Editor

From 6th to 10th September, the “German Sundance“ festival will turn the contemplative city in Northern Germany into a mecca for film enthusiasts.

This year´s opening film is “Vineta” by Franziska Stünkel, who gained international reputation with her short films. Her testosterone-laden debut features some of the most prominent German actors and tells the story of an architect coming to the edge of reason while trying to build the perfect city.

The International Section shows a series of 16 films, among them the World Premiere of Robert Moresco´s “10th and Wolf” with Dennis Hopper, Tommy Lee and Piper Perabo. His story of a gangster trying to break free from his destiny gains particular attraction due to its special scenery, light, score and the director´s exceptional ability to guide his actors.

A further highlight is Richard Linklater´s “A Scanner Darkly”, based on the book by Sci-Fi legend Philip K. Dick. Somewhere between animated movie, graphic novel and video clip, this film with Keanu Reeves paints a gloomy picture of a future in which terror and war reign and a schizophrenic stoolie even starts to spy on himself.

Thankfully, the German Premiere of “My Super Ex Girlfriend“ provides some comic relief. It´s Uma Thurman at her best as a modern Supergirl seeking revenge after being dumped by her boyfriend (Luke Wilson) who finds her just a tad “off”… Ivan Reitman(“Ghostbusters“) once again manages to place even special effects in the service of somehow random, but therefore extremely charming entertainment. Further films in the international section will be the Japanese Martial Arts “Über-hit” “Shinobi“ by Ten Shimoyama and the German Premiere of Larry Clark´s “Wassup Rockers“, as well as “Hoodwinked”, which finally provides some fast-paced and hilarious enlightenment on what really happened to Little Red Riding Hood.

The Independent Section features twelve movies, among them the four German Productions nominated for the “German Independence Award – Best German Film”. Scott Dacko’s “The Insurgents“ will be shown in a World Premiere. This provocative picture on terrorism with Mary Stuart Masterson and Juliette Marquis turns out to be a wise thriller on trust and betrayal. Sebastian Campos´ Chilean production “The Sacred Family“ offers a sarcastic portrait of the chaos of family relationships.



Other sections of the festival present, among others, Paul Rachman´s exceptionally intense documentary “American Hardcore“ and the World Premiere of James Felix McKenney´s Black and White opus “Automatons”.

This year´s retrospective is dedicated to Jerry Schatzberg, the most prominent figure of the “New Hollywood“ movement, who will be present at the festival. Six of his films will be shown, among them “Panic in the Needle Park“ (1971), “Scarecrow“ (1973), which won the Palme d´Or in Cannes, and his latest film “The Day the Ponies come back“ (2000).

The first German Tribute honours German director Peter Fleischmann. Apart from four other films, the Festival presents his latest film, “Mein Freund der Mörder” (my friend the murderer), which will be shown in a unique special screening in the prison of Oldenburg.

A further highlight is the German Premiere of Guy Moshe’s “Holly“ with Udo Kier, Ron Livingston and Virginie Ledoyen, a very honest film on child prostitution, which manages not to gloss things over, but still doesn’t drift towards sensationalism either. The film will be shown during a gala in the Oldenburg State Theatre, during which the award ceremony for the “German Independence Award” will also take place. The award will be conferred by the international jury members Dr. Martin Blaney, Jan Cvitcovic, Christopher Coppola and Lisanne Falk and jury president Jim McBride.

The festival closes on 10th September with the German premiere of Darren Aronofsky´s “The Fountain“. This Science Fiction adventure with Rachel Weisz and Hugh Jackman will also enter the competition of the international film festival in Venice.