Filme AZ German Competition

7.Dezember 2024

written & directed by Markos & Savelii (2011)

DE · 2024 · 2 min

Festival 2025

An essay film that addresses the escalation of war as well as social xenophobia and the shift to the right.

Alles Gucci

written & directed by Jonathan Ohlrogge (2007)

DE · 2024 · 12 min

Festival 2025

Everything's gucci for friends Jonas and Ahmed, who are hanging out together on a hot summer day. But that's about to change when their friendship is thrown into disarray by two wheels.

Apocalíptica

directed by Diego Oliva Tejeda (1998)
written by Lukas März & Karla Cristóbal

DE · 2024 · 15 min

Festival 2025

When Inés and her grandmother learn of a military coup in their homeland, the young woman desperately tries to reach her loved ones back home. But as the night progresses, doubts, pain, and powerlessness overcome Inés, threatening to destroy her relationship with her grandmother and her sanity.

Being Werner

directed by Florian Blau (2005)
written by Florian Blau, Leo Carstens, Mika Janzen

DE · 2025 · 12 min

Festival 2025

The story may be fictional, but it's a reality that everyone can relate to. The identity crisis is universal.

Bens Geburtstag

written & directed by Robert Decani (1999)

DE · 2024 · 10 min

Festival 2025

Ben turns nine. So, while at the supermarket, his father lets him choose three sweets. Shortly afterward, he witnesses his father being approached by a stranger at the checkout. From a distance, little Ben doesn't understand much, but his father's background seems to play a role.

Das Vermächtnis Minora

written & directed by Anton Anders, Jasper Bartsch (2009)

DE · 2025 · 22 min

Festival 2025

Sixteen-year-old Amandla lives in the utopian city of Minora with her grandfather, Uthando, after the death of her parents and is bored; until she discovers a small drone named Umoya, which has been programmed by her parents to blow up the headquarters of a terrorist government.

Der rechte Weg

directed by Leni Sophie Weber (2005)
written by Leni Sophie Weber, Emma Frieda Pohlmann

DE · 2025 · 5 min

Festival 2025

Following a political shift to the right, Germany is leaving the EU. The consequences of this scenario, such as isolation, are presented from an international perspective.

DIE FORSCHENDEN

written & directed by Nahom Mihretu (2000)

DE · 2025 · 39 min

Festival 2025

A science drama about a physics student and a burned-out professor who embark on a daring project together: the development of a room-temperature superconductor – a material considered the “holy grail” in physics.

The Thin Line

written & directed by Jaki Dell'Oro (2001)

DE · 2025 · 4 min

Festival 2025

"The inspiration for the film came to me when I personally witnessed the effects of dementia in my family. I was curious about how to visualize the fragmented perception of reality of those affected."

Einer von Euch

directed by Amos Ostermeier (1997)
written by Carlos Gerner

DE · 2024 · 9 min

Festival 2025

His secret feelings for one of the other boys are the only reason Yuri remains in his toxic circle of friends. But on a hot summer afternoon, Yuri's opportunism is put to the test.

Es war einmal am Rhein

directed by Jonas Herrlein (2002)
written by Jonas Herrlein, Mara Dévény

DE · 2025 · 21 min

Festival 2025

In the 1970s, Kante runs a car repair shop with his colleague Marie. They're broke and desperately need money. One day, when red-light legend "The Pretty Tünn" has his Mustang checked out, the two discover a hidden stash of cash. Sensing a financial opportunity, they plan a risky coup.

Friedefreude Erzgebirge

directed by Paula Baierlein, Jonathan Bar-Am, Kilian Kämper (1998)

DE · 2025 · 6 min

Festival 2025

A mix of personal history, analysis of current right-wing movements, and an assessment of a small town in the Ore Mountains. A sober portrait of the times. Unfussily political.

Fuck the Cistem

written & directed by Tajo Hurrle (1998)

DE · 2025 · 24 min

Festival 2025

Noa (22), non-binary, just wants to live their life. Yet daily encounters with discrimination keep getting in the way. To carry on, Noa pushes these moments aside. But in their dreams, the minority stress rages.

Going Crazy

directed by Milena Kaltenbach (1997)
written by Milena Kaltenbach, Philippa Elisabeth Otto

DE · 2025 · 4 min

Festival 2025

"My stage name is Orange Soda and the song is about my love problems, which at some point make me 'snap.'”

Häppchen

written & directed by Nelly Schmidtlein (2001)

DE · 2025 · 12 min

Festival 2025

A young girl wants to go to a party, but three huge stalks are growing out of her forehead.

Irgendwo dazwischen

directed by Xavier Zapata, Mia Schmid (2008/2009)
written by Charly, Jack, Finja L., Finja R., Lucy, Amira und Lynn (2007/2009/2010)

DE · 2024 · 5 min

Festival 2025

Ely is non-binary, and this causes many problems at school. There's no suitable changing room in physical education class, and no one seems to understand Ely's situation.

Kirschen essen

directed by Nandi Nastasja (1997)
written by Emma Holzapfel, Nandi Nastasja

DE · 2024 · 17 min

Festival 2025

Mara, an analytical law student who has been unable to connect with other people physically or emotionally since suffering childhood abuse, is confronted with the new love of her pedophile rapist.

Kleine Geburt

written & directed by Mika Falke (2002)

DE · 2025 · 8 min

Festival 2025

The film portrays Anna's "little birth"—the physical pains of labor, the presence of a caring midwife, and the profound emotional journey Anna must undertake. Alone, but sustained by her own strength and grace, she brings the tiny life into the world with her own hands—not into a future, but into memory.

Like Other People

directed by Luisa Nöllke, Leo Dzhyshyashvili (1999/2003)
written by Luisa Nöllke

DE · 2025 · 17 min

Festival 2025

Nina and Danil see each other every day, sleep together, and avoid talking about what it all means. Until one night, after a party, their condom breaks. Together, they go in search of the morning-after pill: all the pharmacies are closed, the streets are deserted.

Menschen unter Wasser

directed by Paul Galli (1998)
written by Paul Galli, Janina Lutter

DE · 2025 · 18 min

Festival 2025

Two sisters, who have become strangers to each other, are stuck on a bathing platform with their self-confident classmate Pia. A story about trust, betrayal, and the courage to show oneself vulnerable.

Moonflower

written & directed by Maximilian Jonas Müller (2001)

DE · 2025 · 11 min

Festival 2025

"My father's suicide was not only a turning point in my life, but also the beginning of a journey. I searched through old letters, photographs, and film footage for what he didn't say and tried to create a character that was both real and staged."

Napoli Beach

written & directed by Clara Jäschke, Daria Pantyukhova (1997)

DE · 2024 · 13 min

Festival 2025

Alejandra has a dream: to become an actress. To achieve this goal, she secretly borrows her father's car and earns her own money as a driver on the streets of Miami. But when she receives a shady request late one night, her carefully constructed dream world begins to crumble.

Nachtstücke

written & directed by Kester Läufer (1998)

DE · 2025 · 20 min

Festival 2025

On a long, dark night, three people are drawn to the light of a lantern in a remote parking lot. But they soon discover that the brightness reveals disturbing things. Pain and desire lead them into a surreal world of disorientation and horror...