina" ever since 1951 and is considered as the most important tradeshow for the photo and imaging industry in the world today. Every two years in the autumn, koelnmesse, the tradefair company in Cologne, works together with changing partners to put your picture back into focus.
Vision Cinema - Network for Film and Media Competence
Cinema as a cultural experience: Vision Kino (Cinema) aims to kindle the flame of passion for film theater in children and young people. The network builds the film competence of the young audience with competitions and festivals. Participants include the German “Kinemathek” – Museum for Film and Television – and the National Film Promotion Institute. Vision Kino has its head offices on the premises of the Potsdam Studio Babelsberg.
