German cinema celebration at DCA festival

A FILM festival celebrating German cinema is to be held at Dundee Contemporary Arts next month.

Fokus: Films from Germany, coorganised by the Goethe-Institut Glasgow and Filmhouse Edinburgh, will screen a number of movies made by female directors.

The films will include From Caligari to Hitler — which explores the history of cinema during the rise of the Third Reich — and Wild by Nicolette Krebitz, a story about a woman and her encounter with a wolf.

Ann-Christine Simke, programme coordinator at the Goethe-Institut Glasgow, said: “This year’s Fokus films reference a wide array of topics and cinematic styles that shed light on current debates and discourse in Germany.

“The aim is to encourage and inspire our audiences in Scotland to reflect on, relate to and maybe also differentiate themselves from them.”

Marjolein den Bakker, programme officer at Filmhouse Edinburgh, said: “We are particularly delighted to present three films by female directors — Wild, 4 Kings by Theresa von Eltz and 24 Weeks by Anne Zohra Berrached in Dundee.

“The films exemplify an impressive range of themes and aesthetics present in the works of female directors in Germany.

“The fascinating documentary From Caligari to Hitler reconstructs the development of cinema during the time of the Weimar Republic, up to the Nazi era.

“Director Rüdiger Suchsland carefully assembles expressive scenes from iconic films such as the Weimar masterpiece the Testament of Dr Mabuse which will screen at DCA as well.”

Above: Radio 1’s Big Weekend in 2006 was the last major music festival to be held in Dundee.