From Kiel to Kaliningrad: Ten years of "Territorium Film"

The German genre mix "Coup" by Sven O. Hill about an extraordinary bank robbery, which won an award at the Hof Film Festival, opens this year's festival.

Claus Christian ClaussenMinister for European Affairs of the State of Schleswig-Holstein: "Immersing yourself in each other's world on the cinema screen - Documentaries in particular promote mutual knowledge and understanding in a very special way. For ten years now, the German-Russian documentary film festival 'Territorium Film' has focused on dialogue at eye level, thereby strengthening the regional partnership between the Kaliningrad Oblast and the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The documentary film days are an indispensable part of this partnership. The Ministry of Europe and the Ministry of Culture have been among the supporters of the festival since the early days. I congratulate all those involved on this prime example of intercultural co-operation."

Wolfgang BaaschChairman of the European Affairs Committee of the Schleswig-Holstein State Parliament: "We are delighted that the opening ceremony can take place simultaneously in Kaliningrad and in the State Parliament in Kiel. The fact that we are connected from the plenary chamber of the Schleswig-Holstein State Parliament is also intended to emphasise the importance of culture - especially in times of the pandemic. The German-Russian Film Days are a jewel, an 'amber' in the cultural calendar of the Baltic Sea region."

Arne Sommer, co-director of the festival and head of the Filmwerkstatt Kiel of MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein: "International understanding only works through a respectful exchange at eye level, which is what the German-Russian documentary film festival 'Territorium Film' has stood for for ten years. This success story is particularly evident in the stimulating discussions between the filmmakers and the Kaliningrad audience. It is a great benefit for German filmmakers to see their films through the eyes of Russian viewers at the German-Russian Documentary Film Days."

The film festival "Territorium Film" takes place annually in Kaliningrad, Russia's westernmost city. The curated programme of German and Russian documentaries is supplemented by short and animated films, and discussions, lectures, workshops and masterclasses also take place. The aim of the German-Russian Documentary Film Festival is to promote exchange between filmmakers from the two countries. The festival will deliberately forgo a competition in favour of an intimate exchange of views.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Schleswig-Holstein delegation has had to refrain from travelling to Kaliningrad this year and will instead take part in the anniversary celebrations in Russia via live stream.

In addition to the opening film "Coup", six other films funded by MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein will be shown in Kaliningrad - films from over a decade of film history: These include the film "Schnee von gestern" by Yael Reuveny (production: Melanie Andernach) from 2013, which won awards from DOK Leipzig and Filmfest Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, as well as the film "Maman Maman Maman" by Director Lucia Margarita Bauer (production: joon film), which won the German Short Film Award 2020. The German-Russian Documentary Film Festival will also be showing the debut film by Director Natalija Yefimkina "Garagenvolk" (production: Tamtam Film), which celebrated its world premiere at last year's Berlinale, and the 2013 Grimme Award-winning film "Vaterlandsverräter" by Annekatrin Hendel (production: IT WORKS! Medien). Also on the big screen are "Die Heimreise" by Tim Boehme (production: TobFilm and Tim Boehme), as well as the Max Ophüls Prize and Schleswig-Holstein Film Prize-winning documentary "Full Metal Village" by Sung-Hyung Cho about the Wacken metal festival.

A few visuals for download and further information can be found here.