Opening with true love – The Icelandic romantic comedy OKKAR EIGIN OSLÓ (Our Own Oslo) by Reynir Lyngdal will start off the 60th International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg The great anniversary edition of the International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg, which is now 60 years old, starts cheerfully and amourously: the romantic comedy OKKAR EIGIN OSLÓ (Our Own Oslo) by newcomer director Reynir Lyngdal marks the official start of the programme of the second-oldest German film festival....

Well, the weather held and so did the quality of the films as the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival wound up, rather than down ,towards its 59th Awards Ceremony.Audiences seemed to increase in number and enthusiasm during these unusually  balmy November days and the nightly drinks receptions for lucky invitees saw sparkling German wines and beer pouring as if there was no tomorrow well into tomorrow, with  on one occasion-well past 2am local time-most of the Festival Direction ...

Arriving at any festival on the 13th of the month does not augur well, though my journey from home to Heathrow Terminal 4 had been surprisingly smooth, if long before Dawn's dusky fingers had opened the strike-free ticket offices of any of the Underground stations circling London's Regent Park. Both my Air France flights, via Paris to Frankfurt, had departed and landed on time (though we should draw a veil over the Economy Class croissants of uncertain age and provenance on the earlier flight)an...

Arriving at any festival on the 13th of the month does not augur well, though my journey from home to Heathrow Terminal 4 had been surprisingly smooth, if long before Dawn's dusky fingers had opened the strike-free ticket offices of any of the Underground stations circling London's Regent Park. Both my Air France flights, via Paris to Frankfurt, had departed and landed on time (though we should draw a veil over the Economy Class croissants of uncertain age and provena...

The 59th International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg takes place from the 11th till the 21st November 2010.Three experts for Mannheim-Heidelberg – The International Jury is complete with film artist Cynthia Beatt, film author Clemens Klopfenstein and cinematic all-rounder Stefan LaudynMannheim-Heidelberg, November 2nd 2010---- Three persons who know how to create cinematic art, how to talk about it and how to convey it: This year, the decision on the Main Award of Mannheim-Heidelberg is in ...

Cinema with a view – IFF Mannheim-Heidelberg at the Heidelberg Castle for the first timeMannheim-Heidelberg, 14 October 2010--- The upcoming 59th International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg will take place at the Heidelberg Castle in November 2010 for the first time.„We have found a real festival location here - up above the city of Heidelberg, with a splendid view over the valley“, says Festival director Dr. Michael Koetz. „Two large festival theatres and heated, cosy large tents ar...

The International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg will launch its 59th edition in November 2010 with a new offer for industry guests. The MANNHEIM MEETING PLACE will support the improvement of sales and marketing of finished film works by newcomer directors while it continues to invite selected producers interested in co-producing new, unfinished film projects as was previously the case at the MANNHEIM MEETINGS. „A vibrant venue nourished by mutual confidence for newcomers and all those who w...

Unique focus on the art of film- The International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg closes with splendid results Despite the flu and the financial crisis the 58th International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg ended with surprisingly good results on 15 November 2009. The Festival has a worldwide reputation for selecting the fine spearhead of the best cinema artist from the entire world production and to present them in front of an international audience for the first time. Given the plet...

Senior rock stars having a blast - The 58th International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg 2009 opens with European Premiere „MEISJES/ The Over the Hill Band“ by Geoffrey Enthoven With filmmaker Geoffrey Enthoven and the main actors of the film present, the European Premiere of „MEISJES“ from Belgium will open the 58th International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg on November 5, 2009 in Heidelberg. The story about a former girl group reuniting after 50 years runs outside competition...

This years jury member for the Best First Feature Film Award at the Berlin film festival, Iranian Rafi Pitts, made his first steps as a director in Mannheim-Heidelberg: He presented his debut Cinquieme Saison in 1997 in International Competition and came back to the festival of newcomers in 2000 with "Sanam". On both occasions, he was awarded the Special Prize of the International Jury. Pitts today is recognised to be one of the most renowned representatives of contemporary Iranian cinema.Having...

If Clara was one musical highpoint in Mannheim this year, another was certainly Carlos Saura's latest revue-film  Fados, which like his earlier Flamenco and  Tango, explores urban melodies,  presenting- with some luminous photography by Eduardo Serra-the place of fado in the life of Lisbon, looking for its African and Brazilian roots and providing 90 sensuous minutes filled with infinite affection and regret.The film received its German premiere, out of competition, and like Iberia seems to...

If Clara was one musical highpoint in Mannheim this year, another was certainly Carlos Saura's latest revue-film Fados, which like his earlier Flamenco and Tango, explores urban melodies, presenting- with some luminous photography by Eduardo Serra-the place of fado in the life of Lisbon, looking for its African and Brazilian roots and providing 90 sensuous minutes filled with infinite affection and regret.The film received its German premiere, out of competition, and like Iberia seems to be c...

The FILMKULTURPREIS MANNHEIM-HEIDELBERG, an award honoring individuals, institutions and companies who have been patronizing German film culture for years, has been presented to six laureates.These laureates have been announced on the evening of Nov. 9, 2008 by four presenters: German actresses Jana Pallaske, Bernadette Heerwagen, Leslie Malton and Franziska Petri. ...

Special Screening and Pre-PremiereThe 57th International Filmfestival drew its curtain on Nov. 7 at 8pm in Mannheim with the Pre-Premiere "Clara", the moving biography of pianist Clara Schumann. Director Helma Sanders-Brahms as well as main character Pascal Gréggory were in attendence at the solemn Special Screening as well as the filmtalks afterwards. ...

"April is the cruelest month" wrote T.S.Eliot when having to choose between invitations to fests in Istanbul, Nyon and elsewhere- then for FIPRESCI members it became September when the Fall season started to invigorate itself with Venice, Toronto, San Sebastian, Hamburg vying with each other for films and attention, and more recently October became the new September with London and Roma and Sitges and Gent clashing wildly and who gives a damn about Chicago...?Now November is definitely the new ...

The 57th International Filmfestival Mannheim-HeidelbergNov. 6 – 16, 2008The 57th International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg will present 34 visionary dreams by newcomer directors from 22 countries captured on film in the festival's main sections. There are 18 films by young authors in „International Competition“ for the Main Award of Mannheim-Heidelberg, the Rainer Werner Fassbinder Prize and the Special Award of the Jury. There are 14 new discoveries from 11 countries out of competiti...

With International Premiere „The Baby Formula“ and Canadian filmmaker Alison Reid, the 57th International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg will celebrate its opening night in Heidelberg on Thursday, 6 November 2008. The film is one out of 19 feature films by international newcomer directors competing for the Main Award of Mannheim-Heidelberg. The complete selection with an overview of all films in International Competition, in the International Discoveries section and the sidebars will be pu...