Press – Autumn Showcase
3 Academy Award Official Entries, 3 Nights, 3 Cities
Berlin & Beyond Film Festival Autumn Showcase Highlights Awards Season Contenders
November 15-17, 2021
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Published November 3, 2021
Press Contact: Sophoan Sorn, Director
berlinbeyond@gmail.com
(San Francisco, CA) The 25th Anniversary Season of the Berlin & Beyond Film Festival, America’s leading, largest, and premiere festival of contemporary German cinema, organized with Founding and Presenting Partner, the Goethe-Institut San Francisco, proudly presents the 7th edition of the Berlin & Beyond Autumn Showcase. BerlinBeyond.com
The cinematic showcase will be held as 3 Nights in 3 Cities: November 15th, 2021, at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco, November 16th at Century Cinema in Mountain View, and November 17th at Shattuck Cinemas in Berkeley.
This exclusively in-person cinema festival will be highlighted with the screenings of the Official Entries to the 2022 Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film consideration from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The Austrian and Swiss entries will make their Northern California Premieres at the showcase.
The Autumn Showcase will be shown with great anticipation for the forthcoming 26th Berlin & Beyond Film Festival, slated for March 2022.
Great Freedom (Große Freiheit)
In postwar Germany, Hans is imprisoned again and again for being homosexual. Due to the paragraph 175, his desire for freedom is systematically destroyed. The one steady relationship in his life becomes his long time cell mate, Viktor, a convicted murderer. Austria’s Official Entry to the 2022 Academy Awards. Winner of the 2021 Festival de Cannes Un Certain Regard Jury Award.
Directed by Sebastian Meise. 117 min. Austria, Germany. 2021. In German with English subtitles. A MUBI release.
Showtime: Nov. 15, 8:30 PM at Roxie Theatre, San Francisco
I’m Your Man (Ich bin dein Mensch)
A scientist is coerced into an extraordinary study in order to obtain research funds for her work. For three weeks, she lives with a humanoid robot tailored to her character and needs, whose artificial intelligence is designed to be the perfect life partner for her. Germany’s Official Entry to the 2022 Academy Awards. Winner of 4 German Film Awards.
Directed by Maria Schrader. 108 min. Germany. 2021. In German with English subtitles. A Bleecker Street release.
Showtimes: Nov. 15, 6:00 PM at Roxie Theatre, San Francisco; Nov. 16, 5:30 PM at Century Cinema, Mountain View; Nov. 17, 5:30 PM at Shattuck Cinema, Berkeley
Olga
Exiled in Switzerland, Olga, 15, is a talented Ukrainian gymnast. Like all athletes at the top of their game, she dreams of Olympic gold. She tries her best to fit into her new national team but, as the European Championship draws near, the revolution in Kiev shakes her world and tests her will. Switzerland’s Official Entry to the 2022 Academy Awards.
Directed by Elie Grappe. 85 min. Switzerland, France, Ukraine. 2021. In French, Ukrainian and Swiss German with English subtitles.
Showtime: Nov. 17, 6:30 PM at Shattuck Cinema, Berkeley
Tickets Details, and Trailers are available at the official website: BerlinBeyond.com
BERLIN & BEYOND AT 25
For the past 25 years, the Berlin & Beyond Film Festival has become the largest festival of German cinema in the Americas, by both audience size and programming scope. In the local arts community, it is a highly anticipated film event in San Francisco. Berlin & Beyond was founded in 1996, within the globally minded mission of the Goethe-Institut San Francisco, which has been promoting German culture and language since 1967. Both the institute and the film festival continuously build on the long-standing relationships and partnerships with community, civic, and business partners and sponsors – and the audience. Berlin & Beyond strives to be an open public forum that highlights the diversity, progress, and trends from the current cinematic landscapes of German-speaking countries. The Festival’s diverse programming captures dynamic stories that connect global and societal conversations, timely topics, insightful ideas, inspiring entertainment, and courageous cinematic art. A festival of international cinema, over 500 films, produced in over 30 different countries, have screened at Berlin & Beyond, to over 200,000 attendees. Many celebrated filmmakers and screen talents have been festival guests, including Mario Adorf, Fatih Akin, Moritz Bleibtreu, Daniel Brühl, Doris Dörrie, Andreas Dresen, Lars Eidinger, Hannelore Elsner, Bruno Ganz, Juliane Köhler, Frederick Lau, Christiane Paul, Maria Schrader, Tom Schilling, Barbara Sukowa, Michael Verhoeven, Simon Verhoeven, Wim Wenders and Ronald Zehrfeld. Many films screened are special premieres with renowned actors and directors, appearing in person. Each year, as several films are without US release plans, the chance to see them on the big screen is only available at Berlin & Beyond.
KEY DATES OF THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON:
Berlin & Beyond in Focus (Virtual)
Nov. 19-21, 2020
25th Anniversary Berlin & Beyond Film Festival (Drive-In, Virtual & Cinema)
May 25-June 6, 2021
Berlin & Beyond Autumn Showcase (Cinema)
November 15-17, 2021
BerlinBeyond.com @BerlinBeyond #BerlinBeyond2021
The Official Website of the Goethe-Institut San Francisco: Goethe.de/SF
SCREENER AND INTERVIEW REQUESTS:
Members of the media and press community, for screener requests and interview requests, please email Sophoan Sorn, Director of Berlin & Beyond at berlinbeyond@gmail.com
NEWS COVERAGE:
Local News Matters – Nov. 9, 2021
Pass the Remote: Picks from three film fests — SF Transgender, Berlin & Beyond and Napa Valley by Randy Myers
Nau.ch – Nov. 5, 2021
Oscar Applicants at the Berlin & Beyond Film Festival by Barbara Munker / dpa
NTV – Nov. 5, 2021
“I’m Your Man” at Film Festival in California by Barbara Munker / dpa
