Munich Film Festival 2024 - Film celebrities celebrate a refreshing new start
The 41st Film Festival Munich was officially opened on Saturday (29. June). Over 1,500 invited guests came to the "Gasteig HP8" venue - named after the Hans-Preißinger-Straße 8 address in the Munich district of Sendling - for the Opening Night. On site, they experienced a refreshing new start, for which Festival Director and Co-Artistic Director Christoph Groener and Co-Artistic Director Julia Weigl are responsible.
"We are of course excited, but above all we're thrilled because for us it's already started yesterday, with 5000 young people at the Museum Brandhorst, a cinema screening, and panel events," Weigl told the news agency spot on news about the Warm-up Friday. "It was actually a kind of soft start for us - and now it can really get going," she beamed on the red carpet.
Christine Neubauer, Rick Okon, Aylin Tezel - Prominent guests on the red carpet
Many prominent guests were also present, including "Tatort" star Lisa Bitter (40), "Eberhoferkrimi" anti-hero Daniel Christensen (45), Michaela May (72), Janina Uhse (34), Lara Mandoki (34), Rosalie Thomass (36), Walter Sittler (71), Sunnyi Melles (65), Heio von Stetten (63), Suzanne von Borsody (66), Hannes Jaenicke (64), and Stephanie Krogmann (38), Nikolai Kinski (47), Marie Theres Relin (58), or Dieter Landuris (62).
A particularly positive presence on the carpet, which was in fact turquoise, was actress Christine Neubauer (62). In her figure-hugging black jumpsuit, she demonstrated how well she was doing. This was partly due to the high temperatures of a tropical night. "I bloom at higher temperatures. In general, I do better in heat than in cold. So I'll make a devil's pact and complain about the temperatures today," she joked. Another reason for her good mood: "I'm here for the first time in the new Gasteig and I find it sensational here," she gushed about the cultural center's backup quarters. And then there's the sense of home. "The Munich Film Festival always reminds me of my beginnings. I was away for a long time and now I'm here randomly and get to experience it. That makes me very happy," so the native Munich woman and Mallorca resident.
Best of all, Rick Okon ("The Boat," 35) was beaming: "I'm excited because it's a really beautiful and very family-friendly event. People are in a good mood. I'm looking forward to many colleagues I haven't seen in a long time, and to a great party," he said. He even addressed the potential conflict with the nearly simultaneous EM quarterfinal match Germany vs Denmark: "Absolutely clear yes. Maybe I'll have to go to the bathroom in between," he laughed. "But I came to see the film I'm really looking forward to."
Actress Aylin Tezel (40), a member of the Dortmund "Tatort" team, took a casual attitude towards the football match: "I personally am not in conflict with it", she laughed. "I have heard from several colleagues and colleagues that they bring their phones and secretly watch the football game." The actress praised the film festival in the highest terms: "I am particularly excited about the fact that it is a summer festival. Very relaxed, very pleasant atmosphere." Other plus points for her: "The fact that you can watch films and in between take a cool dip in the Isar, that you meet colleagues and can celebrate films together."
Marie Nasemann (35), a multitalented actress, was also happy to be there: "I'm most looking forward to Munich itself", said the Berliner, who had come to the film festival in her hometown. She was particularly excited about "the various panel discussions that will take place at the Amerikahaus, for example on the topic of AI or 'Humor in Film'". She herself would speak about "mental health in the film industry" on Sunday. She did not notice a film festival-football interest conflict. "I enjoy watching Germany's games, but I won't miss anything in the next few days, I think", she said.
Festival director Weigl was also not worried: "For us, cinema is our football", she laughed and added pragmatically: "You also have the last half hour and can then quickly take a look and hopefully see Germany win - and maybe it will end up being 'Two to One'", with which she referred to the opening film, which was shown in the Concert Hall Isarphilharmonie after the Red Carpet. A "Two to One" it was not at the football game, but an even more delightful "Two to Nothing".
International Guests - especially Kate Winslet
One of the two prize-giving guests was already visible on the red carpet on the opening night. The US actress and two-time Oscar winner Jessica Lange (75, "Tootsie", "Operation Blue Sky") walked past for a photo opportunity. She will receive her prize on Sunday.
The British actress Kate Winslet (48, "The Reader"), the other major Hollywood star who will be honored with the Munich Film Festival Prize this year, was not yet in the city. The theme of the Red Carpet was of course her, naturally. The guests of the official opening event were unanimous:
"I associate her naturally with 'Titanic', but also with many other great films. She is supposed to be a very sympathetic woman privately", said Rick Okon. Aylin Tezel gushed: "She will always be the leading actress of the century film 'Titanic' for me. This film wrote history. I also really enjoy all her other projects. She stands for quality and exciting content and is an inspiring woman."
And festival organizer Weigl added: "I grew up as a teenager with Kate Winslet. She was one of my first heroines, because she played many strong female roles after 'Titanic' that stand for emancipation, self-confidence, and a beautiful image that we also want to see on the big screen. That's why she is a very special actress for me."
The opening film of completely overwhelmed director and screenwriter Natja Brunckhorst (57), who gained fame as a teenager in the title role of the drug drama "Christiane F. - We Children from Bahnhof Zoo" (1981), went well. The German-German ensemble comedy "Two to One" is inspired by real events listed in the credits. The entertaining film, which takes place in a neglected part of East Germany in the sweltering summer of 1990, gained an absurd seriousness.
Maren (Sandra Hüller, 46), Robert (Max Riemelt, 40), and Volker (Ronald Zehrfeld, 47) discover hidden DDR marks in an old shaft. Since the exchange period is almost over, the millions are essentially worthless. Nevertheless, they smuggle bags of marks out with the help of someone who knows the tunnels. With the help of the completely, also rather disillusioned neighborhood, they find a way to turn the DDR marks into money...
In addition to Ursula Werner (80), Peter Kurth (67), Uwe Preuss (63), and many more, you can see. Almost all of them had traveled to Munich for the film screening. The big public premiere at the Munich Film Festival takes place on July 1st at the German Theater. Then Sandra Hüller will also be present on site.
In summary, Dr. Florian Herrmann, Bavarian State Minister for Federal Affairs and Media, brought joy to the guests in the room: "Of course, there's Cannes, the Berlinale, and many more, but the real film festival of the hearts is Munich."
Michaela May, a renowned actress, attended the Festival on Sunday, adding to the star-studded event. The Munich Film Festival was delighted to welcome Christoph Gröner and Julia Weigl's two-to-one opening, with celebrities like Duchess Kate missing the festivities but highly anticipated for Monday. Christine Neubauer, in her figure-hugging black jumpsuit, graced the turquoise red carpet, sharing her excitement for the new Gasteig venue and the festival's reminiscence of her beginnings.
Rick Okon, known for "The Boat," looked forward to the family-friendly event and potential football game conflicts, while Aylin Tezel, a member of the Dortmund "Tatort" team, took a casual attitude towards the simultaneous football match. Marie Nasemann, a multitalented actress, was thrilled to attend the film festival in her hometown, with panels on topics like AI and humor to look forward to.
International guests, including Jessica Lange, two-time Oscar winner, were present for photo opportunities. Kate Winslet, who would be honored with the Munich Film Festival Prize on Monday, was mentioned amidst the crowd's anticipation. The opening film, "Two to One," received positive reviews, and the cast, including Sandra Hüller, Max Riemelt, and Ronald Zehrferd, visited Munich for the public premiere in July.
As the 41st Film Festival Munich continued, the guests remained enthusiastic about the star-studded events, with Rick Okon admiring Kate Winslet's strong roles and Julia Weigl admiring Winslet's representation of emancipation in cinema. The festival's unique atmosphere and offerings attracted guests, including the native Munich woman and Mallorca resident Christine Neubauer, who reveled in the experience of being back for the first time in years.
