With more than 35 of the latest independent and documentary films from Germany, Switzerland and Austria, a tribute to Ulrich Mühe, a special revival screening of the only silent Karl Valentin film, and a panel discussion on What Makes You Laugh? the 13th Annual Berlin & Beyond Film Festival is back in full force.
This year’s Festival gets off to a heart stopping start with the highly anticipated THE EDGE OF HEAVEN/AUF DER ANDEREN SEITE by Fatih Akin. Winner of the Best Screen Play Award at Cannes 2007, this complex story of intersecting lives is widely considered to be Akin’s best. Berlin & Beyond closes with Bavarian filmmaker Marcus Rosenmüller’s feature length directorial debut GRAVE DECISIONS/WER FRÜHER STIRBT IST LÄNGER TOT. This delightful coming-of-age tale anchors a special selection of comedies in this year’s Festival. They will be the focus at the annual panel discussion What Makes You Laugh? with panelists from Germany, Switzerland, Hollywood, and the Bay Area.
Berlin & Beyond is proud to offer a posthumous tribute to award-winning actor Ulrich Mühe. In February 2007, amid the hype surrounding THE LIVES OF OTHERS, the 53 year-old actor -- who had already garnered prizes in Europe for his role as a sympathetic Stasi secret police agent – was diagnosed with cancer and a few months later, Mühe was dead. In addition to screening the Oscar winning THE LIVES OF OTHERS, the tribute will include Hermann Zschoche’s HALF OF LIFE, (East Germany 1985) and Michael Haneke’s FUNNY GAMES (Austria 1997).
The annual MK Award competition for Best First Feature Film presents impressive debuts by talented young filmmakers: Ann-Kristin Reyels’ HOUNDS, Elke Hauck’s KARGER, Julia von Heinz’s NOTHING ELSE MATTERS, and Ingo Haeb’s NEANDERTAL. Also competing are two comedies - Ingo Rasper’s FASHION VICTIMS and Ralf Westhoff’s SHOPPEN – and the winner is Ingo Rasper’s hilarious comedy FASHION VICTIMS.
The silent film DER SONDERLING/THE ODDBALL by Walter Jerven, stars acclaimed Munich comedian Karl Valentin in his only feature length silent film which is rarely screened, even in Germany.
Berlin & Beyond is always pleased to welcome back filmmakers with their latest projects. Returning to the Festival is veteran filmmaker Christian Petzold (GESPENSTER/2005, WOLFSBURG/2003) with his metaphysical thriller YELLA, starring the mesmerizing Nina Hoss who won the Silver Bear Award for Best Actress at the 2007 Berlin Film Festival. Robert Thalheim (NETTO/2006 B&B Best First Feature Award winner) comes back with AND ALONG COME TOURISTS, a sensitive and very different view of Auschwitz. Also returning is Volker Einrauch (GANGSTERS/B&B 2002) with THE OTHER BOY, and from Austria Ulrich Seidl’s latest IMPORT EXPORT. From Switzerland Bettina Oberli returns (IM NORDWIND/B&B 2004) with a warm-hearted comedy LATE BLOOMERS; and Stefan Hillebrand and Oliver Paulus (AND WHEN THE RIGHT ONE COMES ALONG/B&B 2003) with the touching story of SO LONG MY HEART!. And don’t miss the RUNAWAY HORSE by Rainer Kaufmann, starring Germany’s finest.
This year’s strong selection of documentaries includes THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER by veteran filmmaker Michael Verhoeven, Bettina Blumner’s Berlin stories POOL OF PRINCESSES, Leopold Grün’s THE RED ELVIS, a look at the late American entertainer Dean Reed, and Andreas Geiger’s HEAVY METAL IN THE COUNTRY offering a glimpse at Nuclear Blast Records, the heavy metal label located in the countryside.
An important part of the Festival experience are films for the next generation of moviegoers. On the bill is a free screening for students of TO THE LIMIT, a breathtaking mountain climbing adventure by Pepe Danquart and PAULA’S SECRET, delightful film for our young ones.

Our deeply felt ‘Thank You’ goes to our sponsors and donors for your generous support and to our audience for your continuous show of enthusiasm and devotion to Berlin & Beyond.

ULRICH EVERDINGINGRID EGGERS
Director, Program Coordinator,
Goethe-InstitutGoethe-Institut