The German director Maren Ade will celebrate the world premiere of her new film TONI ERDMANN (DE/AT, Komplizen Film) in the Competition of the 69th Festival de Cannes (11 – 22 May 2016). Moreover, three German co-productions have been programmed in the Competition and four in Un Certain Regard. This was announced by the festival at a press conference today.
About TONI ERDMANN:
Winfried (Peter Simonischek) doesn’t see much of his working daughter Ines - played by Sandra Hüller (ABOVE US ONLY SKY, FINSTERWORLD, REQUIEM). The suddenly student-less music teacher decides to surprise her with a visit. It’s an awkward move because serious career woman Ines is working on an important project as a corporate strategist in Bucharest. The geographical change doesn’t help the two to see eye to eye any better. Practical joker Winfried loves to annoy his daughter with corny pranks. What’s worse are his little jabs at her routine lifestyle of long meetings, hotel bars and performance reports. Father and daughter reach an impasse, and Winfried agrees to return home to Germany. Enter dazzling "Toni Erdmann": Winfried’s smooth-talking alter ego. Disguised in a tacky suit, weird wig and even weirder fake teeth, Toni barges into Ines’ professional life, claiming to be her CEO’s life coach. Wilder and bolder than Winfried, Toni doesn’t hold back, and Ines meets the challenge. The harder they push, the closer they become. In all the madness, Ines begins to understand that her eccentric father might deserve some place in her life after all.
Director Maren Ade's second feature film EVERYONE ELSE had its world premiere in the Competition of the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival where it was awarded the Silver Bear (Jury Grand Prix) and the Silver Bear for Birgit Minichmayr as Best Actress. It was launched theatrically in over 18 countries and received three nominations for the German Film Awards. Her feature debut THE FOREST FOR THE TREES received the Special Jury Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. Maren Ade not only produces her own films, but also serves as a producer on other productions.
Apart from TONI ERDMANN, the Competition has also programmed the German co-productions ELLE by Paul Verhoeven (FR/DE/BE, Twenty Twenty Vision Filmproduktion), MA LOUTE (SLACK BAY) by Bruno Dumont (FR/DE, Twenty Twenty Vision Filmproduktion, Pallas Film) and PERSONAL SHOPPER by Olivier Assayas (FR/DE, DETAiLFILM) with the German actor Lars Eidinger.
Four German co-productions can be seen in Un Certain Regard: APPRENTICE by Boo Junfeng (SG/DE/FR, augenschein Filmproduktion), ESHTEBAK (CLASH) by Mohamed Diab (EG/FR/DE, NiKo Film), ME’EVER LAHARIM VEHAGVAOT (BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS AND HILLS) by Eran Kolirin (IS/BE/DE, Match Factory Productions) and HYMYILEVÄ MIES (THE HAPPIEST DAY IN THE LIFE OF OLLI MÄKI) by Juho Kuosmanen (FI/DE/SE, One Two Films).
L’Atelier gives film projects, which are currently at the development stage, an opportunity to present themselves to potential partners as part of Cinéfondation. IGUANA TOKYO by Kaan Müjdeci (DE/TK, coloured giraffes) was selected for this. The director, who lives in Berlin, saw his last film SIVAS having its world premiere at the International Film Festival in Venice where it won the Jury's Special Prize.
The films in the programs of the independent sidebars Semaine de la Critique and Quinzaine des Réalisateurs will be announced on 18 and 19 April 2016.
German Films will be presenting a total 23 new German productions at the film market in Cannes under the label of "New German Films" from 13 to 18 May 2016. All films and screening times of the "New German Films" can found here.
This year will be the 16th time that German Films is organizing the "German Pavilion" in the International Village of the Marché du Film together with FOCUS Germany, the amalgamation of the seven major film funds. It is a popular meeting place and contact point for the accredited delegates of the German and international film industry. Professionals will received competent advice at the information stands of German Films and FOCUS Germany.
