This screening will feature 2 programmes of short films: one programme with some of the best German short films in competition at the Oberhausen Film Festival 2012, and one programme of shorts that take a look at the role that artists, sportsmen and intellectuals played in what was the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).

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TOTAL RUNNING TIME FOR BOTH PROGRAMMES: 160 minutes

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PROGRAMME 1: GDR REVISITED

Some 20 years after reunification, the GDR is once again a subject of interest – in short films by filmmakers and artists living in Germany. They examine the role played by East German artists, athletes and intellectuals. For the most part letting the documents and eyewitnesses speak for themselves, they are sometimes even wresting a bit of humour from the situation. 

RADFAHRER (Cyclist, Germany 2008, 28', b/w, German with English subtitles, by Marc Thümmler)

GDR based photographer Harald Hauswald had been observed by the Stasi (Ministry of State Security) . Hauswald's photos are juxtaposed with the texts from his Stasi files.

DETEKTiVE (Detectives, Germany 2006, 21', b/w, German with English subtitles, by Andreas Goldstein)

When a small country allows itself a very large state security service it runs the risk that sooner or later everybody has to work for it. A comedy.

BEiDE ARME NACH OBEN (GyM-NASTix) (Both Arms Up, Germany 2001, 3', colour, no dialogue, by Marc Lutz)

A celebration of sport. Music video for ”Gym-Nastix”.

MARxiSM TODAy (PROLOGuE) (Germany 2010, 35', German/English with English subtitles, by Phil Collins)

The film follows the fortunes of former teachers of Marxism and Leninism in the GDR. Their own recollections are juxtaposed with interviews and original documents.

PROGRAMME 2: GERMAN COMPETITION

Dance, performance and show are at the heart of this line-up of selected works from the German Competition 2012. From a rollicking bullcart race in the Indian countryside, to a spontaneous dance in front of the washing machine, and onward to the motley and mysterious group of items left behind by a fleeing contemporary: here, players on the stage of life come into sharp focus.

A FiSTFuL OF RuPiES (Germany 2011, 10‘, b/w, no dialogue, by Hannes Gieseler)

The thrill of competition, the thrill of speed, the thrill of danger, a quarter mile drag strip, two riders, four bulls, four wheels, 60 kilometers per hour, and lots of dust. It‘s chariot racing in its purest sense and maybe the origin of racing itself.

iTEM NuMBER (Germany/Canada 2012, 16‘, colour, English, by Oliver Husain)

Two minutes before the beginning of a performance. An actress is waiting for her scene.

PLAN B (Germany 2011, 4‘, colour, no dialogue, by Jasmine Ellis)

A short dance film about waiting. A brief glimpse at three young men as they are waiting for their laundry.

ACHiLL (Germany 2012, 9‘, colour, English, by Gudrun Krebitz)

Real excitement is always kind of out of focus. Unfortunately. All joy lies in hasty perceptions and a blind rush. That’s why I never got my eyes lasered.

DOSKA FRANK (Germany 2011, 20‘, colour, Swedish with English subtitles, by Hanna Bergfors)

Several  days in the life of a young couple in Stockholm. Beside the young couple there is a real estate agent who provides guided tours. Frida goes for Black Metal. Oskar needs Frida, but Frida needs music as a symbol of something more.

POESiEDES ZuFALLS (Poetry of Chance, Germany 2012, 14‘, colour, German with English subtitles, by Daniel Lang)

What happened? Why did he disappear? And where? And who is Carl anyway? A reconstruction of a life told from 13 points of view. A confrontation with a personal tragedy.

TICKETS:

£5 / £3.50 (CONCESSIONS)