German Films at Cannes: Fatih Akin, Christian Petzold & More in Major Market Showcase

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This year’s German films and joint productions at Cannes are expected to draw both festival attendees and potential buyers, offering a diverse array that emphasizes historical dramas and animated features.

Several exciting films by Fatih Akin, Mascha Schilinski, and Christian Petzold are set to debut at the festival, accompanied by German collaborations with Wes Anderson, Sergei Loznitsa, and Kirill Serebrennikov. These works delve into various themes such as postwar Germany, interconnected lives spanning different eras, mourning and sorrow, international espionage, Stalin’s Great Purge, and a fugitive war criminal’s quest for freedom.

Making its debut at Cannes Premiere, the family drama “Amrum” by Akin is set on the namesake North Sea island in 1945, inspired by the autobiographical novel of screenwriter Hark Bohm who also wrote the script. The story revolves around 12-year-old Nanning (Jasper Billerbeck), who tirelessly works to feed his family during the final days of the war, but encounters fresh obstacles as peace is declared. In addition to Jasper Billerbeck, the film stars Diane Kruger, Laura Tonke, Lisa Hagmeister, Detlev Buck and Matthias Schweighöfer under the banner of Beta Cinema.

At Cannes Premiere, Akin’s family drama “Amrum” is a story set on an island in the North Sea during 1945. It’s based on a real-life account and written by Hark Bohm, who also wrote the script. The main character is a 12-year-old boy named Nanning (Jasper Billerbeck), who tries to feed his family during the war. When peace comes, he faces new difficulties. This movie also features Diane Kruger, Laura Tonke, Lisa Hagmeister, Detlev Buck and Matthias Schweighöfer under Beta Cinema’s title.

Helge Albers, CEO of regional funder MOIN, remarked that ‘Amrum’ is an extraordinary production. It blends Hark Bohm’s unique narrative with Fatih Akin’s distinct artistic flair, offering a slice of Schleswig-Holstein on the Croisette.

Competing for the Golden Palm, Schilinski’s second film, titled “Sound of Falling,” is a production by Studio Zentral and distributed globally by MK2 Films. This captivating tale follows four women from distinct time periods who all spent their youth on the same farmstead. Remarkably, their lives seem to be inexplicably connected.

In “Miroirs No. 3,” distributed by The Match Factory, the film will be screened during Directors’ Fortnight. This is the director’s fourth project alongside Paula Beer, who portrays a music student grappling with the unexpected death of her boyfriend and the enigmatic family that extends a helping hand to her.

Anderson’s joint U.S.-German production titled “The Phoenician Scheme” will make its debut in competition. This film was co-produced and filmed at Studio Babelsberg, just outside Berlin. The star-studded cast includes Benicio del Toro as a European tycoon grappling with significant obstacles to his grand infrastructure scheme in the fictional Middle Eastern country of Phoenicia. Focus Features is responsible for worldwide distribution of the movie.

The joint U.S.-German production titled “The Phoenician Scheme,” filmed at Studio Babelsberg near Berlin, will compete in its premiere. Starring Benicio del Toro as a European business magnate, it tells the story of challenges to his infrastructure project in the fictional Middle Eastern nation of Phoenicia. Focus Features is handling global distribution.)

Similar to “Two Prosecutors,” directed by Loznitsa and set in 1937, is a film co-produced by Leipzig-based LOOKSfilm. The title “Coproduction Office” follows an ambitious young Soviet prosecutor who discovers a letter from a prisoner. Suspecting the man was wrongly targeted by the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD), which at that time served as the Soviet Union’s feared interior ministry and secret police, the prosecutor risks his life in pursuit of justice during Stalin’s rule in the USSR.

The film “The Disappearance of Josef Mengele,” directed by Serebrennikov and adapted from Olivier Guez’s novel, is premiering at Cannes with Kinology managing global sales. German actor August Diehl portrays the infamous Nazi doctor who escaped justice after World War II, living in hiding in South America to avoid prosecution for his atrocities.

Additionally, competing for the Golden Palm are Joachim Trier’s Scandinavian drama “Sentimental Value,” produced in part by Komplizen Film based in Berlin; and Kleber Mendonça Filho’s historical thriller “The Secret Agent,” which takes place in 1977 Brazil, stars Wagner Moura and Udo Kier, and is co-produced by One Two Films from Berlin.

Additionally, there are other titles in competition that have German co-producers such as “Romería” directed by Carla Simón (Ventall Cinema), a Spanish drama; “La petite dernière,” directed by French filmmaker Hafsia Herzi (Katuh Studio); and “Eagles of the Republic,” directed by Tarik Saleh (Films Boutique), an Egyptian drama.

German manufacturers also supported several films in the Un Certain Regard category, such as Morad Mostafa’s “Aisha Can’t Fly” (Mayana Film), set in Cairo; Francesco Sossai’s Italian film “The Last One for the Road” (Maze Pictures); and Diego Céspedes’ Chilean story “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo”, which is set in the 1980s (Weydemann Bros.).

Additionally, “Once Upon a Time in Gaza” by Arab and Tarzan Nasser is rolling out in the sidebar. This film boasts German production companies Riva Filmproduktion and Red Balloon as co-producers. It continues the success of the Nasser brothers’ festival hit “Gaza mon Amour.

This year, I’m quite excited about the offerings at the Cannes Film Market. As a film enthusiast, I can’t wait to delve into the array of German productions that span across comedies, heartwarming family dramas, thought-provoking documentaries, and animated films. It’s going to be quite a cinematic journey!

As a movie enthusiast, I’m excited to share that “Old White Man,” directed by Simon Verhoeven, is being showcased by Picture Tree Intl. This hilarious production comes from Wiedemann & Berg and Sentana Filmproduktion. In the lead role, we have Jan Josef Liefers playing Heinz, an advertising manager on a mission to disprove the stereotype of him being an ‘old white man.’ His strategy? A meticulously planned dinner party designed to secure that promotion. However, things don’t go as planned as the evening transforms into a complex maze of political correctness, shocking disclosures, and unexpected pandemonium.

I’m quite captivated by the upcoming movie titled “Prank,” a delightful blend of family, adventure, and comedy. This masterpiece is skillfully directed by Benjamin Heisenberg, who has previously enchanted us with “The Robber.” The script, in part, was brilliantly crafted by Peer Klehmet, known for “The Famous Five.”

This production is a joint effort between Berlin-based Kundschafter Film and Zurich’s Tellfilm. The story revolves around Xi Zhou, a 12-year-old Chinese exchange student portrayed by Max Zheng, who unwittingly sets off a chain of events with an innocent April Fool’s prank. This seemingly harmless joke escalates, pulling his host family, their son Lucas (Noèl Gabriel Kipp), and his crush Charly (Maïmouna Rudolph-Mbacké) into a whirlwind of chaos and excitement.

Two notable German productions from Pluto Film have been recognized with awards: “Circusboy,” a documentary by Julia Lemke and Anna Koch that follows 11-year-old Santino, a circus child, at the Berlinale; and “Hysteria,” a film crew thriller directed by Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay, which received the European Cinema Label in Berlin.

The Playmaker Munich presents “Karla,” penned by Christina Tournatzès and inspired by real events, narrating the tale of a 12-year-old girl named Karla who dared to report her own father to the authorities in Munich during 1962, seeking refuge from years of mistreatment.

Additionally, the company offers “Rave On” by Viktor Jakovleski and Nikias Chryssos. This story revolves around Kosmo, a secluded music producer, who aims to give his newest album to a renowned DJ performing at Berlin’s infamous techno club. However, what initially seems like a straightforward task unexpectedly transforms into a profound journey through the realms of existential dance music. Aaron Altaras and Klemens Schick portray the characters.

Similarly, within The Playmaker collection, there’s Norbert Lechner’s novel “The Secret Floor.” In this story, we follow 12-year-old Karli, a recent arrival in the Alps as his parents have bought a hotel there. He stumbles upon the ability to time travel in the building’s antiquated elevator, which takes him back to the year 1938. Here, he makes friends with spirited Jewish girl Hannah and the shoeshiner Georg, while observing the growing threat of Nazi Germany, the Third Reich.

Meanwhile, Studio 100, known for providing family-friendly entertainment, is currently displaying numerous animated productions.

The book titled “Heidi – The Lynx’s Redemption,” written by Tobias Schwarz and Aizea Roca, due for release this year, chronicles the adventures of Heidi, a plucky 8-year-old Swiss girl living in the Alps with her rugged yet affectionate grandfather. When she saves an injured lynx cub, she stumbles upon a sinister plan by a cunning businessman that endangers her cherished homeland and the entire alpine environment.

In the upcoming 2026 novel “Arnie & Barney,” penned by Sean Heuston, a group of ants face a dire situation – a severe drought threatens their colony. These aren’t your typical heroic ants; Arnie and Barney, bungling soldiers in the ant world, decide to take matters into their own tiny hands to save their community. Little do they know, their clumsy attempts will unwittingly transform them into the unlikeliest of heroes in this gripping tale.

Conni – The Enigma of the Crane,” by Dirk Hampel, chronicles a young girl’s journey alongside her companions as they aid an injured crane on its road to recovery. The aim is for this bird to join his fellow flock in their migration south. Presently being developed, the movie is slated for release in 2026.

In the animated film “Flamingo Flamenco,” by Rob Sprackling and Raúl Garcia, a flamingo dancer named Rosie experiences deep trauma following the loss of her sister due to an attack by wild dogs. Overwhelmed with sorrow, Rosie, once vibrant, has lost her love for dance. However, everything changes when she crosses paths with Carlos, a lively and spirited lizard who inspires her to dance again. The film is currently being produced and slated for release in 2027.

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2025-05-19 17:49