In 2023 the Neisse Film Festival runs for the 20th time. From May 23-28, the film festival in the three-country-corner on the Neisse River presents once again a full program with approximately 100 films in three competitions and various film series as well as film discussions, exhibitions, concerts and more. The complete program is now available online for you to peruse and discover!

The 20th Neisse Film Festival opening celebration will take place on May 23rd in the Gerhart-Hauptmann Theater in Zittau with the opening film "Franky Five Star" by Birgit Möller, a surreal tragicomedy about the search for oneself. Afterwards in the theater foyer, DJ Ludmila Pogodina and her music will get us ready for the coming festival days.

Trinational Competitions for Feature, Documentary, and Short Films

In the main competition of the festival, that for the best feature film, as always three productions each from Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic will run against each other. All of the films tell stories which portray our life together in many facets and deal with people who face their past and present and test their boundaries. In the competition for the best documentary film, there will be nine entries covering topics which touch and move us: environmental protection, special living situations, social injustice, and also art and music. The short film competition this year is presenting a total of 34 short and entertaining entries. Whether fictional, documentary, animated or experimental, every genre is represented with a wide variety of topics. The trinational program captivates with its diversity and origiinality.

Focus "Post-Soviet-Union"

The focus series of the 20th Festival, titled "Post Soviet Union," deals with the social and political legacy of the former Soviet Union. The films chosen mirror a wide variety of aspects of life, whether political, economic, or social -- ranging from intellectual debates to concrete, every-day living conditions. The geopolitical radius of the former largest territorial state of the world forms the thematic structure for a multi-voice cinematic kaleidoscope of narratives. Also on this topic, in the Kulturcafé Alte Bäckerei and the Kunstbauerkino in Großhennersdorf the exhibition "Postsoviet Life" by the German Federal Foundation for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in Eastern Germany.

Alongside the competitions, the series entitled "Regionalia" presents current selections by regional filmmakers, films which are dedicated to life in Lusatia, on the border, or Sorbish film. The three country-specific series, "Polski Blues", "České panorama", and "Deutsches Fenster" (German Window) reflect current filmmaking in Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. Classics in 70mm format are also being shown again in Centrum Panorama in Varnsdorf (Czech Republic) on the large screen. And small film fans have their own set of films with two specially-chosen children's films.

The grand final awards ceremony will take place on May 27 in the Kühlhaus, Görlitz. In addition to the best feature, documentary and short films as well as audience favorites, the winners of best acting, best screenplay and best production design. Last but not least, the festival's Special prize will be awarded a film which is dedicated to increased understanding of or between cultural and ethnic differences in different countries -- or of what they have in common.

The icing on the birthday cake of the festival's 20th-year celebrations is the concert with the Russian band 'Pussy Riot', which will be on May 27 after the awards ceremony open air at Kühlhaus in Görlitz. The feministic artist's collective has become one of the best-known creative groups in Russia -- and one of the most critical. The group's exceptional performance is loud and always connected with a political-musical-brutal artistic event, as they intend for their stances, demands and convictions to be heard.

Further highlights during the festival are the improv show "Imjoy & DJ M^OD" on May 24th in the Kino Varšava in Liberec; the puppet theater "Film Machine" in the Varnsdorf City Theater on May 25th; concerts by Irish singer/songwriter Aoife Wolf and by Laura Guidi & Band on May 26th in Café Hotspot in Görlitz and in the Kulturfabrik Meda Mittelherwigsdorf, respectively; or a city tour of film locations in Görlitz on May 27th.

Photo material on the Neisse Film Festival may be accessed here via Dropbox:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2pbeipwp67fimhy/AAClFhYy59dRjODXjnIoz2OEa?dl=0