On September 3, 2023, the 11th International FILM OHNE GRENZEN Festival came to an end. With very pleasing visitor numbers and wonderful weather, the first car-free edition was a complete success.

Numerous guests and visitors from the Brandenburg surrounding area, from Berlin, from all over Europe, and even from the United States found their way to Brandenburg's film festival this year as well. FILM WITHOUT BORDERS into the culture barn of Gut Eibenhof at Lake Scharmützel.

Alongside the Kulturscheune, the Cinema by Velotel Bad Saarow was also a festival venue for the third time. In a total of more than 25 feature films, animated films, and documentaries, presented through series, conversations, and panel discussions, the various aspects of this year's festival motto were explored Confidence in focus. Films like FALLEN BLAVES, SCHOOLS OF THIS WORLD, KALLE KOSMONAUT, WILD SUMMON, JOYLAND, THE LOST KING or EMPTY NETS shed light on the topic.

In a ‚Philosophical Hour‘ with Ariadne von Schirach, in a lively exchange between filmmakers and the audience, the various aspects were reflected upon. Our time needs a great deal of confidence, in every respect – this was the consensus reached in the engaged discussions following the films – or as Aki Kaurismäki, whose film FALLEN FALLING LEAVES thrilled audiences as a theatrical preview – says: „When all hope is gone, there’s no reason for pessimism“.

The festival directors Susanne Suermondt and Yvonne Borrmann are pleased: „We are very happy that our festival found even more support than in previous years. The mix of films, discussions, and this year also with a musical act. All of this in the charming surroundings and relaxed atmosphere has made the eleventh edition of the festival a complete success.“

This year's youth program was also particularly well attended, with over 400 students from Brandenburg.

The Wolfgang Kohlhaase Fellowship (formerly known as the „Haus am See Scholarship“), named after the famous screenwriter who passed away last year, was awarded this year to Damian Kocur from Poland. The scholarship from FILM WITHOUT BORDERS Festivals is supported by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, the Antonius Youth and Culture Foundation, and LUPA Filmproduktion.

Among the guests were, among many others, Volker Schlöndorff, Hanna Schygulla, Ludwig Blochberger, Veronica Selver, Jeanine Meerapfel, Benedikt Bösel, Ludolf von Maltzan, Ariadne von Schirach, Kalle (Pascal Höhn), Niklas Maak, Burghart Klaußner, Lars Kraume, Joanna Schliemann (SAR), Peter Hartwig, the Minister of Economics of the State of Brandenburg Prof. Steinbach, District Administrator Frank Steffen, Lilla Puskas from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, festival patron Ronald Zehrfeld, Israel Kaunatijke, Jörg HoweDaimler Truck, Radioeins Head Robert Skuppin and Helmut Lehnert (Media partner rbb), the experts of Heinz Sielmann Foundation and female representatives of Organization WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL.

The FILM OHNE GRENZEN team thanks all contributors, supporters, sponsors, and the audience – see you again on the first weekend of September 2024!

Photo: Hans Scherhaufer