Kalb and fighters in Locarno

Helge AlbersCEO of MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein: "We are represented in Locarno this year with four completely different films - and all of them are screening in one of the three competition sections. I'm particularly pleased for Hamburg-based Weydemann Bros. and their drama 'No One's with the Calves', which was shot in our region for almost three weeks. We are also keeping all our fingers crossed for Hamburg filmmaker Nicolaas Schmidt, the Hamburg production company Fabian & Fred and Fatih Akin's company bombero international for their entries."

More about the films Directors and Script Writer Sabrina Sarabi has succeeded with her dramaNo One's with the Calves made it into the "Concorso Cineasti del presente" competition section this year. Based on the novel of the same name by Alina Herbing, the film tells the story of 24-year-old Christin, who lives on the farm of her long-time boyfriend Jan in the East German province. However, the spirit of optimism of the post-reunification years is long gone and Christin just wants to get away. The film had 16 shooting days in Schleswig-Holstein and two in Hamburg. Executive Producers are Weydemann Bros. who recently won countless awards with Systemsprenger and have already realised their feature film debut "Prélude" with Sabrina Sarabi. The leading roles are played by Saskia Rosendahl, Rick Okon and Godehard Giese. "No One's with the Calves" was supported by the MOIN Film Fund with 400,000 euros in production funding.

Hamburg filmmaker Nicolaas Schmidt gives us a round trip on Hamburg's U3 underground line with his medium-length filmFirst Time (THE TIME FOR ALL BUT SUNSET - VIOLET)which will be shown in the competition section "Pardi di domani: Concorso internazionale". Two boys meet on the underground. Not much happens - or maybe it does? Schmidt takes the audience on a merry-go-round ride in the golden hour, complete with a great musical backdrop. The film, produced by Anne Döring and Nicolaas Schmidt, received 40,000 euros in production funding.

In the same section this year, the animated short filmSteakhouse by the Hamburg-based company Fabian&Fred. Directors Špela Čadez's European co-production shows the invisibility of psychological violence in a couple's long-term relationship. The film was supported with 38,000 euros.

From the multi-award-winning Indonesian Director Edwin comes the action comedyVengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash. The film, based on a novel, is about the fearless fighter Kawir, whose raging urge to fight is based on a secret: his impotence. When he meets the strong female fighter Iteung, Ajo is not only defeated - he suddenly falls in love with her. Fatih Akin's company bombero international is the German co-producer of the film, which will be shown in the "Concorso internazionale" competition section. Part of the post production took place in Hamburg, the completion of the film was funded with 35,000 euros.