ISL/DK/D/F 2019, 90 Min., DF, FSK: ab 6
Regie: Grímur Hakónarson

Mit: Arndís Hrönn Egilsdóttir, Sigurður Sigurjónsson, Hinrik Ólafsson, Hannes Óli Ágústsson, Alfrun Rose

Inga und ihr Mann betreiben in der isländischen Provinz eine kleine, hochverschuldete Milchfarm. Nach dem plötzlichen Tod ihres Mannes will Inga ihrer beruflichen Misere ein Ende setzen. Den Schuldigen für die Probleme hat sie längst ausgemacht: die lokale Kooperative, die ihre Monopolstellung gnadenlos ausnutzt und die Bauern mit mafiösen Methoden drangsaliert. Doch Inga gibt nicht klein bei…

MILCHKRIEG IN DALSMYNNI lief im Wettbewerb des Toronto Filmfestivals, wo er mit seinen aktuellen Bezügen und seinem trockenen nordischen Humor Publikum wie Presse gleichermaßen begeisterte.

“Ein souveräner, dichter Publikumsgenuss” Screen Daily

Eintritt: 7 €, ermäßigt 6 € 

German Short Film Competition

Following the screening of the German Short Film Competition, audience members voted for their favourites, ultimately selecting PINKY PROMISE by Sophie Linnenbaum (who placed 2^nd in 2018 with RIEN NE VA PLUS) as the winning film. First prize, which includes 3,000 euros in prize money, was once again endowed by the State Capital of Wiesbaden. Second prize went to EARLY BIRDS by Benjamin Kempf-Siemens and Rainer Binz, who also took home 2,000 euros in prize money, endowed by the Wiesbaden-based company Magenta TV Fernsehproduktionsgesellschaft. Felix Karolus was honoured with third prize (1,000 euros, endowed by the State Capital of Wiesbaden) for his film MENUETT.

For EARLY BIRDS, Benjamin Kempf-Siemens and Rainer Binz also received a film equipment rental package valued at 2,000 euros from Pille Filmgeräteverleih for the production of their next film. The competition’s other non-cash prize, a “grading special” package from Magenta TV Fernsehproduktionsgesellschaft valued at 1,500 euros, went to JUPITER by Benjamin Pfohl.

International Short Film Competition

In the International Short Film Competition, the international jury chose the Croatian production IMBUED LIFE [UDAHNUT ZIVOT] by Ivana Bošnjak and Thomas Johnson as the winning film and handed over prize money of 2,000 euros, endowed by the exground Circle of Friends. Jury members Burkhard Althoff (editor at “Das kleine Fernsehspiel” from Mainz), Christy Garland (documentary filmmaker from Toronto/Canada) and Brunna Laboissière (director and producer from São Paulo/Brazil) explained their choice with the following statement: 

“The Award for Best International Short Film goes to IMBUED LIFE. This poetic animated film manages to create fascinating spaces for association and interpretation with highest quality cinematography. By blurring the boundaries between the perception and consciousness of humans and animals, the film addresses in a surprising and original manner one of humanity’s most pressing questions: our problematic relationship to nature. In doing so, IMBUED LIFE creates images that continue to affect us long after the film has concluded.”

A Special Mention was given to WOMAN WITHOUT A CHILD [MUJER SIN HIJO] by Eva Saiz from Spain. The jury also released a statement explaining this choice:

“The jury would like to give a Special Mention to WOMAN WITHOUT A CHILD. Humorously and laconically, the film tells the story of a middle-aged woman living on her own who rents out a room to a young man. With precise staging and great love for her characters, the director brings us very close to her unusual protagonist while also advocating for the possibility of unusual friendships. We would have loved to move in too.”

DAS BRETT – Inmate Jury Award

For the fourth year running, the award DAS BRETT was presented in the “Made in Germany” section by a jury composed of inmates of Wiesbaden’s primary correctional facility. From the seven nominated productions, the five jurors chose RELATIVITY by Mariko Minoguchi:

“The inmate jury from the JVA Wiesbaden correctional facility has chosen to award DAS BRETT 2019 to RELATIVITY by Mariko Minoguchi. The film touches on a whole range of emotions, though always with great sensitivity and never with a heavy hand. It has action, it has drama, it has love, it has grief, it even has a little bit of eroticism, and still it manages to combine them into one seamless piece. The five jurors were impressed by the distinctive cinematography and excellent performances – from the leads actors down to the smallest supporting roles. The film alternates masterfully between different timeframes and moods, and the camera captures the characters in such a way that the viewer can get very close to them without it becoming intrusive. Above all, however, the film doesn’t take the easy route when it comes to the question of what a perpetrator really is.” 

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

The jurors gave a Special Mention to the production HEAD BURST by Savaş Ceviz:

“The Special Mention goes to HEAD BURST by Savaş Ceviz, which is also devoted to the difficult question of what it means to be a perpetrator. As the final decision was very close, it quickly became clear that this film also deserved to be singled out for praise. The jury was fond of the ‘disgusting tension’, the great acting performances and the fact that it had never seen anything quiet like it before. Above all, the jury was impressed by the courage of the film, which relates the story of a paedophilic man without causing the viewer to turn away instantly.”

exground youth days

The youth jury in the International Youth Film Competition gave the award for the best feature-length film this year, in a tie, to YOUR TURN [ESPERO TUA (RE)VOLTA] by Eliza Capai and THE ORPHANAGE [PARWARESHGAH] by Shahrbanoo Sadat:

“For us, the film YOUR TURN earned first place for its highly compelling depiction of the student protests in Brazil. The documentary is electrifying and very affecting with its quick cuts and personal stories. The director transports viewers to the midst of the protests as the narrative unfolds from the perspective of those involved. The film manages to capture the spirit of a generation in which activism has once again become the lived reality of many individuals.

THE ORPHANAGE deals with an orphaned Afghani boy growing up in the 1980s who is taken off the street and placed in a communist orphanage. In his time there, he goes through a lot of traumatising experiences that have a lasting influence on him. We liked the story of the boy who dreams of Bollywood films who is thrown into harsh reality as the political situation escalates and he experiences its impact first-hand. The lives of children in war-torn regions like this represent a rather unpopular but highly interesting subject – especially also considering the political era in which the story takes place.”

The accompanying prize money of 2,500 euros was endowed by the State Capital of Wiesbaden.

In addition, the youth jury chose TRAIN ROBBERS [TOGRØVERE)] by Martin A. Walther as the best short film at exground youth days. The 500 euros in prize money were endowed by Wiesbadener Kinofestival e. V. The jury gave a Special Mention to YOUNGVODKA by Léa Hall.

As best feature-length film, the audience chose PAPICHA by Mounia Meddour, who receives 1,000 euros, endowed by the State Capital of Wiesbaden.

In the Wiesbaden Youth Film Competition, HEIMAT? by the team from Diakonisches Werk Rheingau-Taunus came out on top in the audience voting. First prize comes with 500 euros, endowed by the Hessen State Ministry for Higher Education, Research and the Arts. Second prize went to SCHRITTE IN DIE ZUKUNFT by Lena Krüger-Lorenzen, who receives a gift certificate to the certified Apple dealer ergo sum valued at 150 euros.

Wiesbaden Special – Short Film Competition

In the audience competition for the best short film with a connection to Wiesbaden, Alexander Conrads’ LIONESS came up victorious. In addition to prize money of 500 euros, endowed by festival media partner Wiesbadener Kurier, the winner also receives the non-cash prize package “Film Sound Special”, valued at 2,000 euros, which gives the artist two days to take advantage of the technology and know-how of the Wiesbaden sound production studio klangBezirk to produce the final audio mix of his next film.

exground Gong Show

Trash is cult – the participants in the legendary exground Gong Show have proven the statement once again this year. The deserving winners of 50 euros in prize money and the Golden exground Cucumber are Patrik Pezelj and Marius Hofmann for their sensational trailer spoof EXGROUND 32 TRAILER (FREI VON PUNKT PUNKT PUNKT). 

Save the date: exground filmfest 33 will take place from 13 to 22 November 2020.

We can spend some wonderful time paying a visit to the Nassauischer Kunstverein while waiting for the award ceremony. EXHIBITION: JONATHAS DE ANDRADE / O PEIXE (THE FISH), as part of the exground country focus, will be there until 5 January 2020.

Then it will be about time for the final festival event in Caligari. At 18:00 we will start with the audience’s favorite section, GERMAN SHORT FILM COMPETITION, with eleven shorts covering a wide range of genres. After the audience vote is counted, all other award-winning films will be announced by exground. And then we want to celebrate with the winners again after the award ceremony – with free drinks and culinary surprises. There are still remaining tickets at the box office from 17:15 onwards in Caligari!

At 16:00 in Murnau we will start our Brazilian double bill with PANEL: PROFOUND CHANGES IN BRAZILIAN CINEMA?! PERSPECTIVES ON THE CONTEMPORARY FILM. And then at 18:00 we will show the short film program FRAGILE DREAMS with five contemporary shorts. There we will welcome a number of Brazilian film guests.

From the section “Made in Germany” we will screen at 20:00 in Caligari LEIF IN CONCERT, a tribute to the music and the most beautiful pub in the world. We can then discuss the film with the director Christian Klandt.

For those who have grown fond of the crypt and are also a film buff, you should not miss the FILM QUIZ with Rex Kramer at 18:30. From Romero to Renoir, from Wenders to Willis, from BLADE RUNNER to BABEL, we will go through the history of cinema and all genres, in this evening which promises to be variegated for the film fans in Wiesbaden.

At 22:00 we are looking forward to a cool concert in the crypt with JACOB! The band stands for Join Alternative Conformity Of Beats, another synonym for Groovy Handmade Acoustic Bluesy Soul & Funky Freestyles.

If you still can, you are welcome to join us in the Caligari Foyer at 23:30 for SCOPITONES and PARTY with DJ Scopi Toni. In our Scopitone-Bar you can experience our original 16mm copies of Sylvie Vartan, Petula Clark, Dalida, Debbie Reynolds, Alice & Ellen Kessler etc. Curated and moderated by Bernd Brehmer aka DJ Sopi Toni.

At 17:30 in the Caligari FilmBühne, we will continue with the Brazilian documentary MY FRIEND FELA, providing a new perspective on the Nigerian musician Fela Kutiin. We look forward to seeing the director Joel Zito Araújo there.

For the presentation of HORMIGAS by Antonella Sudasassi Furniss at 6 pm in the crypt, the actress Daniella Valenciano from Costa Rica will be present. In this Oscar nomination of Costa Rica, she embodies Isabel, whose life as a good mother, wife and daughter-in-law is no longer enough for her.

Another Oscar nomination awaits us at 20:00 in Murnau: CORPUS CHRISTI by Jan Komasa from Poland. The film tells the story of 20-year-old Daniel pretending to be a priest in a small community. We look forward to meeting the actress Eliza Rycembel.

At the same time (20:00) in Caligari we will present the remaining eight contributions together with film guests in the INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION – PART II. All films in this competition will be judged by our international jury: Burkhard Althoff (ZDF editorial “Das kleine Fernsehspiel”), Christy Garland (director from Canada) and Brunna Laboissière (director from Brazil).

There will be more short films and special guests at 8 pm in Caligari. In the INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION – PART I we will present the first eight of a total of 16 films that are competing for the jury prize endowed with € 2,000.

Documentary lovers would be happy to see the Brazilian production BARONESA by Juliana Antunes at 6 pm in the crypt, which was made under difficult circumstances and portray two women who befriend each other in the favelas around Belo Horizon. Scripted, authentic, surprising, challenging! We are looking forward to the conversation with Juliana Antunes.

At 10 pm, the supposed friends Richard, Sasha and Jonah head for showdown on the high seas in the Canadian HARPOON. With engine damage and no food aboard a yacht, feelings of jealousy boil up between the three of them. A bitter and bloody reckoning with love and friendship, in the presence of the producer Mike Peterson.

Afterwards, at 8 pm, we will enjoy an associative film in the crypt. In CALYPSO, directors Rodrigo Lima and Lucas Parente interweave archival material about Luz del Fuego (1917-1967), actress, snake dancer and founder of the first free body club in Brazil, with intense nature photography, performative elements and a stunning sound design. Rodrigo Lima will be present for the German premiere of his film in the crypt.

At 8 pm we will see SAINT FRANCES by Alex Thompson in Munau. There we meet 34-year-old Bridget, who enters a difficult stage of life. As a babysitter for little Frances, she realizes that life is not always about tennis and golf, but it can still be beautiful and worthwhile.

Another movie from the section “American Independents” awaits the audience at 10 pm in Murnau: THE WIND, a female western. Director Emma Tammi shows the fate of women who follow their men to the no-man’s-land in the 1800s to cultivate land. The feelings of isolation drive many women mad – just like Lizzy, who is stranded with Isaac in the wasteland. With a team of women (camera, editing), Tammi converts the difficult lot of these women into grandiose landscape shots and oppressive pictures of their encapsulation.

At 10 pm in Caligari we will see Christina Ebelt’s STARS ABOVE US, about the plight of another woman. The single mother Melli (Franziska Hartmann) struggles for existence and dignity, despairingly yet with irrepressible power. We are looking forward to seeing the director Christina Ebelt, who will present her film in person.

Also at 17:30 clock (Murnau) we will screen THE SLEEPWALKERS of Tiago Mata Machado, another film highlight from our country focus Brazil. The Kafkaesque political parable about fascism, resistance and freedom is shown at exground as a German premiere.

Immediately after 20 o’clock we will be expecting more guests to the feature film RELATIVITY [MEIN ENDE. DEIN ANFANG.]. Director Mariko Minoguchi will be in the Murnau Theater with his leading actress Saskia Rosendahl. Mariko Minoguchi manages to perfectly balance the story of Nora and Aron between happiness and death, love and sadness in her stunning feature film debut.

In-between films and after screenings you should not miss the exhibition: BRAZIL – PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANJA KESSLER in Murnau. You can see pictures of the country and its people, which are far away from the usual stereotypes, in the foyer of Murnau until 23 Nov.

Also at 17:30, Caligari will screen the Brazilian documentary YOUR TURN by Eliza Capai as a part of the exground youth days. The focus is on the experiences, passion and fear of young people who feel a strong sense of urgency in their protest for the right to education.

Afterwards at 8 pm (Caligari) we will travel to Rio de Janeiro of the 50s. In Karim Aïnouz’s colorful and moving feature THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF EURIDICE GUSMÃO, the two sisters Eurídice and Guida struggle in a patriarchal world each for themselves, in which their life trajectories are determined by the notion of honor and societal expectations.

BRING OUT YOUR TRASH is once again the motto for the exground Gong Show at 10 pm in Caligari. Our jury is looking forward to your hidden gems, the trashier, the better! And absolutely everyone can join in. Just submit your film (max. 10 min) on a USB stick or a DVD to the Caligari FilmBühne between 8 pm and 9 pm on 18 Nov. The winning entry will be awarded with the “Golden exground cucumber” and 50 EUR of prize money.