The spring conference of PROG - PRODUCERS OF GERMANY, the German producers association in Magdeburg, was filled with interesting discussions surrounding the new German film funding laws. We wish everybody a great start to the year despite the current uncertainties.

After five years of intensive association work, the Produzent*innenverband has rebranded itself with a new name and a fresh identity. We are now called PROG, standing for "Producers of Germany." This change reflects our commitment to our work: our films and co-productions that are showcased in cinemas and at international festivals. We are the independent producers who love films and are reinventing series. PROG represents a fusion of experienced and emerging producers who complement and enrich each other. Together, we work for the film landscape, whether it's series, television films, or cinema productions—independent and self-determined.​ PROG stands for progressive and professional.

With PROG Producers of Germany, we unite a community of producers who support each other and advocate for shared values and policies.

See press release here [LINK]

Foto: Matthias Sasse

Our short film IN THE END WE'RE ALL MUSIC won the PRIX EUROPA in the category Student Award - Rising Star VIDEO. We are honored to part of this European initiative and congratulate the other winning teams.

PRIX EUROPA was founded by the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Cultural Foundation in 1987. Today it has grown into a most influential pan- European broadcasting festival holding up broadcasting quality throughout a changing continent, whilst strengthening the fellowship of all Europeans and hearing a multiplicity of voices that reflect the diversity of Europe.

PRIX EUROPA is supported by a strong Alliance of European public broadcasters and has found its permanent home with the host Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg (rbb) in Berlin & Potsdam since 1997. Since 2017 PRIX EUROPA enjoys the Patronage of the European Parliament.

See all winners here. [LINK]

In the End We're All Music has been selected for the official selection for 19th Sapporo International Short Film Festival & Market. It is upcoming in Oct.

The Sapporo International Short Film Festival continues to attract around 3000 entries per year across all genres cementing its reputation as one of Japan's largest and most respected showcases of short form cinema. The festival offers one of the best opportunities available for filmmakers looking to expose their creative works to large audiences and to submit for appraisal by high profile international jury members in the heart of the burgeoning Asian transnational film scene.

We are so happy to be part of it! 

See all selected films from around the globe here. [LINK]

The documentary feature ECHOES FROM BOARDERLAND by students of the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF) won the Young C. Award at the CIVIS Media Prize 2024. For over 30 years, the CIVIS Media Prize has honoured the best programme achievements in television, radio, internet and cinema on the topics of migration, integration, cultural diversity and - related to this - social cohesion in Europe. 

ECHOES FROM BOARDERLAND is a team effort by HFF students Lara Milena Brose (director, screenplay, editing, production), Lilly Rose Pongratz, Natalia Mamaj (both cinematography), Boris Gavrilović (editing) and Hanna Hocker (sound), among others. 

The jury statement read: "A documentary essay that provides deep  insights into the situation on the Bosnian-Croatian border. A respectful visual language with poetic moments conveys the events sensitively, but without intrusive dramatisation.’

The film is represented by Sommer Slatter Film. If you are interested to learn more, please contact producers@sommer-slatter.com

The pitch competition DOK.talent Award offers students from the partner universities of DOK.fest München the opportunity to present their current projects to industry experts and receive valuable feedback. The most convincing project receives the award, which is donated by ndF Entertainment GmbH and endowed with 2,500 euros in research funding. This year, the twelve-member jury honoured to the project POLITIK IST PERSÖNLICH by Indira Geisel (HFF München) produced by Thomas Slatter and Felix Sommer.

Thank you very much to the Jury, the Team of the DOK.Forum under the leadership of Flora Roever, Susana Fernandez and Alina Götzlich and to René Carl and Clarissa Eysell from ndF for sponsoring the price.

From the jury's statement: (...) In a very close decision, the jury decided for a project in which the filmmaker portrays three generations of her own family – in which, as she says, “campaigning is a family affair“. Let it be known: POLITIK IST PERSÖNLICH, a film that engages with ambivalence, allows for critical distance and, on a personal level, seeks its own fresh perspective, is the well deserved winner. We congratulate Indira Geisel and her team on winning the DOK.talent Award 2024.

The twelve jurors were Katharina Bergfeld (Producer, Ma.ja.de), Petra Felber (Commissioning Editor, BR), Brigitte Hofer (Producer, Maximage), Peter Jaeger (Consultant, Jaeger Creative), Jutta Krug (Commissioning Editor, WDR), Esther van Messel (CEO, First Hand Films), Gülseren Ölcüm (Format Developer, ZDF), Julia Peters (Distributor, JIP Filmverleih), Ira Tondowski (Producer, Tondowski Films), Marcus Vetter (Commissioning Editor, SWR), Sven Wälti (Commissioning Editor, SRG SSR) and Jakob Zimmermann (Commissioning Editor, ZDF Das kleine Fernsehspiel).

DOK.forum München Pressrelease (LINK)

We're excited to share that In the Ende We're All Music will screen at three more festivals in the coming weeks: 

In Brussels (running from 24.04 until 04.05) the film is part of the international competition, where screening times will be announced shortly.

The Brussels Short Film Festival is an exhibition intended for cinema lovers, both audience and professionals. The purpose is to promote and circulate short films and to generate contacts between audience, young directors and professionals. Since 2018, the winner of the Great Prize of the International competition is eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film/ Live Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.

See the program of the International Competition (LINK)

In Dresden, the film will screen in the Open Air Shorts Programme "Leap Into Cold Water". You can find the link to the programme here and you can watch our film at Schlossplatz in Dresden on 18.04. at 19:00 and at 20.04. at 14:00. 

Our short film A PIECE OF ME was screened at austrias most important festival for national film making. It was great to get together with our team again. To cinema!

The Diagonale – Austrian Film Festival took place for the 27th time in Graz from April 4 to 9, 2024, and for the first time under the direction of the new artistic director duo Dominik Kamalzadeh and Claudia Slanar.

195 film productions were screened at the Diagonale ’24, 84 of which were Austrian or world premieres! The film competition, in which Austria’s most highly endowed film prizes were awarded by international juries on 8 April, also took centre stage at the festival edition with 123 films in the feature, documentary and short film categories as well as innovative film. The Diagonale – Austrian Film Festival took place for the 27th time in Graz from April 4 to 9, 2024, and for the first time under the direction of the new artistic director duo Dominik Kamalzadeh and Claudia Slanar.

Our short film IN THE END WE'RE ALL MUSIC screend in the section "Girls' POV" at the IFC Center and DCTV. We where touched by the questions of the youngest people. Thank you to the festival team for the warm atmosphere and for motivating young children to create. Because sometimes what you want can't be bought... you have to make it.

Established in 1997, NYICFF’s mission is rooted in the belief of film as a path for young people to understand themselves and others. All programs are designed to celebrate the beauty and power of film, spark the inherent capacity of children to connect with complex, nuanced art, and encourage the creation of intelligent films that represent and celebrate unique, diverse, and historically excluded voices. NYICFF serves children, students, families, educators, filmmakers, and media arts professionals through its three core activities: the annual, Oscar®-qualifying NYC film festival and national touring program; Film-Ed, a media arts and literacy program; and Toward an Inclusive Future, an annual industry forum.

"In the End, We're All Music" Will Screen at the International Film Festival Music & Cinema in Marseille

Following its international debut in New York at Athena Film Festival and NYCIFF, we are thrilled to announce that "In the End, We're All Music" will be showcased at the esteemed International Film Festival Music & Cinema in Marseille. This screening marks a significant milestone for our film, and we are immensely proud of its score, composed by our friend Hans Könnecke.

Event Details:

Date: 1st - 6th of April 2024
Location: Marseille, France 

The International Film Festival Music & Cinema in Marseille is celebrated for its dedication to nurturing young cinematic talents and pioneering musical compositions for the screen. Since its inception in 1999, the festival has carved a unique niche in Europe's artistic landscape. It is lauded by professionals both within France and internationally for its commitment to excellence in screen music composition.

In Marseille, you have the opportunity to meet our director Katharina Schnekenbühl and our composer Hans Könnecke. If you'd like to do so, please reach out to us via email. We look forward to celebrating our film with you at the International Film Festival Music & Cinema Marseille! 

Find the program of MCM Marseille here 

(Foto: MCM)