Recently, a gathering was held in the context of the Cannes Film Festival, where Kirsten Niehuss, the CEO at Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, and Simone Baumann, managing director of German Films, welcomed guests at a garden party. Medienboard funds films in the Berlin region and has three features in this year’s competition at the Festival: Four Daughters by director Kaouther Ben Hania, Club Zero directed by Jessica Hausne, and the latest Wes Anderson project entitled Asteroid City.
Niehuus told Variety, “Those are three very different productions, but it shows the spectrum that Medienboard supports…we believe in world cinema, so we’re very happy [to back it].” About Hausner Niehuus said: “[She is] one of the most impressive female filmmakers, and I think there should be more female filmmakers on the Croisette and every other ‘A’ festival” About Wes Anderson’s film, she said: “Asteroid City” is “the best of American arthouse filmmaking; very stylish, with a great narrative – so we love it.”
Nieehuis also commented on the ongoing discussion about the chance of reforming Germany’s Federal Film Fund:
“That’s not for me to decide, but if it were me to decide, I think it’s high time we introduced an automatic funding system that is competitive when you look at Hungary or Poland or France. When the DFFF was introduced, it was hot shit, but now it’s got a bit too old, and it needs renovating. I think Austria is a great example of how you can shape a very attractive, automatic fund. I’m optimistic that it might change for the better.”
In Cannes Germany, Wim Wenders is represented in the official selection with his film Anselm. The feature will be premiered in the special screening section. Also, two German short films are having their world premieres in the Director’s Fortnight section. Twelve German co-productions also made it to the festival’s line-up.
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