GERMAN CURRENTS once again welcomes Angelenos to experience young, exciting & ground-breaking new cinema from Germany, Austria and Switzerland in Los Angeles. From the Academy Award nomination for Maren Ade's TONI ERDMANN, to Diane Kruger's Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival, 2017 has been a very successful year for German Film. German films screened in all major film festivals, from the Berlinale, Cannes, Venice and Toronto, all the way to the Golden Globes and Oscars. The Goethe-Institut and American Cinematheque as producers of the festival are delighted to present some of these films to audiences in L.A. for the 11th Annual GERMAN CURRENTS FILM FESTIVAL. The festival will take place at the historic Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, from Friday, October 13th – Monday, October 16th, 2017.

The festivities will begin on Friday, October 13th, 2017, with an opening-night red-carpet gala attended by some of German cinema’s most exciting young talent. The opening film will be TIGER GIRL by Jakob Lass, which earlier this year had its successful debut at the Berlinale Panorama section. The four-day festivities will continue with the US Premiere of BEUYS byAndres Veiel, the US PREMIERE of TIGER MILK by Ute Wieland (nominated for German Screenwriter’s Award) Fatih Akin’s coming-of-age film GOODBYE BERLIN, which won numerous awards including the Bavarian Film Award 2017. German Currents is excited to present the Swiss submission to the Academy Awards THE DIVINE ORDER written and directed by Petra Volpe, who will attend this LA Premiere of her film. The Austrian entry at the festival this year is Dieter Berner’s EGON SCHIELE: DEATH & THE MAIDEN. The event will conclude on Monday, October 16th with the popular and free children’s matinee screening for LA schools THE PEPPERCORNS & THE CURSE OF THE BLACK KING.

In addition to the film screenings, German Currents will feature conversations with prolific German directors, composers, and actors. The popular Filmmaker Brunch will highlight two exciting German Filmmakers this year. After directors Roland Emmerich (INDEPENDENCE DAY) and Wolfgang Becker (GOOD BYE LENIN) German Currents and GABA Film Inititiative will welcome directors Jakob Lass (TIGER GIRL) and Ute Wieland (TIGER MILK) for their “Tribute Event” with a FOCUS: BERLIN panel this year. They will talk about their careers, their influences and TV and Film work in Germany. The Tribute event and Filmmaker Brunch is sponsored by the German Consulate General in LA and the Biltmore Hotel, a historic landmark in Downtown Los Angeles.

The coming months are indeed an exciting time for German cinema and culture in Los Angeles. This year’s festival is set as a highlight of the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the Berlin - Los Angeles Sister Partnership. In recognition of that, GERMAN CURRENTS will cooperate with achtung berlin film festival, Berlin’s second-largest film festival. This will allow LA audiences to view films created in Berlin or the state of Brandenburg.  Screenings will take place at the Goethe-Institut every Wednesday throughout September.

German Currents is produced and presented by the Goethe-Institut Los Angeles and the American Cinematheque and in cooperation with the German Consulate General, the Austrian Consulate General and the Consulate General of Switzerland and with the support of German Films, Deutsche Welle (DW) and The Friends of Goethe.

THE FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE AT:

Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028, Ph: 323.466.FILM. 

Tickets can be purchased here!

To keep up with GERMAN CURRENTS, visit the official Festival website at GermanCurrents.com

For more information on New Berlin Cinema- achtung berlin goes LA: bit.ly/AchtungBerlin

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FULL FESTIVAL LINE-UP:

Friday, Oct 13th, 7:30 pm (Gala Opening Night)

TIGER GIRL - West Coast Premiere, Directed by Jakob Lass. Germany (2017), 90 min, German with English subtitles

Twenty-something push-over Maggie (Dragus) is desperate to fit in. After failing the Berlin Police entrance exams, she settles for training as a security guard; hoping to finally gain power and earn respect. However, her passivity constantly lands her in risky situations. Enter Tiger (Rumpf); a tough, assertive, street-smart young woman, who gets what she wants- even using violence when necessary. Taking Maggie under her wing, Tiger boosts Maggie’ self-confidence, and steers her life in a whole new direction.

Hitting the streets of Berlin in “borrowed” security uniforms, the unlikely duo seeks excitement, and to correct minor social injustices. Once out of her shell, Maggie becomes more aggressive and violent, ultimately taking things a bit too far; even for Tiger, who learns that “when you sow the wind, you reap the whirlwind.”

Following his own FOGMA manifesto, Lass’ third feature skillfully blends mostly improvised dialogue with documentary-like camera work to bring the powerful, action-packed visuals and stylized fight scenes to life in this intelligently-edgy “Martial Arthouse” film.

Director Jakob Lass is confirmed to attend.

PRESENTED IN COOPERATION with achtung berlin – new berlin film award

Saturday, Oct 14th, 10:00 am

FOCUS: BERLIN – TIGER GIRL AND TIGER MILK followed by FILMMAKER BRUNCH

The Biltmore Hotel, 506 South Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Free Admission | By Invitation Only

This event is produced by GABA – Film Inititative & White Bear PR and with the kind support of German Consulate General Los Angeles and The Biltmore Hotel

Saturday, Oct 14th, 5:00 pm (Matinee)

BEUYS - US Premiere, Directed by Andres Veiel

Germany (2017), 107 min, German with English subtitles

Even thirty years after his death, Joseph Beuys, known worldwide as the man with the hat, the felt and the “Fettecke” is remembered as a visionary, who was, and still is, ahead of his time.  Despite being the first German artist to have a solo exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Beuys’ work was often derided in Germany as the 'most expensive trash of all time'. Comprised of previously unpublished photo/audio/video material, Veiel’s film creates an intimate portrait of Beuys, which, much like the artist himself, opens spaces for ideas and discussion. Beuys speaks for himself; recounting his personal legend, capturing him as he boxes, chats, lectures, explains art to a dead hare, and poses the question: 'Do you want to instigate a revolution without laughter?' Veiel’s film also presents Beuys as the family man, teacher and the Green Party candidate, and makes visible the contradictions and tensions which gave rise to Beuys' “Gesamtkunstwerk,” reminding us that Beuys' expanded concept of art feeds directly into today's social, political and moral debates

Saturday, Oct 14th, 7:30 pm – DOUBLE FEATURE

TIGERMILCH (TIGER MILK) - US Premiere, German Screenwriter’s Award (Nominated)

Directed by Ute Wieland

Germany (2017), 106 min, German with English subtitles

Inseparable best friends Nini (Thiemann) and Jameelah (Kusche) both live in the same working-class Berlin housing project, attend the same school, and love “Tiger Milk”; a mix of milk, brandy and passionfruit juice. Nini is German, but Jameelah and her mother Noura (Rashidi) are refugees from Iraq awaiting the approval of their applications for citizenship.  For the rebellious fourteen-year-olds, the summer means a chance to finally break from the innocence of childhood. Heart-set on pushing boundaries, partying, falling in love, and finally doing “it,” the girls even go so far as “practicing” for their first time among Berlin’s streetwalkers.  One evening, the girls witness a crime that hits close to home, and nothing will be the same again. Based on the best-selling novel by Stefanie De Velasco, the depth and complexity of Wieland’s adaptation skillfully relay the relevant social tension of the source material and evokes performances from the young protagonists that offer authenticity rarely seen in coming-of-films. 

Director Ute Wieland, Producer Susanne Freyer, and Cinematographer Felix Cramer are confirmed to attend.

PRESENTED WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE VILLA AURORA

Saturday, Oct 14th, (approximately) 9:30 pm – DOUBLE FEATURE

TSCHICK (GOODBYE BERLIN) 

Los Angeles Premiere

Bavarian Film Awards 2017: Best Youth Film

European Film Awards 2017: Young Audience Award

New Faces Award 2017

Zlin Film Festival 2017: Main Prize of the Youth Jury

Directed by Fatih Akin

Germany (2016), 90 min, German with English subtitles

8th-grade classmates Maik (Göbel) and Tschick (Batbileg) are from completely different worlds. Maik, from a wealthy, albeit dysfunctional family, is virtually invisible to his peers, whereas Tschick, from a poor immigrant family, stands out at school with his loud Hawaiian shirt and rebellious attitude. The boys do have one thing in common: they’re both outsiders. With his mother in rehab and his father away on a “business trip,” Maik’s plans to spend the summer alone at home change when Tschick appears with a “borrowed” car and a plan: they’ll drive to Wallachia and visit Tschick’s Grandfather. Without a map or a clue where they are going, the unlikely friends leave Berlin and set out on a wild adventure through eastern Germany to experience the trip of a lifetime, learning about themselves and the power of friendship along the way. Akin’s long-awaited adaptation of the late Wolfgang Herrndorf’s best-selling cult novel, TSCHICK, delivers a fresh, youthful perspective on the traditional road film genre.

Sunday, Oct 15th, 5:00 pm (Matinee)

EGON SCHIELE – TOD UND MÄDCHEN

(EGON SCHIELE – DEATH AND THE MAIDEN)

California Premiere

Romy Awards 2017: Best New Actor, Best New Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Producers Cinema Feature

Austrian Film Award 2017: Best Actress

New Faces Award 2017: Best Newcomer Actor

Directed by Dieter Berner

Austria /Luxembourg (2016), 109 min, German with English subtitles

At the beginning of the 20th Century, Egon Schiele (Saavedra) emerges as one of the most provocative artists in Vienna. His life and work are driven by beautiful young women and an era that is coming to an end. Two women will have a lasting impact on him – his sister and first muse Gerti (Riegner), and 17-year-old Wally (Pachner), arguably Schiele’s one true love, immortalized in his now-famous painting “Death and the Maiden”. With a narrative centered in Vienna near the end of the First World War, shortly before Schiele’s death, Berner employs a series of flashbacks to focus on key periods and figures in Schiele’s life, as well as the radical paintings that, despite being recognized as exceptional by daring artists like Gustav Klimt and art agents alike, scandalized Viennese society. Cinematographer Carsten Thiele flawlessly captures the decadence and vibrancy of turn of the Century Vienna, highlighting the award-winning performances by Saavedra and Pachner that drive this opulent historical drama.  

PRESENTED WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE AUSTRIAN CONSULATE GENERAL

Sunday, Oct 15th, 7:30 pm

DIE GÖTTLICHE ORDNUNG (THE DIVINE ORDER) - Los Angeles Premiere

SWITZERLAND’S SUBMISSION FOR THE ACADEMY AWARDS BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM

Traverse City FF 2017: Audience Award Best Fiction Film, Founders Award Best Foreign Fiction Film

Tribeca Film Festival 2017: Audience Award, Best Feature Film, Best Actress In An International Narrative Feature Film, Nora Ephron Prize

Swiss Film Award 2017: Best Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress

Directed by Petra Volpe

Switzerland (2017), 96 min, Swiss-German with English subtitles

Switzerland, 1970.  Despite the worldwide social upheavals of the previous decade, Swiss women are still denied the right to vote. When unassuming and dutiful housewife Nora (Leuenberger) is forbidden by her husband Hans (Simonischek) to take a part-time job, her frustration leads her to stand up not only for herself but for her fellow women as well. Realizing that it is not enough for her to merely be in favor of gaining the right to vote, but that she and all women need to demand it loud and clear, she inadvertently becomes the poster child of her town’s suffragette movement. Although her newfound celebrity brings humiliation, threats, and the potential end of her marriage, Nora refuses to back down, eventually convincing the women in her village to go on strike, ultimately making a few startling discoveries about her own liberation. Volpe’s screenplay, supported by the strong ensemble cast, and captivating visuals by Cinematographer Judith Kaufmann, provides an inspirational and timely period piece about regular people demanding their right to an equal voice. 

Writer-Director Petra Volpe is confirmed to attend.

PRESENTED WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE SWISS CONSULATE GENERAL

Sunday, Oct 14th , 10:00 am (Free screening at the Goethe-Institut)

Monday, Oct 15th , 10:00 am (Private screening for schools)

DIE PFEFFERKÖRNER UND DER FLUCH DES SCHWARZEN KÖNIGS

(THE PEPPERCORNS AND THE CURSE OF THE BLACK KING) - Los Angeles Premiere, Directed by Christian Theede

Germany (2017), 97 min, German with English subtitles

Young amateur detectives Mia (Quentin), Benny (Storck), and Alice (Flint) solve crimes in their big-city hometown of Hamburg, Germany.  Because they are small, fiery, tough, and as a group, pack a powerful punch, they are known as The Peppercorns.  Before their summer class trip to the Gruber family’s mountain ranch, Mia’s young friend Luca Gruber (Gapp) warns them not to come. Luca fears that his search for the fabled treasure of the Black King has cursed the ranch. When the class arrives, a series of mysterious events seem to confirm Luca’s fears. What is behind the curse? Where will the clues lead them? Is the ranch really under the spell of an evil mountain spirit, or is someone trying to put the Grubers out of business? This is a case for the Peppercorns. With the assistance of their new classmate Johannes (Röntgen), the young sleuths use their combined skills to unravel this mountain mystery and hope to save the Gruber’s ranch. Full of suspense, action, and adventure, Theede’s film brings the beloved German television series to the big screen.

About the Goethe-Institut Los Angeles: The Goethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global reach. The institute promotes knowledge of the German-language abroad and fosters international cultural cooperation. The Goethe-Institut Los Angeles operates on a partnership basis.  For individual projects, as for longer-term joint ventures, Goethe-Institut connects with stakeholders in the cultural scene – institutions, organizations, companies, people in and from Southern California and Arizona, Germany, and other countries (in particular our European neighbors).

For more information, please visit:  http://www.goethe.de/losangeles