The HSBC German Film Festival is returning for its 2024 season. This year, it will feature a selection of contemporary German cinema and screen from May 7 to June 5 at Palace Cinemas nationwide.
Highlights of this year’s festival include Camera d’Or winning writer/director Claire Burger’s new film Foreign Language which is appearing straight from the 2024 Berlin Film Festival. Two foreign language students in Leipzig and Strasbourg forge a friendship through letters and language exchange in this impeccable, heartfelt drama, starring Nina Hoss as one of their mothers. Their bittersweet and boundary-testing friendship is strained as they grapple with how to understand themselves and the world that surrounds them.
The dramedy One for the Road stars Frederick Lau and Nora Tschirner in a film from director Markus Goller. Dark Satellites is an ensemble drama telling three stories of love. Set amongst the everyday lives of its characters, these beautifully poetic vignettes feature an all-star cast including Nastassja Kinski and Albrecht Schuch.
Opening night film – From Hilde, With Love
Historical drama LUBO follows the life of a street performer played by Franz Rogowski. The opening night spectacular will be From Hilde, With Love and will see the award-winning director Andreas Dresen attending the Festival as a special guest. The film From Hilde, With Love showcases an extraordinary performance from Liv Lisa Fries as a young woman drawn into an anti-Nazi resistance movement during World War II. Dresen will attend the opening nights in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as attending a Q&A session and will also introduce the film.
Closing out the festival is Treasure, a touching drama starring Lena Dunham and Stephen Fry as a music journalist and her father who set out on a tour of their family homeland.
This year, German Films are celebrating 70 years of German Cinema abroad. Simone Baumann, Managing Director of German Films said “We are very happy to continue our successful cooperation with Palace for the HSBC German Film Festival 2024. This year is a special one for us, as German Films is celebrating its 70th anniversary and we hope that the Australian viewers will appreciate the retrospective on 70 years of German Cinema”.
The Goethe-Institut is presenting the ever-popular sidebar “Kino for Kids” which is curated for children, teens and families. In addition to the previously announced MISSION: SCHOOL OF FUN (Die unlangweiligste Schule der Welt – Auf Klassenfahrt) and THE FLYING CLASSROOM (Das fliegende Klassenzimmer), are two further titles, the cross generational reimaging of the classic Lassie in LASSIE – A NEW ADVENTURE (Lassie – ein neues Abenteuer),in which famous Collie dog Lassie investigates the mysterious disappearances of several pedigree dogs; and SKATER GIRLS – GET UP (Get Up) about a group of teenage girls who face unexpected challenges when they enter a skating competition in the summer after graduating high school.
For more information and tickets head to the website here
Keep an eye on Novastream for all the latest reviews and news for the 2024 HSBC German Film Festival.
Heretic is a psychological horror film starring Hugh Grant as Mr. Reed, who entraps two Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton, in his eerie home. The film explores themes of faith and belief, delivering unsettling twists. While it falters in depth, Grant’s performance and cinematography maintain viewer intrigue throughout.
