One of the main goals of Filmfest München is to discover new talents and introduce the audiences to up-and-coming filmmakers noted for their innovative approach. All films screened at the Munich International Film Festival are German, European and world premieres, except for homages, tributes, retrospectives and other special screenings.
Filmfest München screens over 200 feature and documentary films on 18 screens each year, attracting about 80,000 attendees, 2,500 industry professionals and 600 accredited members of the international press and media. Since its inception, the festival has been an important meeting place for German and European industry insiders.
The main venue of the festival and its headquarters is Gasteig, a cultural center that hosts the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and a number of cultural and educational organizations. During Filmfest München, Gasteig hosts screenings, discussions, panels, ceremonies, and other events. Some of the screenings take place at several movie theaters in downtown Munich.
Filmfest München has two main competitions, the CineMasters competition and the CineVision competition. The former is the competition for best international film and the latter is the competition for best international film by an emerging director. Alongside with the main competition awards, the festival presents a number of special prizes awarded by various juries, organizations, and the audience.
Filmfest München also has a number of non-competitive sections such as Spotlight, International Independents, New German Cinema, New German TV Movies, Kinderfilmfest, Homage (CineMerit, Tribute, and Retrospective), Open Air, Lights! Camera! Action!, Series Specials, and Specials.
One of the festival’s main highlights is a free open air film screening in the courtyard of the festival center Gasteig. Every year it has a different theme, past themes include Jazz, Las Vegas, Dance, Surfing, Rock and Roll, Pirates, Masters of Disaster, Cats.
Photo: filmfest-muenchen.de
