March 3 + 8 + 10
Over 1 million refugees have arrived in Germany over the past year. Feature films including “Colour of the Ocean” (TIFF11), Oscar-shortlisted “We Are Young. We Are Strong.”, and recent shorts and documentaries examine Europe’s future.
Series introduced by Jason Anderson, film critic for Cinema Scope, BFI’s Sight & Sound and lecturer at University of Toronto.
March 3, 6:30pm: Colour of the Ocean (2011) by Maggie Peren
A controversial and at the same time touching European drama following the intertwined stories of a Spanish border officer, a German tourist, and a group of Congolese refugees in the Spanish island paradise of the Canary Islands.
TIFF2011 World Premiere
“A muscular, moving thriller with a three-sided perspective on the moral complexities of immigration.” – Variety
March 3, 9pm: After Spring Comes Fall (2015) by Daniel Carsenty – Canadian Premiere!
A young Kurdish woman flees from Syria to Berlin only to find herself caught in a web of intimidation and violence at the hands of the Syrian Security Service. A dark and fascinating film about the lives of Syrian Kurdish refugees in Germany, shaped by betrayal, collaboration and violence.
Hof International Film Festival, Mostra International Film Festival, São Paulo International Film Festival
Co-presented by Syria Film Festival
March 8, 6:30pm: We Are Young. We Are Strong. (2015) by Burhan Qurbani – Toronto Premiere!
In August 1992, anti-immigrant riots in East Germany reached their climax when rioters set ablaze a shelter with 150 Vietnamese inside. Afghan-German director Qurbani’s fictional recounting of these true events delves deep into questions of belonging, alienation and complicity.
Oscar short-listed, nominated for the German Film Awards
“Qurbani’s film is a revelatory glimpse of recent history. He gets the dangerous plasticity of alienated youth.” – Hollywood Reporter
Preceded by the short film: The Jean-Monnet Bridge by Center for Political Beauty Berlin
Co-presented by Jayu (Human Rights Film Festival)
March 10, 6:30pm: Transit Camp Friedland (2015) by Frauke Sandig – North American Premiere!
For many refugees who manage to reach Germany, arrival at the Friedland reception camp is the beginning of a new life. Award-winning documentary filmmaker Sandig accompanies refugees from Syria, Eritrea, Afghanistan and Pakistan during their stay at the camp and interweaves their stories with the experiences of post-war German refugees for whom Friedland was a stepping stone into an uncertain future.
Co-presented by Hot Docs
Followed by a panel discussion on the current international refugee crisis and its reflections in arts and culture, moderated by The Globe & Mail’s Affan Chowdhry
GOETHE FILMS screen at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4, 350 King St W, Toronto, ON
With English subtitles; open to audiences 18+
Tickets $10, day-of sales only at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, open at 10am, in person or by phone 1-888-599-8433
Ticket raffles, updates & background on our blog “German Film @ Canada”
www.goethe.de/canada/germanfilm
Program & Media Contact:
Jutta Brendemühl
Program Curator
Goethe-Institut Toronto
jutta.brendemuehl@toronto.goethe.org
