In our tribute to Helga Reidemeister, Tamara Trampe and Renate Sami, we introduce three documentarists of the same generation whose works share the fact of having an unconventional documentary approach. We present six feature-length films and one short film, that are to enter into a dialogue with each other. We want to relate the leading theme of this year’s edition to these directors relevant to us: the filmic voice and how it takes effect aesthetically and politically. Our selection links the individual works intuitively, considers thematic overlaps, for instance the examination of institutions and its agents. At times, formal and film-theoretical questions are focussed: To what extent is the filmmaker present or absent as a narrative instance? What thoughts are at the bottom of the interpenetration of document and poetry? The works are shown in double screenings and will be introduced by guest speakers that establish connections between the filmmakers and their works, further elaborate on their film-historic and socio-historical contexts.

On the third evening, we present the Japanese silent film classic A PAGE OF MADNESS, set to live music and narrated by Ichiro Kataoka and Reiko Emura. Emura plays and improvises on the piano, while Kataoka performs as a so-called “Katsudô-Benshi”. Beforehand, Kataoka’s record project will be presented in a round of talks.

Nice to see so many of you at our opening night. This evening we will meet again at the Luru Kino in the Spinnerei with the first special CINEMA SPACE & DESIRE. We will be showing feminist cinema set in the milieu of porn cinema. We dive into the New York of the 80s with an analog copy of Variety and then show Sinome Barbès ou la Vertu.