Berlin & Beyond Film Festival...San Francisco!

Berlin & Beyond - a highly touted film festival featuring flicks from - Germany, Austria, and Switzerland - is currently underway over the next 7 days at the Castro Street Theatre.

The annual event is presented by the Goethe-Institut San Francisco and has been serving as a gateway for the American public to experience the diversity, history and progression of the German-speaking countries in Europe.

In the last 14 years, over 500 films have been presented to over 100,000 filmgoers and enthusiasts - of the film genre - as well as inspiring hundreds of guest artists in the celebrated duration.

For the 15th Anniversary, the eclectic program is unveiling 24 captivating feature films from seasoned masters - up-and-coming innovators - and six short films from bright new talents.

The impressive roster of luminaries includes - Michael Verhoeven, Benjamin Heisenberg, Feo Aladag, Florian David Fitz, and Donna Woolfolk Cross - who will appear on stage in lively Q & A interchanges with audiences.

Featured Films


*A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation
*Animals United 3D (Die Konferenz der Tiere)
*Autumn Gold (Herbstgold)
*Draft Dodgers (Réfractraire)
*Edgar
*Home from Home (Endstation der Sehnsüchte)
*Human Failure (Menschliches Versagen)
*In the Shadows (Im Schatten)
*It's Me, Helmut (Ich bin's, Helmut)
*Julia’s Disappearance (Giulias Verschwinden)
*Krauts, Doubts & Rock ’n‘ Roll (Fleisch ist mein Gemüse
*Lebensadr
*Lola
*Men in the City (Männerherzen)
*Pianomania
*Pope Joan (Die Päpstin)
*Rock Hudson: Dar  and Handsome Stranger
*Run if You Can (Renn, wenn Du kannst
*Same, Same But Different
*Side by Side (Nebeneinander)
*Silver Girls (Frauenzimmer)
*Soul Kitchen
*The Last Giants - Oceans in Danger (Wenn das Meer stirbt
*The Last Wheel (Das letzte Rad)
*The Robber (Der Räuber)
*The Silence (Das letzte Schweigen)
*Vincent Wants to Sea (Vincent will Meer)
*Wedding Fever in Campobello (Maria, ihm schmeckt's nicht)
*The Welfare Worker (Der Fürsorger)
*When We Leave (Die Fremde)
*Will you marry us (Die Standesbeamtin)
*The Woman with the 5 Elephants (Die Frau mit den 5 Elefanten)

See 'ya there!

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Berlin and Beyond Film Festival...Castro District, San Francisco, Jan 10 - 16th, 08

The "Berlin and Beyond Film Festival" opens at the Castro Theatre next week with a run of exciting screenings. (January 10th thru 16th)

The much-anticipated event features new films from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Opening night kicks off with - "THE EDGE OF HEAVEN" - by noted film director, Faith Aitken. This engrossing movie won the best screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007. The plot involves a complex tale of intersecting lives and is considered a must-see.

The opening night celebration is expected to be a sell-out, so snap up your tickets right away.

This year the "Berlin and Beyond" Festival will be paying tribute to respected actor Ulrich Muhe with a posthumous "Life Achievement Award".


Muhe starred in my fave foreign film - "THE LIVES OF OTHERS" - which I reviewed last fall; unfortunately, the remarkable actor passed into spirit in 2007 at the age of 53. (Post, "Lives of Others")

In signalling out Muhe, Berlin and Beyond officials noted,

"He was an actor who could portray mental processes and make them visible...his appearance could change along with his surroundings."

His daughter, Anna Maria Muhe, will accept the prestigious award at the screening of "LIVES" at the festival event at the Castro Theatre next week.

The annual MK Award competition for best first feature film also proves to be an exciting contest this year. All the entries are fresh and dynamic and expected to impact the sell-out houses.

The prize carries a $5,000 cash award and is given to a new filmmaker whose work is a first narrative, a project that exhibits a unique artistic sensibility or vision, and a film that deserves to be viewed by a wider audience.

The contenders at Berlin & Beyond this year are Hounds (Ann-Kristin Reyes), Karger (Elke Hauck), Nothing Else matters (Julia von Heinz), and Neandertal (Ingo Haeb).

There will be a spirited panel discussion on a curious subject - "What Makes You Laugh?" - on January 13th at Goethe Institute Auditorium. I expect to attend.
(530 Bush St)

Guest speakers include industry-insiders Russell Merritt (Teacher, National Cinema), Wendy Slick (Producer, Passion and Power), Ingo Rasper (Fashion Victims), Edgar Selge (Kir Royal), and Leslie Dixon (screenwriter, Mrs. Doubtfire).

A networking luncheon will follow.

Films causing a buzz in town prior to the opening next week are: "Grave Decisions" (closing night), "Fashion Victims", "Heavy Metal in the Country", "Late Bloomers", and "The Lives of Others".

Documentaries considered to be stand-outs include "The Unknown Soldier" and "Pool of Princesses".

There will be free screenings for students too - "TO THE LIMIT" (a breathtaking mountain adventure; Pepe Danquart) and "Paula's Secret" (a delightful film for youth) - in keeping with the festival principle of opening up the film experience to new generations of moviegoers.

Ticket purchases: ticketweb.com

Berlin & Beyond Info: www.berlinandbeyond.com