Hamburg's film scene meets in Berlin

Note: Photos of the Hamburg Tea Time can be downloaded at the end of the press release.

Numerous cast and crew members from the eight MOIN-funded Berlinale projects also walked the red carpet - these included directors Ayşe Polat ("In the Blind Spot"), İlker Çatak ("The Teachers' Lounge"), Sonja Heiss ("When Will It Again Like It Never Before") as well as director Lars Kraume and lead actor Leonard Scheicher ("The Measures of Men").

Among the guests were film stars Bjarne Mädel and Pheline Roggan, "How to sell Drugs online (fast)" lead actor Maximilian Mundt, Directors Detlev Buck and Sheri Hagen and long-time Berlinale Director Dieter Kosslick.

The Hamburg Senate and MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein traditionally host a reception at the State Representation during the Berlinale to honour films in and from Hamburg and to raise their profile on the international stage. It offers film funding and Hamburg's film institutions the opportunity to engage in dialogue with national guests and international partners.

Dr Carsten Brosda, Senator for Culture and Media of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: "There it is again, the unique festival feeling of the Berlinale! The joint reception organised by the Hanseatic City of Hamburg and the MOIN Film Fund at the Hamburg State Representation highlights what has been missing in recent years: The personal exchange, the joint development of ideas and the unique film experience that only the cinema can offer us. It is a pleasure to see the passion with which the Hamburg film scene is once again present at the Berlinale."

Helge AlbersCEO of MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein: "Eight productions in eight different sections - rarely has the North German film industry been represented in such a diverse way at the Berlinale as this year. İlker Çatak's film 'The Teachers' Lounge', which was shot entirely in Hamburg, is screening in the Panorama section. An impressive mix of genres also comes from Hamburg-based Director and Script Writer Ayşe Polat, whose 'In the Blind Spot' moves between drama, thriller and mystery. And best of all: this year, the North German film industry was finally able to come together again live and in colour at our joint reception with the Hanseatic city."

The MOIN-funded films at a glance

Measures of Men (World premiere, Berlinale Special) Directors and Script Writer Lars Kraume tells the story of a young Berlin ethnologist who witnesses the genocide of the Herero and Nama in the colony of German South West Africa at the beginning of the 20th century - and crosses his own moral boundaries in the process. The soundtrack to the film comes from the Hamburg composer duo Kaiser Maas. Directors and script: Lars Kraume, Production: Zero One Film

In the Blind Spot (World premiere, Encounters) In her new mystery thriller, Hamburg-based Director and Script Writer Ayşe Polat follows a German film crew shooting a documentary in north-east Turkey. Translator Leyla is also the nanny of 7-year-old Melek, whose father Zafer works for a sinister organisation. When his daughter appears to be haunted by a mysterious force, he is torn between loyalty to his clients and fear for his family. The post production of "In the Blind Spot" took place entirely in Hamburg and several team members come from the Hanseatic city. Directors and script: Ayşe Polat; Production: Mitosfilm

The Teachers' Lounge (World premiere, Panorama) In "The Teachers' Lounge", European shooting star Leonie Benesch slips into the role of a Hamburg teacher. When one day one of her pupils is suspected of theft, she decides to investigate the matter personally - and threatens to break her ideals and the school system. Hamburg Media School graduate İlker Çatak shot his film entirely in Hamburg. Directors: İlker Çatak; Script: İlker Çatak, Johannes Duncker; Production: if...Productions Film

Leaving and Staying (World premiere, Forum) In this documentary by Volker Koepp and Barbara Frankenstein, people in the Baltic Sea regions of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein talk about Leaving and Staying, about persevering in their places of origin and about their motives for moving away. Directors: Volker Koepp; Script: Barbara Frankenstein

When Will It Be Again Like It Never Was Before (World premiere, Generation 14plus) Joachim Meyerhoff's novel was a huge success in Germany - now the bestseller has been made into a film by Director Sonja Heiss and is celebrating its world premiere in the children's and youth section of the Berlinale. Filming took place in Berlin, Brandenburg, NRW, Canada and, of course, Schleswig-Holstein. Directors: Sonja Heiss; Script: Sonja Heiss, Lars Hubrich; Production: Komplizen Film

Lonely Oaks Not (World premiere, Perspektive Deutsches Kino) In Hambach Forest, the failure of climate policy meets activists in tree houses. In the midst of this chaos, Steffen Meyn breaks through a suspension bridge and dies. He leaves behind his collected film material, on which this Documentary by Fabiana Fragale, Kilian Kuhlendahl and Jens Mühlhoff is based. Part of the post production took place in Hamburg. Directors and script: Fabiana Fragale, Kilian Kuhlendahl, Jens Mühlhoff; Production: Made in Germany Filmproduktion

Davos (Showcase, Berlinale Series Market) The series "Davos" is currently still in production - but Berlinale visitors can take an exclusive first look at the World War I epic in a showcase. Dominique Devenport, Jeanette Hain and David Kross can be seen in the leading roles. The film was shot in Hamburg and other locations. Directors: Jan-Eric Mack, Anca Miruna Lăzărescu, Christian Theede , Script: Adrian Illien, Thomas Hess, Julia Penner, Michael Sauter, Production: Letterbox Filmproduktion

Tehran Taboo (Perspective Match) The film by Hamburg-based Director Ali Soozandeh about the schizophrenic world of Tehran was honoured with the FIPRESCI Award at the Jerusalem Film Festival and was nominated for the Golden Camera in Cannes in 2017. Directors and script: Ali Soozandeh; Production: Little Dream Entertainment

Sponsors This year, the first floor of the State Representation was transformed into a Hanseatic tea lounge with furniture from the FTA film and theatre production design collection. Further highlights for the guests: drinks from the Hamburg companies SAMOVA and BLAEK Coffee. The Hamburg company Outdoor Cine is providing headphones for the stage programme and the Berlinale film trailer was edited by Post Republic.

Image material Photos of the Hamburg Tea Time can be used free of charge if the photo credits "Jasper Ehrich/ Florian Arp" are stated:Photos Hamburg Tea Time 2023