Film Festival - Max Ophüls Prize focuses on a multi-layered mix of themes
Home, family, capitalism, but also queer love, homelessness and trauma: at the 45th Max Ophüls Prize (MOP) film festival in Saarbrücken from January 22 to 28, 2024, the topics of the young filmmakers are once again diverse. For the organizers, they were sometimes even surprising: "Faith and religion are strongly represented. Perhaps these are the after-effects of the lockdown," said program director Theresa Winkler on Friday at the presentation of the program.
The topic of identities is also a focal point. "The second thing we like is that people are doing a lot with their own family stories," said festival director Svenja Böttger. The filmmakers are primarily concerned with the question: Where is my place, where do I want to go, what do I want to be?
"A year of films full of emotion, depth and the desire for freedom," summarized Theresa Winkler. As in previous years, however, there are only a few comedies, much to the regret of the organizers.
The audience can still choose from a wide range of films at the 45th edition of the MOP: Together with the side and special series, 131 films will be shown in 226 screenings at seven venues. Once again this year, 18 prizes totaling 118,500 euros await the filmmakers.
The fact that the cinema market is "extremely tight" and that there is little funding is also evident in the submissions: Due to limited financial resources, more directors opted for short films, many of which were made on an extremely low budget. "The circumstances under which the films are made are blatant," said Böttger. "If we want to keep cinema, we have to invest in young talent." She also regretted that there were only a few films from Austria and Switzerland at the 45th edition and none from Luxembourg.
The Max Ophüls Prize is considered the most important festival for young German-language film and stands for the discovery of young talent from Austria, Germany and Switzerland. At the most recent edition almost a year ago, the organizers recorded more than 38,000 guests in the cinemas and at the events.
The 45th Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival will also take place in a dual format. A selection of the films will once again be available to stream via the film festival website.
This year's total budget of 1.5 million euros is roughly the same as last year. Thanks to the great financial support, according to Managing Director and Saarbrücken's Head of Cultural Affairs Sabine Dengel, the program can once again be implemented on a normal scale. The city of Saarbrücken alone is providing 550,000 euros for the film festival. The organizers are also hoping for great support from the federal and state governments. The Saarland state government had announced that it would provide 200,000 euros for the MOP in each of the next two years.
"Overall, however, we have not only received more money, but also a very clear strengthening of our position," said Dengel. The aim is "to make Saarbrücken a film city in January, as it always has been, with a very strong external appeal." And above all, the young filmmakers who, according to Svenja Böttger, have put "all their heart and soul" into their work should also benefit from this: "They realize here that they are worth something, they are allowed to tell their stories. And it was worth it for them to spend three to five years on their projects."
The film that will open the MOP Festival on January 22 (7.30 pm) will be announced next week. Just like the question of who will be the next guest after prominent predecessors such as actors Mario Adorf, Heike Makatsch and most recently Sandra Hüller.
Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival
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- The Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival in Saarbrücken, showcasing diverse themes from young filmmakers, is a significant event in Germany, attracting over 38,000 guests in the past edition.
- At the 45th edition, topics like faith and religion, identified in the films, might be a reflection of the impact of lockdowns, as suggested by program director Theresa Winkler.
- Diverse venues across Saarbrücken will screen 131 films, totalling 118,500 euros in prizes, at the 45th Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival.
- Filmmakers from Austria and Switzerland are under-represented at the festival, while directors opt for more short films due to financial constraints, according to festival director Svenja Böttger.
- Despite these challenges, Saarbrücken provides 550,000 euros for the film festival, helping maintain the event's scale and appeal, as declared by Saarbrücken's Head of Cultural Affairs Sabine Dengel.
- The 45th Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival will also feature a streaming option, allowing a wider audience to enjoy selected films online.
- The opening film and guest for the 45th edition have yet to be announced, following the tradition of inviting prominent figures such as Mario Adorf, Heike Makatsch, and Sandra Hüller.
Source: www.stern.de
