We have been working towards this for a whole year and watched November approach quickly. A quick re-adjustment of the hairdo, a deep breath, and …
... curtains up!
Welcome to exground filmfest 23.
While summerlike temperatures quickened the city and the whole country,the exground filmfest team disappeared into dark chambers and watched film after film after film … The abandonment of a nice tan was worth it, though – to be checked in this program brochure and during the upcoming festival days. As a result, the interested visitors can expect an ambitious and multi-faceted program in Wiesbaden.
Apart from the established film programs American Independents, News from Asia, News from Germany, as well as international short- and feature films, 2010 sees exground filmfest dedicate an homage to internationally acclaimed director, scriptwriter, and actor Ulli Lommel. Having packed eight films, a book, and further works into his bags, Ulli Lommel will open the retrospective on November 13 in the Caligari FilmBühne. But that is not all: In line with our co-operation with the Hessian State Theatre Wiesbaden, Ulli Lommel will read from his autobiography ZÄRTLICHKEIT DER WÖLFE – BEGEGNUNGEN on November 14 in the Wartburg, and the art gallery Wiesbaden opens the exhibition „American FotoNovelas“ with works from the all-rounder, also on November 13. This alone may be program enough for some.
But not for us!
This year’s country focus lies on Central and South America – a journey from the North to the South to the West to the East: The young and upcoming Latin American cinema has come out of the shadows and produces highly interesting and audience-grabbing films – which can be observed in all its variety in Wiesbaden. In addition, for the first time we have a film exchange across the continents with the Chilean festival Cine B: Two entries from last year’s festival Cine B in Santiago de Chile will be presented in Wiesbaden, as a countermove the festival Cine B will present entries from our News from Germany program to the Chilean audience in early November.
For the first time, the country focus is also the subject of this year’s festival trailer – musically illustrated of course. We thank Martin, Sergio, Ivan, and Jorge as well as everyone who participated for their support of this year’s trailer.
Exground filmfest‘s contest programs have grown along with the festival itself: This year, 57 short and feature films compete for the prize money of 13.000 Euros in total. The only novelty: The international ON-VIDEO-Contest (OVW) has moved. For the first time ever, the two contest programs on November 18 and 19 will excite the audience in the Caligari FilmBühne as well. One word to the traditionalists, though: A repeat of the OVW will still be shown in the Kulturpalast – same procedure as every year.
Also still young: The exground youth days, the festival in the festival for everyone under 18, but also for everybody else. For the seventh time, the youth jury will decorate the best international feature film entry. But the youth does not only lounge in comfy chairs, no – they take up cameras themselves and present their work to the audience’s critical eye in the Wiesbaden youth film contest on November 13 in the Caligari FilmBühne.
Not only does Wiesbaden own one of the world‘s most beautiful cinemas, but it also produces remarkable films. If you did not know that, here is our advice:
Sunday, November 14, 12.00 high noon – Wiesbaden-Special – short film contest … in the Caligari FilmBühne.
Apart from all these tempting visual and audio offers, there will be room for physical activity as well: On November 12, A WALL IS A SCREEN invites you promptly after the opening film at 9 pm to the third cineastic stroll. There will be dancing at exground filmfest at the opening and closing parties, lounging and singing inbetween: After last year’s unforgettable premiere there will be karaoke galore on November 20 in the foyer of the Caligari FilmBühne.
Before we now get to this page’s end and to exground filmfest 23’s start, we would like to take this opportunity to deeply thank our supporters, sponsors, partners, and friends, whose support enables us to go the whole way throughout ten festival days with 220 short and feature films.
What else is there to say but: We wish everyone a wonderful and unforgettable exground filmfest 23.
