Audi Festival of German Films

Audi Festival of German Films

In 2011 the Audi Festival of German Films will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a spectacular programme of 39 contemporary and classic German films and documentaries throughout April.

A national event, the Festival has continued to grow in popularity since its first outing in 2002 and in 2010 attracted more than 26,000 attendees - a testimony to Germany's place at the forefront of international cinema.

The 2011 programme will be divided into three sections; German Currants, featuring the best of contemporary German cinema, Radical Docs - an eclectic selection of documentaries, and Retro 2001-2011, which will showcase 10 of Germany's most acclaimed movies of the last decade, many of which have never before screened in Australia.

"It's looking good," said Klaus Krischok, director of the Festival and Goethe-Institut Australia. "In addition to 33 feature films, we're very excited about this year's focus on documentaries, which has been made possible through our cooperation with ZDF/ARTE."

In Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, the Festival will open with Goethe! - a sumptuous costume drama in the style of Shakespeare In Love, whilst Melbourne and Perth opening night audiences will be treated to a screening of the award-winning Vincent Goes To Sea, which focuses on the adventures of three lost souls on a life-altering journey.

This year, the Festival's Sydney season will close with a screening of iconic filmmaker Wim Wenders' new film Pina, a tribute to dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch, which will be staged at Sydney Opera House and followed by a Q&A session with Wim Wenders who will be a guest of the Festival. This once in a lifetime event will take place on Sunday 17 April.

Additional 2011 Festival highlights include:
Almanya (Director: Yasemin Samdereli)
The surprise smash-comedy of the 2011 Berlinale: When a Turkish family leave their home after30 years in Germany the question arises: Who am I - a German or a Turk?
Close to You (Director: Almut Getto)
What happens when an emotionally blank young man meets an exuberant blind girl? Will his pettortoise remain the only living thing he really loves - or he will he break out of his shell?
Goethe! (Director: Phillip Stölzl)
A gorgeous costume drama focusing on the youthful loves and sorrows of the young Goethe -starring Alexander Fehling (INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS).
Julia's Disappearance (Director: Christoph Schaub)
An entertaining and sophisticated meditation on getting old, feeling young and everything inbetween, starring Corinna Harfouch and Bruno Ganz.
Nagna Parbat (Director: Joseph Vilsmaier)
Based on a true story and a thrilling real-life adventure, this mountain drama takes you to thetop of the Himalayas and into the abyss of human guilt.
Single By Contact (Director: Mark Rothermund)
A fresh and funny romantic comedy with positive girl-power messages and a clutch of toe-tapping tunes - when an unsuspecting girl falls in love with megastar.
The Day I Was Not Born (Director: Florian Cossen)
A compelling combination of personal and political histories set in Germany and Argentina:Who am I? This remains the most fundamental question of all.
The Murder Farm (Director: Bettina Oberli)
Keeping its secrets well hidden and building to a suspenseful climax, this stylish drama will takeyou well beyond the romantic facades of an alpine village.
The Poll Diaries (Director: Chris Kraus)
A deeply moving drama and fascinating history lesson, set on the Baltic coast pre WWI: Theworld changes - but is the old guard willing to change in it?
The Weissensee Saga - A Berlin Love Story (Director: Friedemann Fromm)
Romeo and Juliet behind the Wall face unexpected challenges in this family battle of twoopposing political creeds.
Vincent Wants To Sea (Director: Ralf Huettner)
A lively and entertaining adventure in which three damaged souls face up to themselves andovercome the psychoses of the seemingly normal world.

Proud sponsors of the 2011 Audi Festival of German Films include AUDI Australia, along withLufthansa, Schwarzkopf, Fresenius Medical Care, Bayer Health Care, World Movies, SBS andDB Schenker.

Festival dates and venues are as follows:
Sydney: 6 - 18 April Chauvel Cinema, Palace Norton Street
Melbourne: 7 - 18 April Palace Cinema Como, Kino Cinemas
Brisbane: 7 - 12 April Palace Centro Cinema
Adelaide: 13 - 18 April Palace Nova Eastend Cinema
Perth: 14 - 18 April Cinema Paradiso

The full program is available at: www.goethe.de/australia