Editor

Unique focus on the art of film- The International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg closes with splendid results

Despite the flu and the financial crisis the 58th International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg ended with surprisingly good results on 15 November 2009. The Festival has a worldwide reputation for selecting the fine spearhead of the best cinema artist from the entire world production and to present them in front of an international audience for the first time. Given the plethora of international film festivals worldwide, Mannheim-Heidelberg is a highly selective habitat for film artists where the focus lies on their work and personalities rather than on a broad width in terms of quantity of works. The extremely selective focus on each single film allows them to be presented on an appropriate platform. Also, each film of the programme is being screened in a huge cinema theatre in the evening hours. The roundabout 40 films thus share the attention of 60.000 spectators: compared to other festivals (e.g. Munich with the same number of visitors but 200 films) each film is taken very seriously and „furthermore, the directors get the best hotel rooms", says Dr Michael Koetz. „The directors are our stars even if they are still unknown. Any director we present will be perceived by professionals around the world, and filmmakers who are unknown today might become the next Atom Egoyan or Lars von Trier the day after tomorrow. Who both, by the way, showed their first films in Mannheim in 1984."

The Festival counted 57.000 visitors. The visitors as well as the industry participants, such as journalists, buyers, producers and directors, showed a huge interest in discovering the „life dreams and life worlds" of the new directors. The festival's worldwide rare double character, as an audience's and a professionals' event, has been confirmed again.

 Star directors, talents and guests

Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan who was honoured Master of Cinema turned out to be an utter audience and industry magnet. He had visited the festival 25 years ago for the first time presenting his debut film „Next of Kin". It was his first trip to Europe at the same time and to a film festival. Egoyan was very moved by the award and dedicated the prize to all filmmakers who visit the festival for the first time like he did back then.

Edgar Reitz, director of the „Heimat"-cycle and an old friend of the festival came this year to present two of his recently restored early works. After 40 years in the archives he himself as well as the audience felt the encounter with his early works to be an utterly interesting experience.

Almost all directors and producers of the films in the main programmes had travelled to Mannheim-Heidelberg, some accompanied by their actors. They felt particularly well, some extended their stay and were thankful for the friendly welcome. They greatly appreciated the festival's orientation in terms of content and substance and they enthusiastically embrace the festival as a „spiritual camp for artists". The focus on only 25 films from 21 countries was welcomed as it allows a high attention for each single film.

The film buyers appreciate this fact as well. They used the festival's International Buyers Service intensely in order to discover new talents and purchase films for national cinemas and TV. In total, the films were viewed roundabout 1100 times.

The audience awarded the film selection and the possibility to meet the directors directly by frequently attending the film talks after the screenings. An average of 120 visitors attended the film talks, i.e. roundabout 10.000 visitors in total.

The national and international media accompanied the festival with coverage, film reviews and interviews with the filmmakers.

MANNHEIM MEETINGS - A market of dreams

The MANNHEIM MEETINGS as a marketplace for new film projects, distribution and sales cooperations is a place for the mediation and birth of new films. The new projects are looking for international financing partners. This year, 40 projects from 25 countries were negotiated, with a total budget of 57 Mio Euros. The world regions Slovakia, Latin America and South Korea were a major focus of the event.

In total, 95 production companies, among them very experienced companies such as Razorfish from Berlin (producers of „Paradise Lost"), 25 world sales, 6 institutions (KOFIC, Slovak Film Institute etc.) attended the meetings. Roundabout 600 pre-arranged meetings took place, plus an additional 200 that were arranged on the spot.

The participants appreciated the high level of projects and the effectiveness and quality of the meetings and discussions.

The results of the event will become known in the coming months.  

The Juries

The awards of the juries, with the international jury represented by actress Johanna ter Steege, Sales Agent Loic Magneron, and the freelance author Willi Winkler, were announced on the evening of 15 November. The juries were full of praise for the ambitious programme of newcomer films in the two main programmes.