“Film has become the key medium of our times,” spoke Festival Director Dr. Michael Kötz. He invited the guests and visitors to the Festival to “not just quickly consume a film, but to really watch them, to experience them with all your senses, to lose yourself in them and by doing so to really celebrate them – because the Festival is here to celebrate these films and cinematic art together with our audience!”

The Festival celebrated its Grand Opening in Heidelberg, screening “TOUS LES CHATS SONT GRIS” / “ALL CATS ARE GREY” by Savina Dellicour. The director made the trip from Belgium together with her lead actors Anne Coesens and Manon Capelle, the producer Joseph Rouschop and other members of the film team.

Over 500 guests were present and celebrated her film with thunderous applause.

The many invited guests from politics, business and culture were welcomed by Dr. Eckart Würzner, Lord Mayor of Heidelberg and Michael Grötsch, Mayor for Economics, Labour, Social Affairs and Culture in Mannheim.

The entire opening speech held by Festival Director Dr. Michael Kötz, information on the program and on the events surrounding the 63.rd International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg can be found on the Festival website: www.iffmh.de.