FFFB 2023: Press Release
FFFB Press Release 2023- Berlin, Sept.3rd, 2023
The “Female Filmmakers Festival Berlin” celebrates its 5th anniversary edition from Oct.4-8, 2023 at Kino Moviemento!
The “Female Filmmakers Festival Berlin” is back for its fifth edition from October 4-8, 2023 celebrating its anniversary at Germany’s oldest cinema Kino Moviemento. The audience can look forward to a bigger selection of feature films than ever before, including some of the most recent popular festival discoveries “Ama Gloria” (France), “Wolf & Dog” (Portugal) or “Until Branches Bend” (Canada).
Besides full-length films, the festival offers four diverse short film programs focusing on themes like “Identity”, “Relationships Between People & Nature” or “Motherhood”. The previously always sold-out programme for “Music Videos & Experimental Films” is returning with a prime spot on Friday night.
As every year, the festival shows films of all genres from around the globe, featuring rare picks from South Africa, China, Armenia, Turkey, Lithuania or Israel. This year, the festival is proud to present films from 20 different countries that all have one thing in common: an important story that needs to be told with a female gaze. All films will be presented in their original version with English subtitles, following inspiring Q&A’s with attending directors, crew & cast.
The 2023 opening film “Wolf & Dog” by Cláudia Varejão (Berlin Premiere) is a coming of age, LGBTQ+ drama from Portugal that is without a doubt made for the big screen. Protagonist Ana embarks on a journey filled with new desires. “Wolf & Dog” is the enchanting ode to the island's queer community where the twilight glow crosses the immense Atlantic Ocean. “Wolf & Dog” will be screened on Wednesday, October 4th at 7pm at Kino Moviemento, followed by a reception with special FFFB anniversary drinks in the Kino Moviemento lounge.
The opening short film program "Identity”, at 9.30pm on the same evening, proves that sometimes all it takes is a little vacation to find oneself or in some cases a trip to a remote monastery in the Bach Ma mountains of Vietnam. Disillusioned, half-asleep or grief-struck, these strong protagonists fight their way through life in the never-ending search of their true identity and something we all need more of these days: hope.
The second festival day kicks off on Oct. 5th at 7pm with the German feature film “Why Chickens Don’t Fly” by Naira Cavero Orihuel (Berlin Premiere). An unexpected encounter with a stranger jolts young single mother Marlene out of her unsatisfying everyday life. Fueled by the provocative dynamics of her new friend, Marlene plunges into the unknown. But in her search for freedom, fragmentary images from Marlene's childhood take over, re-awakening her repressed childhood trauma.
The evening continues at 9.30pm with the Short Film Programme “Mothers”, showcasing films from Israel, USA, Canada, Italy, Germany, China and Nigeria. Motherhood is not always what people assume. Sometimes it can be overshadowed by dark secrets, insecurities or too much intimacy. Watch these brave mothers and their kids opening up to each other, find similarities or finally have the courage to let go.
On Friday, October 6th at 7pm, the festival will host the Berlin Premiere of an award-winning Turkish Sci-Fi feature “Once Upon the time in the future: 2121” by Serpil Altin who will fly in from Turkey for an insightful Q&A session after the film. In the future, the earth becomes uninhabitable due to the climate crisis and famine. The few survivors form colonies and start to live in underground blocks. According to «The Scarcity Laws of the Young Administration» which controls this system, old generations must be destroyed in exchange for new lives. The life of a family that lives in one of the blocks is changed by a new baby they are expecting.
This unique Turkish film highlight will be followed by the ever popular audience favourite “Music Videos & Experimental Films” at 9.30pm. Dive into a world of togetherness, end of the world vibes, bittersweet goodbyes, secret confessions, artists in crisis type of moments that ultimately make us feel alive. Get ready for the ride and stick around to get some answers from the creators themselves after the screening.
The festival weekend kicks off at 5pm on Saturday, Oct. 7th with the Short Film Programme: "Relationships: people & nature", during which all kinds of questions are being asked in relationships between people, but also between nature and humans. How to handle problems best? Talking it all through or keeping silent? When a defiant, guttural scream meets the torture of complete silence, it becomes clear that these characters are together alone, all fighting their own battle. But as humans we often think our problems are above everything, which is why the second part of this programme is a call from nature, reminding us that our relationship to earth is no less important.
At 7.30pm the festival audience is taken on a trip Down Under with the strong feature debut “Sweet As” by Jub Clerc. “Sweet As” is an uplifting coming-of-age road movie about unconventional friendships, first crushes and finding who you are on the road less travelled.
Saturday night continues at 9.30pm with the Germany premiere of the feature film “Until Branches Bend” Sophie Jarvis (Canada). Protagonist Robin is a cannery worker who struggles to get an abortion. When she finds an invasive insect in a peach at work, she turns her focus towards proving to her community that the danger it poses is real. As her obsession alienates her from friends and family, she sinks deeper into her task. “Until Branches Bend” is a psychological drama about how trouble beneath the surface will always come to light.
On the final festival day on Sunday, October 8th, a thought-provoking documentary from Israel "In Case You’re Still Around" by Talia (Tulik) Galon answers questions of life and death. Not everyone has time to die, except for Yaeli. She uses her remaining time to dive into the depths of the soul, and takes a look at life and what the end could look like. Always with her, her daughters Mia and Rani, as well as her loving partner, who tries to find the strength to picture life without her. The festival is proud to present the international premiere of this heart-wrenching documentary.
Another festival highlight will follow at 7pm: The 2023 Cannes Film Festival Critic's Week favourite “Ama Gloria” by Marie Amachoukeli (France) celebrates its Berlin Premiere at Kino Moviemento. Six year old Cléo loves her nanny Gloria more than anything. When Gloria must suddenly return to Cape Verde to care for her own children, Cléo makes her promise that they will see each other very soon. Gloria invites Cléo to her island and the two must make the most of their last summer together.
The FFFB anniversary festival edition will close with the Germany premiere of the Belgian drama "Aller Retour" by Dorothée Van den Berghe at 9pm. Truck driver Erika catches a transmigrant (Idy) jumping out of his hiding place in her truck. The ensuing confrontation escalates to such an extent that Erika has no choice but to save Idy's life and take him back on board against her will. Since Idy has been wounded in the foot, and she feels somewhat responsible for this, they are dependent on each other during their trip to southern Spain. This screening is followed by the announcement of this year’s winners, as well as the screening of the winning music video.
The 2023 FFFB film program will be completed by several panels and a networking session, which will be announced officially in the upcoming weeks.
All film tickets can be purchased either on the Moviemento website or directly in the cinema.
TICKETS: https://moviemento.de/tickets/
New film submissions for the 6th festival edition in October 2024 will be accepted again from October 8th, 2023. Films of all genres and lengths can be submitted via Filmfreeway.
https://filmfreeway.com/FemaleFilmmakersFilmFestivalBerlin
For more information please visit the official FFFB website:
https://femalefilmmakersberlin.com/
Complete program:
https://www.femalefilmmakersberlin.com/programme2023
Festival Cinema:
Contact:
info@femalefilmmakersberlin.com
Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/femalefilmmakersfestival/
