Okay, it’s already some time ago, but it’s still pretty great to remember this spectacular film event in the beginning of April here in Karlsruhe! From 5th until 9th of April the Independent Days I Filmfest took place at the Schauburg, the oldest and according to many, the nicest cinema in Karlsruhe and one of Germany’s best independent cinemas. For me, it was the first time that I visited the Filmfest.
Visitors as well as filmmakers were delighted by the charm and quality of the Film Festival in Karlsruhe. Despite beautiful weather, 2,200 (2016: 2,000) visitors came to see the 28 film programs, film workshops, and networking events and speed dating events.
Over 50 filmmakers came to personally present their films – from South Korea, Belarus, England and France among other countries. Furthermore, a delegation from the Music Academy International Nancy, one of the twin towns of Karlsruhe, attended. They will now work on different film projects with the Filmboard Karlsruhe (Independent Days)
Independent Days I Filmfest 2017: Diversified Program
This year’s motto of the Independent Days I Filmfest was „Home of independent cinema“. The festival focused on topics like “home” as the region celebrates the „Heimattage Baden-Württemberg 2017“ in Karlsruhe.
About 164 films from 45 countries were screened, more than the Independent Days I Filmfest has ever shown before. Mainly short films, but also some long films could be seen at the Schauburg in Karlsruhe. The film screenings were split into several film blocks with topics like Being different, but right, Trouble at the kitchen table, Uprooted Homes, Out of order, Home Blues, Young lovers, Moving culture, In the warfield, Underground Shorts, and many more.
Independent Days Underground Shorts
For the first time, the Independent Days Underground Shorts – a series of unusual, partly trashy short films – were screened Friday evening at the Club Stadtmitte. As I don’t have a lot of experience with short films, it was especially interesting and fascinating for me to watch them. For example, Art! (directed by Alexander Tuschinski) is a surrealist, satirical view on today’s arts scene, in which, according to Tuschinski, people tend to take themselves too seriously.
The Voyage of the Jellyfish, an award-winning short film by Independent Days Manager Oliver Langewitz, shows the dangerous journey of thousands of Jellyfish through the Baltic Sea. It was hilarious to watch Proverbial Luck (directed by Dave Lojek, Steffi Sixdorf), a comedy that helps to illustrate idioms as they are often hard to translate. Also, I was deeply moved by the music video for the song “Sad Heart of Mine” by Caspian (directed by Marc Lemoine).
Read in Part II what the filmmakers think of the Independent Days!
Images © DiMa Photography
I asked some filmmakers what they think of the IDIF and Karlsruhe? Read here in my Review of Independent Days|Filmfest Part II what they told me!
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