Mit Andrew Garfield, Riley Keough, Topher Grace /

Sam treibt mit Freundlichkeit, aber auch recht ziellos durch sein Leben. Obwohl die Miete für sein Apartment überfällig ist, hegt Sam keinerlei Ambitionen, einen Job zu finden. Lieber hängt er auf seinem Balkon herum, liest Comics und beobachtet die Nachbarinnen durchs Fernglas. Als ihn die umwerfend schöne Sarah eines Abends zu sich einlädt, kann er sein Glück kaum fassen. Doch am nächsten Morgen ist sie urplötzlich unter mysteriösen Umständen spurlos verschwunden. Die Polizei gibt nicht viel auf ihr Verschwinden und so wird Sam unfreiwillig selbst zum Detektiv. Vor seinen Augen eröffnet sich ihm bald eine Verschwörung, die bedrohliche Ausmaße annimmt, und Milliardäre, Stars, urbane Legenden und die gesamt bekannte Popkultur mit einzuschließen scheint.

UNDER THE SILVER LAKE ist ein irrwitziges Abenteuer durch die Stadt der Engel. Lässig, stylisch und randvoll mit filmischen Anspielungen ist dieser nonchalante Mystery-Thriller ein Riesenspaß für jeden Filmliebhaber.

Eintritt: 8 € / ermäßigt 7 €

Mit Victor Polster, Arieh Worthalter, Katelijne Damen, Valentijn Dhaenens

Lara ist 15 und hat einen Traum: Sie will Balletttänzerin werden. Als sie an einer renommierten Akademie unter Vorbehalt angenommen wird, zieht sie mit ihrem Vater und ihrem kleinen Bruder nach Brüssel. Währenddessen versucht Lara noch einen zweiten Kampf zu gewinnen: Sie will sich einer Geschlechtsumwandlung unterziehen. Äußerlich ist sie bereits ein Mädchen, doch ihr Körper ist noch der eines Jungen. Ihr Vater unterstützt sie bei ihrem Vorhaben, begleitet seine Tochter bei jedem Schritt und ist für sie da, genau wie Psychologen und Ärzte. Das kräftezehrende Training zwingt Lara schließlich zur Selbstkasteiung, mit der sie wiederum ihre Operation aufs Spiel setzt…

Eintritt für Jugendlich bis 20 Jahre: 3,50 €
Wiesbadener Kinofestival e.V. und Kulturamt Wiesbaden – Caligari FilmBühne
Eintritt: 7 € / ermäßigt 6 €

The festival’s highlights summed up in Luisa Zech’s short documentary. Thank you!

Preisverleihung / award ceremony exground 31 @ Caligari FilmBühne
exground Team und Preisträger*innen // exground team and winners
© Peter Fischer

Preisverleihung / award ceremony exground 31 @ Caligari FilmBühne
Esther Bialas (Regie / director WO KEIN SCHATTEN FÄLLT) - Preisträgerin / winner DAS BRETT
© Peter Fischer

Preisverleihung / award ceremony exground 31 @ Caligari FilmBühne
Esther Bialas (Regie / director WO KEIN SCHATTEN FÄLLT) - Preisträgerin / winner DAS BRETT
© Peter Fischer

Preisverleihung / award ceremony exground 31 @ Caligari FilmBühne
Esther Bialas (Regie / director WO KEIN SCHATTEN FÄLLT) - Preisträgerin / winner DAS BRETT, Pola Beck (Regie / director KLEPTOMAMI - Preisträgerin / winner DEUTSCHER KURZFILM-WETTBEWERB, Viktória Traub (Regie / director MERMAIDS AND RHINOS) - Preisträgerin für den besten internationalen Kurzfilm // winner for best international short film
© Peter Fischer

Preisverleihung / award ceremony exground 31 @ Caligari FilmBühne
Esther Bialas (Regie / director WO KEIN SCHATTEN FÄLLT) - Preisträgerin / winner DAS BRETT, Pola Beck (Regie / director KLEPTOMAMI - Preisträgerin / winner DEUTSCHER KURZFILM-WETTBEWERB, Viktória Traub (Regie / director MERMAIDS AND RHINOS) - Preisträgerin für den besten internationalen Kurzfilm // winner for best international short film, Sophie Linnenbaum (Regie / director RIEN NE VA PLUS) - 2. Platz / 2nd place DEUTSCHER KURZFILM-WETTBEWERB
© Peter Fischer

Preisverleihung / award ceremony exground 31 @ Caligari FilmBühne
Viktória Traub (Regie / director MERMAIDS AND RHINOS) - Preisträgerin für den besten internationalen Kurzfilm // winner for best international short film
© Peter Fischer

Preisverleihung / award ceremony exground 31 @ Caligari FilmBühne
Pola Beck (Regie / director KLEPTOMAMI - Preisträgerin / winner DEUTSCHER KURZFILM-WETTBEWERB, Viktória Traub (Regie / director MERMAIDS AND RHINOS) - Preisträgerin für den besten internationalen Kurzfilm // winner for best international short film, Sophie Linnenbaum (Regie / director RIEN NE VA PLUS) - 2. Platz / 2nd place DEUTSCHER KURZFILM-WETTBEWERB
© Peter Fischer

Preisverleihung / award ceremony exground 31 @ Caligari FilmBühne
Alberto „Treb“ Monteras II (Regie / director RESPETO) - Preisträger für den besten Langfilm // winner for best feature film youth days
© Peter Fischer

Preisverleihung / award ceremony exground 31 @ Caligari FilmBühne
Alberto „Treb“ Monteras II (Regie / director RESPETO) - Preisträger für den besten Langfilm // winner for best feature film youth days
© Peter Fischer

Preisverleihung / award ceremony exground 31 @ Caligari FilmBühne
Volker Armbruster (Ton / sound AUGENBLICKE – A BLINK OF AN EYE) 3. Platz / 3rd prize DEUTSCHER KURZFILM-WETTBEWERB
© Peter Fischer

KLEPTOMAMI Wins German Short Film Competition // Hungarian Production MERMAIDS AND RHINOS Named Best International Short Film // RESPETO from the Philippines and RAFIKI Come Out on Top at youth days // 3rd Annual Inmate Jury Prize DAS BRETT Goes to HANNAH’S HOMECOMING

exground filmfest 31 celebrated its grand finale at its annual awards ceremony yesterday evening at Wiesbaden’s Caligari FilmBühne after presenting ten days of compelling independent cinema. Following the German Short Film Competition screening, cash and non-cash prizes valued at roughly 20,000 euros in total were awarded in the scope of seven competitions. The over 100 film industry guests from Germany and abroad in attendance and high audience turnout proved once again that the tradition-rich festival continues to be very popular both within the region and far beyond the city limits of Wiesbaden.

German Short Film Competition

Following the screening of the entries to the German Short Film Competition, the audience voted for their favourites, ultimately choosing Pola Beck’s KLEPTOMAMI as the winning film. This year’s first prize, endowed with a cash prize of 3,000 euros, was once again sponsored by the State Capital of Wiesbaden. Second place went to RIEN NE VA PLUS by Sophie Linnenbaum, who receives a cash prize of 2,000 euros, sponsored by Wiesbaden’s Magenta TV Fernsehproduktionsgesellschaft. Kiana Naghshineh was honoured with third prize (including 1,000 euros, sponsored by the State Capital of Wiesbaden) for A BLINK OF AN EYE.

Pola Beck’s KLEPTOMAMI also received both non-cash prizes: a film equipment rental package valued at 2,000 euros from Pille Filmgeräteverleih for her next film as well as the grading special package from Magenta TV Fernsehproduktionsgesellschaft valued at 1,500 euros.

International Short Film Competition

In the International Short Film Competition, the international jury selected the Hungarian production MERMAIDS AND RHINOS [SELLŐK ÉS RINOCÉROSZOK] by Viktória Traub as the winning film and presented the director with a cash prize of 2,000 euros, sponsored by the exground Circle of Friends. The jury, composed of Dr. Catherine Colas (editor for short and mid-length films at ZDF/ARTE from Mainz), Heleen Gerritsen (festival director of goEast – Festival of Central and Eastern European Film in Wiesbaden) and Raymond Red (director and producer from Manila in the Philippines), explained their choice with the following statement:

“In a bleak hostel at the seaside, strange scenes unfold: an old mermaid takes a bath, a woman is engaged in erotic dance in front of a window, a father consumed by heartache transforms into a rhinoceros and disappears into the woods. All of this is observed by a young girl, for whom past and present, fantasy and reality seem to be part of one peculiar universe. The artist who created this cruel but fascinating world, featuring very distinctive characters, animals, stunning colours and many metaphorical levels, managed to tell a personal story in an innovative and inventive way. The jury is happy to award this year’s Jury Award to MERMAIDS AND RHINOS by Viktória Traub.”

A Special Mention went to MAN OF PA-ALING [MANONG NG PA-ALING] by E. del Mundo from the Philippines. The jury released the following statement praising the film:

“Evoking in black and white the bleakness of an otherwise beautiful underwater landscape, this film explores the triviality and the grandeur of human existence. The jury bestows this special mention to MAN OF PA-ALING [MANONG NG PA-ALING].”

DAS BRETT – 3rd Annual Inmate Jury Award

For the third year in a row, in the scope of the “Made in Germany” section the award DAS BRETT was presented by a jury composed of inmates from the JVA Wiesbaden correctional facility. From the seven films nominated for the award, the eight jury members chose HANNAH’S HOMECOMING by Esther Bialas, explaining their selection with the following statement:

“The inmate jury from JVA Wiesbaden awards DAS BRETT 2018 to HANNAH’S HOMECOMING by Esther Bialas, as it does something that German films rarely dare to do: it combines a mysterious, sombre story with classic genre tropes and surprising twists without becoming predictable or preachy. On top of that, the film features young performers whose characters reveal unanticipated dark sides and an erotic component that one does not necessarily expect to find here either. The viewer never really knows what will happen next. None of the other entries to the competition ultimately proved to have the same effect on the entire jury: if someone had made a reaction video of the jury watching HANNAH’S HOMECOMING, one would be able to see how this was the only film where all of us were on the edge of our seats from the opening scene to the final credits.”

The award is endowed with a cash prize of 1,500 euros, sponsored by “Die WERFT – Kulturbühne in der JVA Wiesbaden”, a cultural platform operating in Wiesbaden’s main correctional facility.

exground youth days

The Philippine production RESPETO by Alberto “Treb” Monteras II won over the members of the youth jury in the International Youth Film Competition:

“The Philippine film RESPETO has convinced the youth jury in many ways. It introduces us to the frightening conditions of a country where people can be shot by the police on the street on the mere suspicion of having committed a crime. The film makes excellent use of the language of cinema on all levels: camera, sound and music, effects and the authentic presentation come together to form a harmonious whole. In the midst of an environment marked by violence, drugs and corruption, Hendrix pursues his dream of asserting himself as a rapper in Manila’s hip-hop scene. Fast-paced, driven by the pulse of music, RESPETO shows the struggle for respect and recognition – and how important it is to have role models. With the power of hip-hop, Hendrix manages to counter the prevailing conditions and the lack of perspective with something else. A real youth film!”

The cash prize of 2,500 euros accompanying the award was sponsored by the State Capital of Wiesbaden.

The youth jury also chose SOMETHING ABOUT ALEX [ANDERS] by Reinout Hellenthal as best short film at exground youth days. The honour includes a cash prize of 500 euros for the first time this year, sponsored by Wiesbadener Kinofestival e. V.

The audience chose Wanuri Kahiu’s RAFIKI as best feature-length film. The filmmaker receives a cash prize of 1,000 euros, sponsored by the State Capital of Wiesbaden.

In the Wiesbaden Youth Film Competition, LESSON by Moritz Goebel and Joshua Kiefer came out on top in the audience voting. First place includes a cash prize of 500 euros, sponsored by the Hessian State Centre for Civic Education.

Second place went to ALLES MUSS MAN SELBER MACHEN by the team JAJEMoRF, who will receive a gift certificate worth 150 euros from the certified Apple dealer ergo sum.

Wiesbaden Special – Short Film Competition

In the audience competition for Wiesbaden’s best short film, HAYTHAM by Peter Ederer and Arne Dechow was able to win over the viewers. In addition to a cash prize of 500 euros, sponsored by festival media partner Wiesbadener Kurier, the winners will also receive the “Film Sound Special” non-cash prize package, which entitles them to take advantage of the tools and know-how of the Wiesbaden audio production studio klangBezirk for two days for the final sound mix of their next film, a package valued at 2,000 euros.

exground Gong Show

Trash is cult – the participants in this year’s legendary exground Gong Show proved it once again. The well-earned winner of the cash prize of 50 euros and the Golden exground Cucumber is Jet Leyco, who shot his WOMEN OF WIESBADEN in Wiesbaden on the day of the Gong Show.

Save the date for exground filmfest 32, taking place from 15 to 24 November 2019!

FULL LIST OF AWARD WINNERS

At 12am at Caligari FilmBühne we are inviting you to a very special matinee: SEASON OF THE DEVIL [ANG PANAHON NG HALIMAW] by Las Diaz. His new film is a Filipino rock opera. The narrative and characters are a composite of real events and people from the period, the darkest period of Philippine history: the Marcos dictatorship. A military-controlled militia gang terrorizes a remote village and destroys the community. Corporal and intensely psychological terror is inflicted. A few souls fight, though, refusing to give up. The movie was already screened at Berlinale and kept audiences out of breath thanks to its visual imagery and extraordinary soundtrack!

After this 243 minutes long spectacle our audience will have a small break before the festival heads over to its finale competition and ceremony: from 6pm Caligari FilmBühne will turn into the hotspot for all invited filmmakers who are hoping for the evening’s prizes – Wiesbaden’s very own Oscar Night!

We are excited for the GERMAN SHORT FILM COMPETITON with HEARTSTRINGS [HERZILEIN]  by Sinje Köhler, WHAT YOU SHARE IS OURS [WAS DU TEILST GEHÖRT UNS] by Mi Steinbach, RUMOURS by Nicole Aebersold, HOUSE OF OUR OWN [EIGENHEIM] by Dagmar Scheibert, AUGENBLICKE – A BLINK OF AN EYE by Kiana Naghshineh, KLEPTOMAMI von Pola Beck, COMMENTS by Jannis Alexander Kiefer, RIEN NE VA PLUS by Sophie Linnenbaum, FEST by Nikita Diakur and STARDUST by Carsten Aschmann. A big thank you to our sponsors: state capital Wiesbaden (1. and 3. prize), Magenta TV (2. prize and material prize „Post Production Color Grading Special“) and Pille Filmgeräteverleih (material prize  film equipment).

We are looking forward to a marvelous ending!

Off the Made in Germany selection we are proud to present documentary SILENT COMRADE [STILLER KAMERAD]. very year the German parliament sends soldiers on missions to areas of conflict. From every mission soldiers return home wounded. Those wounds are not necessarily observable. Often, they only become apparent years after the mission as a disorder of their mental health. Where conventional medicine is limited, Claudia Swierczek fills the gap with her horses. During years of work she has developed a therapeutic method that uses the horses’ exceptional abilities. Director Leonhard Hollmann will attend the screening at 6pm at Murnau-Filmtheater.

At 8pm the section’s last film WE WERE JUST PLAYING [WIR HABEN NUR GESPIELT] by Ann-Kristin Reyels. Ten-year-old Jona has to move with his mother and new stepfather from his home in Berlin out to a place on the German-Czech border. Alone and lonely, he begins to explore the surroundings.

Our FOCUS programme will present its last panel: PHILIPPINES HUMAN RIGHTS with Raffy Lerma (photo journalist), Roas Cordillera Castillo, Kiri Dalena (director FROM THE DARK DEPTHS), it will be moderated by Axel Estein – curator of the FOCUS section.

And for those who still got some energy left shall not miss the legendary tribute to Rock ‘n’ Roll from THE FABS!  Do not miss this show starting at 11pm at Caligari FilmBühne!

Director Adolfo Boringa Alix, Jr. will also present his film DARK IS THE NIGHT [MADILIM ANG GABI ]. The film gains credibility as it demonstrates how drugs permeate ordinary lives in the Philippines, hence cannot be eradicated by some quick fix. The story draws out an intricate web of crime that holds the society in a tight grip. 10pm at Murnau-Filmtheater.

Speaking of guest: Those of you who witnessed the INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITON – PART I knows how wonderful it was to see many faces from the screen live on stage. At 4pm at Murnau-Filmtheater there is another chance with the INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION – PART II.

Wer are very excited for our cooperation programme with films by the film department of Beit Berl college in Kfar Saba, Israel – Wiesbaden’s partner city. Three out of four films of the BEIT BERL shorts programme will be accompanied by guests: Shai Blanc (director MEIR) und Ron Goldin (director THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE WORLD) and Avner Azulay  (editor 200 FLY [200 PARPAR]). Starting 5:30pm at Murnau-Filmtheater.

For the 17th time, we present the International Short Film Competition. 16 films from 16 countries are vying for the Jury Prize, endowed with EUR 2,000. The cash prize has been awarded since 2009 by the festival’s Circle of Friends, for which we are very grateful. From fiction features to documentaries and experimental films all the way to animation, all genres are represented here once again, including numerous premieres. PART I of the competition will take place at Caligari FilmBühne at 8pm. Many guests are supposed to attend the event – be prepared for a real short film spectacle!

It’s going to be shiny in our international section today: Diamantino, the world’s greatest football player, from Portugal (!), is in a rough spot: after losing his instinctive feel for the ball he is forced to end his career in shame. In search of new meaning, the iconic former athlete embarks on an adventurous odyssey. Do not miss this bright journey directed by Gabriel Abrantes and Daniel Schmidt – DIAMANTINO will be screened at 10pm at Caligari FilmBühne.

Two more highlights can be found in today’s youth days section: In RETABLO by director Álvaro Delgado-Aparicio L. we will join a young artist trying to find his place in the world and the meaning of life – at 5:30pm at Caligari FilmBühne.

At 5:30pm at Murnau-Filmtheater our audience can experience exground’s annual short section Iran, consisting of six films.

At 8pm we are excited to present at Murnau Henrika Kull’s film JIBRIL off the Made in Germany section. The love story between main protagonists Maryam and Gabriel starts by coincidence but feels like a match made in heaven. It also marks an emotional tide change in Maryam’s life in Berlin as a single mom of three daughters. Only one crucial thing stands between her, Gabriel and a “happily ever after” – prison bars. Director Henrika Kull will attend tonight’s screening!

It is hard to believe – but today is already the fifth out of ten days of exground Filmfest! We are happy to host director Andreas Goldstein and script writer Jakobine Motz who will present their movie ADAM UND EVELYN at 8pm at Caligari FilmBühne. We are travelling back to summer 1989, East Germany. Adam works as a tailor, Evelyn as a waitress. They are planning a vacation together when Evelyn finds out that Adam is cheating on her and decides to leave for the holiday on her own. She travels to Hungary, trailed by Adam. The film is based on the novel “Adam und Evelyn” by Ingo Schulze which was translated into more than ten languages!

Our Fokus-programme is also filled with special guests: at 5:30pm at Murnau-Filmtheater  director Khavn De La Cruz will attend the screening of his film BALANGIGA: HOWLING WILDERNESS: 1901, Balangiga. A young boy flees town with his grandfather and their buffalo to escape the American occupation, the General Smith’s “Kill & Burn” order and the ensuing massacre. They stick to the outskirts and wilderness but find carnage wherever they go. On the way they find a toddler amid a sea of corpses. Together, the two boys struggle to survive in the howling wilderness.

Another highlight happens at 5:30pm at Caligari FilmBühne with Wanuri Kahiu’s Coming of Age drama RAFIKI, in which the two girls Kena and Zike are fighting against the patriarchal conventions in Kenya and dream of a self-determined future. The movie was banned in Kenya and celebrated as a great discovery in Cannes.