European refugee experiences and German contemporary history are among the issues at stake at the 26th FilmFestival Cottbus. From November 8 - 13, 2016, we will present two film series in the Specials programme section: "Exploring the Past: German-Polish-Czech History Through the Ages" and "Bridges and Breaks – Convergence in Post-Unification Germany". Both series investigate the disruption of identities in the lifes of people following historic upheavals.
"Exploring the Past: "Exploring the Past: German-Polish-Czech History through the Ages" intends to highlight the contribution that Central European filmmakers have made towards a common, critical analysis of a troublesome chapter that consists of the most varied of experiences of flight, resettlement, deportation and the loss of identity during the 20th century. The series embarks on a search for traces beyond historical distrust.
In thirteen feature, documentary and animated films, a young generation of Czech, German, Slovak and Polish filmmakers, in particular, research shared and concealed experiences, often within their family circle. Yet this is not only about the historical change of perspective: "We currently once again experience how the experiences of refugees change people´s identities, both of the refugees themselves and the individuals in the countries receiving them. We aim at exchanging thoughts also about this aspect", says curator Jarosław Godlewski. This is why transnational exchange is a key issue not only during a trinational student encounter. Four films will also be screened also in the Polish twin city of Zielona Góra during the festival - stopovers welcome!
The retrospective titled "Bridges and Breaks – Convergence in Post-Unification Germany" - curated by Karin Fritzsche - takes a look-back at the first decade of German reunification and enquires as to how filmmakers reacted to the rapid transformations playing out around them. This programme series thus makes something of an archaeological contribution to the history of film, in particular in light of the inability of the majority of modern-day cinemas to screen reels of motion picture film, further facilitating the disappearance of historical material.
The Specials series "Exploring the Past: German-Polish-Czech History Through the Ages" is funded by the Foundation for Polish-German Cooperation, the German-Czech Future Fund and the German Culture Forum for Eastern Europe.
The series "Bridges and Breaks – Convergence in Post-Unification Germany" receives funding from the Federal Foundation for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship.