Interconnections, Immigrations and Entanglements in Contemporary German Cinema
The curation of KinoFest departs from the idea to show that German cinema is a rich and diverse tapestry of influences and voices that reflects the country's complex history and its evolving cultural landscape. From the early expressionist films to the modern works of contemporary directors, German cinema has pushed the boundaries of the medium and offered up bold and thought-provoking visions of the world. Today, German cinema continues to be a vital and influential force in the world of film. Director such as Christian Petzold, have gained international acclaim in recent years for their innovative and thought-provoking films. German cinema has also made significant strides in terms of diversity and representation, with more filmmakers and actors from marginalized communities gaining visibility and recognition.
Glossarium
Immigrations: the process of moving to a new country or region with the intention of staying and living there for a variety of reasons: employment opportunities, to escape a violent conflict, environmental factors, educational purposes, or to reunite with family.
Marginalized communities: Groups excluded from mainstream social, economic, educational, and/or cultural life, due to unequal power relationships between social groups such as race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, language, and/or immigration status.
Assimilation: The process where a minority group adapting to the language and culture of a dominant social group.
Berlin Wall: A barrier divided the city of Berlin into two physically and ideologically zones: West Berlin, which was led by the major Western Allies such as the United States and England; and Soviet Union-led East Berlin during the period from 1961 to 1989.
Cold War: A period of tensions between two superpowers: Western Bloc led by the United States, and Eastern Bloc led by the Soviet Union and its Communist Party, as they each sought to prevent the other from gaining too much power on a global level.
Expressionism: An artistic style that first appeared around 1910 that utilized visual distortion and hyper-expressive performance to show inner turmoils, fears and desires of that era.
Conformity: The act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to fit in or go along with the people around you. Conformity is also known as majority influence (or group pressure).
Authoritarianism: A political system characterized using centralized government power and the repression of individual freedom of thought and action.
Self-preservation: a natural or instinctive tendency of keeping yourself safe or alive in a dangerous situation.
Refugee: Conventionally speaking, is a person who has been forced to flee his or her country and cannot or is unwilling to return there due to fear of persecution, war, or violence.
Integration: Process during which newcomers or minorities are blended and unified into the social groups.