Welcome to the Festival

Dear friends and fellow film lovers,

Welcome to the 29th Berlin & Beyond Film Festival, happening March 27-29, 2025 at San Francisco’s Roxie Theater, March 28th at the Vogue, March 30th-31st at Rialto Cinemas Elmwood in Berkeley, and April 6th at Jarvis Conservatory in Napa.

We are thrilled to share this vivid program of the best of contemporary cinema from the German-speaking countries, with impactful stories and courageous messages. We believe that platforms like this festival are necessary in these challenging times, to voice and uphold our humanity, empathy, and openness to diverse ideas and perspectives. Through cultural exchange and experiences, we widen our horizons and build bridges of understanding. As well, this festival fosters the German-American relationship, connecting the cinema and cultural scenes. It crosses borders and creates friendships. And we need transatlantic friendships today more than ever.

Our festival begins with Joachim A. Lang’s mesmerizing biopic “John Cranko,” with Sam Riley as the charismatic choreographer who catapulted the Stuttgart Ballet to the global stage.

Andres Veiel’s documentary feature film “Riefenstahl,” is an exposé on one of the 20th century’s most controversial women. In the Goethe Forum’s screening of episodes 1-3 of the groundbreaking series “Black Fruit,” a queer Black man navigates the realities of German society. The West Coast Premiere will be joined by lead actor Lamin Leroy Gibba.

At Swiss Film & Talks, “The Traitor” is a riveting World War II drama about an aspiring singer drawn into underhand dealings. The North American Premiere will be joined by director and screenwriter Michael Krummenacher.

Chosen by our international youth jury from Canada, Guatemala, México and the U.S., the winning film of the 12th edition of Youth 4 German Cinema is “Winners” by Soleen Yusef, about a Kurdish immigrant youth who struggles to speak German but certainly knows how to speak football. The screenings will be joined by actor Sherine Ciara Merai.

Other program highlights include: Natja Brunckhorst’s star-studded heist comedy “Two to One;” the North American Premiere of the cinematic vision of “Der Buchspazierer” in “The Door-to-Door Bookstore;” the 2025 Academy Award nominated “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” by exiled director and screenwriter Mohammad Rasoulof, about a family grappling with paranoia amids political unrest in Tehran; the North American Premiere of “Weddings & Wokes: A Family Dilemma,” the third of Sönke Wortmann’s family reunion tragicomedies.

We thank our sponsors, partners, and friends from near and far, whose empower-ing support and generosity make this festival possible. As we celebrate this year’s events, we also look forward to our 30th anniversary in 2026. Amidst this challenging economy, as a non-profit community organization, we need your support now more than ever to meet our financial goals. Please consider making a donation to our annual fund to help sustain Berlin & Beyond for the present and future, to 30 and beyond.

We extend our gratitude to our hardworking and dedicated festival team, volunteers, and collaborators. Special thanks to the filmmakers and industry professionals for sharing their cinematic work with us. Thank you, our filmgoers and film lovers, for attending the festival, year after year. Vielen, vielen Dank.

Respectfully,

Alexander Behrmann, PhD (he/him)
Director, Goethe-Institut San Francisco
President, Berlin & Beyond

Sophoan Sorn (he/him)
Director, Berlin & Beyond