Show Me Shorts has revealed that Germany will be the country of focus for this year’s short film festival.
Two collections of German short films have been specially curated in collaboration with Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg and shorts/salon. In addition to the twelve German films in these two programmes, two more German shorts will feature in other sections of the programme, taking the total to fourteen.
A delegation of three German guests will attend Show Me Shorts to participate in screenings, events, and networking opportunities with local filmmakers.
Anna Feistel is a programmer from Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg, who has co-curated the programme’s German Focus section and will join the jury for the Show Me Shorts awards.
Director Hans Jakob Harms will present his science fiction short film S/N:05 on opening nights in Auckland and Wellington.
Anna Henckel-Donnersmarck is one half of a Berlin-based shorts/salon that creates playful events that evoke curiosity and the exchange of thoughts and ideas. She will present a special event called Hallo Stranger.
The films in the German Focus include the following and will be screened in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Intro – Dir: Anne Isensee
Lange nicht gesehen (Long Time No See) – Dir: Kevin Biele
Porzellan (Porcelain) – Dir: Annika Birgel
Somni – Dir: Sonja Rohleder
Forever Yours – Dir: Elliott Louis McKee
The Waiting – Dir: Voker Schlecht
Superbuhei – Dir: Josef Brandl
“Germany has a rich cinematic history and vibrant modern artistic scene,” said Gina Dellabarca, the Festival Director for Show Me Shorts.
“The German short films we have selected showcase richly creative stories that touch on the human condition and our world through a German lens. Kiwi film lovers will find many points of connection.”
Nicole Menzenbach, the German Ambassador to New Zealand, said that the Federal Republic of Germany Embassy was delighted to support the Show Me Shorts Film Festival this year.
Show Me Shorts will share exceptional insights into German cinema with New Zealand by showcasing a range of German short films.
To complement the German Focus, Berlin-based shorts/salon presents Hello Stranger. This special event includes five short films about people connecting with each other even though they don’t speak the same language, are separated by space and time, or have never had the chance to meet.
Oiseau de passage (Wandering Bird) – Dir: Victor Dupuis
Killing Four Birds With One Arrow – Dir: Elisa Jule Braun
So Viel Von Mir (That’s All From Me) – Dir: Eva Könnemann
Mwanamke Makueni (A Woman in Makueni) – Dir: Valeri Aluskina, Daria Belova
Pohledy na Vëru Bechyńovou (The Still Life of Věra) – Dir: Greta Stocklassa
The event will take place at Academy Cinemas, Auckland, and after the screening, audience members will be invited to join a postcard-writing session upstairs at the Auckland Central Library.
Anna Kalbhenn from the Goethe-Institut of New Zealand added that Germany had a vibrant short film scene and world-renowned festivals. With this focus, they were proud to bring a glimpse to the local audiences and foster relationships.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Show Me Shorts Film Festival, introducing a fine selection of current German short films to New Zealand,” said Anna Feistel from Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg.
“Being part of the jury is an exciting opportunity to discover the talent and diversity of New Zealand filmmakers and experience the vibrant creativity of Kiwi cinema. Partnerships like these foster a dynamic exchange of creative ideas between our two international short film festivals across the globe.”
The Show Me Shorts Film Festival will take place across New Zealand from the 10th to the 28th of October, 2024.
Tickets for the opening night events, German Focus and Hallo Stranger are now available. The full festival programme will be announced later in September.
