INTERFILM 40 International Short Film Festival Berlin
5 - 10 November 2024

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GC GERMAN COMPETITION

GC 03 Longing for Roots

A yearning desire for people and places that are no longer there. An involuntary sadness and the aching doubt of not knowing where you belong.

How does the search for belonging and home manifest? A woman cannot return to Iraq to find the olive tree of her childhood, while another wanders the streets of Saigon to encounter herself. Elsewhere, between courage and despair, a mother tries to save her daughter from a racist terrorist attack. Finally, a Uyghur in Germany dreams of a home he never truly had. Four stories negotiate the burden of unwanted sadness and the pain of not belonging.

All films will be shown in their original language with English subtitles, non-German language films will be shown with additional German subtitles.

06.11.24, 17:30h, Cinestar Kino in der KulturBrauerei

08.11.24, 20:30h, Zeiss-Großplanetarium Kino

09.11.24, 13:00h, Kino & Bar in der Königstadt (accreditation only!)

10.11.24, 14:30h, Pfefferberg Theater

Sehnsucht nach den Wurzeln
4 films
What Happened to My Olive Tree?

What Happened to My Olive Tree?

Sama Zuhair // Germany, Egypt, Iraq // 2024 // 22:00 min

Animation, Documentary

Her family fled Bagdad during the Iraq War – now, years later, a daughter sets out in search of memories, home, the olive tree in the front yard and the traces which the war left behind in its wake. [Content Note: War]

Saigon Kiss

Saigon Kiss

Hồng Anh Nguyễn // Germany, Australia, Vietnam // 2024 // 22:00 min

Live Action

Avoiding unwanted phone calls from her controlling girlfriend, Mơ, a martial arts teacher, roams the streets of hectic Saigon. A fleeting encounter with Vicky, a dancer, gently reminds her who she really is.

Geschichten von Jakob

Geschichten von Jakob

Stories of Jacob

Perghuzat Enver // Germany // 2023 // 12:30 min

Animation

Jacob, a Uighur, grew up in the autonomous region of Xinjiang and one of China’s megacities, before ending up in Germany. He always longed to belong, thinking everything would be fine if he could just go far enough away.

Future Is Panorama

Future Is Panorama

Muschirf Shekh Zeyn // Germany, Syria // 2024 // 15:00 min

Live Action

At work, Siham gets a call from her daughter, who is hiding from a far-right terrorist attack. Driven by desperation and fear, Sihan attempts to save her, in a race against the clock and police incompetence. [Content Note: Physical Violence, Racism and racist slurs]