Three films with North German participation at TIFF

18.08.2023 | Toronto International Film Festival 2023

King's Land with Mads Mikkelsen. Copyright: Rasmus Videbæk / Zentropa

The 2023 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival kicks off on 17 September. Three MOIN-funded films have made it into the line-up of the renowned festival. They include Ilker Catak's "The Teachers' Lounge", "King's Land" with Mads Mikkelsen and the Cannes film "About Dry Grasses".

About Dry Grasses (Centrepiece section)

Directors Nuri Bilge Ceylan's drama is a co-production between Turkey, France, Germany, Sweden and Qatar. The German co-producer is Komplizen Film, and Nuri Bilge Ceylan wrote the script together with Aksu Akin and Ebru Ceylan. Part of the post production took place in Hamburg. The film follows Samet, a young teacher who is completing his fourth year of service in a remote village in Anatolia. When some events happen to him that he finds hard to comprehend, he loses hope of escaping the dreary life he seems to be stuck in. But meeting Nuray, who is a teacher herself, can help him overcome his fear...

The Teachers' Lounge (Centrepiece section)

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. The drama won five awards at the German Film Awards and celebrated its world premiere at the Berlinale 2023. Çatak co-wrote the script with Johannes Duncker.

King's Land ("Bastards") (Special Presentations section)

Danish Director Nikolaj Arcel's historical drama "King's Land" will also be screened in the Venice International Competition. The film is based on the novel "The Captain and Ann Barbara" by Ida Jessen and stars Mads Mikkelsen. The historical drama was produced by Zentropa, with German co-producers Fabian Gasmia and Katja Lebedjewa. Part of the post production took place in Hamburg, and the film music was also recorded in the Hanseatic city. "King's Land" is set in 17th century Denmark: Danish King Frederik V decides that the wild moors of Jutland should be tamed, cultivated and colonised. However, no one dared to obey the king's decree, as numerous dangers lurked in the heath. Except for the lone soldier Ludvig Kahlen, who strives for wealth and honour.