This week, the Berlin & Beyond Film Festival opens at the Castro Theatre for its 20th year of showcasing new films from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and more. A project of the Goethe Institut of San Francisco, the festival will feature 24 features, documentaries, and short films, with three days of screenings at the Castro (January 14th-17th) and two more at the Goethe Institut itself (January 18th-20th). It'll also have a one-night encore in Stockton on January 31st.
A still from Who Am I—No System Is Safe, the festival's opening-night film.
The Castro will play host to the opening-night party on Thursday, January 14th, featuring the Northern California premiere of the Baran bo Odar film Who Am I—No System Is Safe. It's the story of a group of hackers trying to make a name for themselves worldwide, while attempting to evade the authorities. Warner Bros. has already acquired the rights for a U.S. remake.
Berlin-based actor Tom Schilling, who stars in Who Am I—No System Is Safe, will be in attendance for the screening. Afterwards, Schilling, who has been one of the major stars in German film since 2001, will receive a Spotlight Award honoring his body of work.
Still from We Are Young. We Are Strong.
The centerpiece film of the Festival is the Northern California premiere of Burhan Qurbani's We Are Young. We Are Strong., which explores the xenophobic riots that took place in Rostock in 1992 through the perspectives of three different characters. It screens on Friday, January 15th at 6pm.
Still from Berlin, Symphony Of A Great City.
Closing out the Castro portion of the festival will be a night of rock and film, with German musicians ALP performing for the first time in the U.S. They'll provide a new live soundtrack to Walther Ruttmann's 1927 silent documentary Berlin, Symphony Of A Great City. The film takes the viewer through a day in Berlin, exploring the intimate lives of its people and the larger subjects such as factories, streets, and more.
Other guests in attendance for the festival will include actor/comedian Anke Engelke, Filmfest München programer Christoph Gröner, and directors Daniel Carsenty, Mara Eibl-Eibesfeldt, and Nicolas Steiner.
Learn more about the full schedule of films and events at the festival's website.
