SHANGHAI, June 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Ten German films in Focus Germany and six films in the Spectrum/Panorama section as well as the short film RAJU in the short film competition of the Shanghai International Film Festival are the exciting line up for this year’s festival edition.
The Gala-Opening screening of Focus Germany will be HELL by Tim Fehlbaum, which recently premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival with more than 6,000 people watching the film. Director Tim Fehlbaum will be in Shanghai to present his film to the audience. Unfortunately, the lead actress Hannah Herzsprung (very well known to the Shanghai audience since her appearance in FOUR MINUTES which won the Golden Goblet 5 years ago) will not be in attendance in Shanghai as she is shooting a new film right now. She sends all her love to the audience and hopes to return to Shanghai next year with her new film.
Focus Germany further presents STOPPED ON TRACK by Andreas Dresen, which not only received the award for Best Film at the Cannes Film Festival but also received the award for Best Film at the German Film Awards ceremony in April. The film has been released to the cinemas in many countries, as Andreas Dresen is one of the most well-known German directors with high international critical acclaim.
KADDISH FOR A FRIEND by Leo Khasin has been touring all over the world and was screened in New York in April. It is the first film of director Leo Khasin, who will be part of the German delegation in Shanghai.
Another first time director is Pia Strietmann. She will be in Shanghai to present her film A FAMILY OF THREE, a heart-touching family drama. Also, female director Brigitte Bertele will be at the festival to present her very emotional drama THE FIRE.
Other films in Focus Germany are HUT IN THE WOODS by Hans Weingartner, the family adventure film WICKIE AND THE TREASURE OF THE GODS by Christian Ditter, the mystery film SUMMER WINDOW by Hendrik Handloegten, SLEEPING SICKNESS by Ulrich Kohler (which was in competition at the Berlinale) and the family sports film LESSONS OF A DREAM by Sebastian Grobler which was very successful in the German cinemas.
In other sections of the festival further films from Germany are presented, like THIS AIN’T CALIFORNIA by Marten Persiel, BASTARD by Carsten Unger, FAMOUS FIVE by Mike Marzuk, DR. KETEL by Linus de Paoli, and THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Jean-Jacques Annaud, President of the International Jury.
The German co-production I, ANNA by Barnaby Southcombe will be presented in the official competition and the co-productions LEGENDS OF VALHALLA - THOR by Oskar Jonasson and THE WALL by Julian Roman Polsler can be seen in another festival section.
Very exciting will be to see how the short film RAJU directed by Max Zahle and produced by Sin Huh and Stephan Gieren will be received by the audience in Shanghai, as the film has been a huge success worldwide in the past months.
Also, a group led by German Films Managing Director Mariette Rissenbeek and including four German directors Tim Fehlbaum, Pia Strietmann, Leo Khasin and Brigitte Bertele held a press conference at the Shanghai Film Art Center where they answered a number of questions from the Chinese press on such topics as creating films for a global audience, securing financing and special characteristics of the German film market.
