Greetings from the general manager of Bayerischer Rundfunk
Dr. Katja Wildermuth
Over the 40 years of its existence, FILMFEST MÜNCHEN has firmly established itself as one of Germany’s leading festivals for the public. The professionally and thoughtfully curated sections and wonderful retrospectives have played a part in this, as have the many international stars who have come to Munich over the years. Alongside this, the German Cinema New Talent Award has become one of the leading avenues for the avant-garde of German filmmaking, and one to which many major filmmakers owe their breakthrough. The intervening years have seen the creation of the CineMasters, CineVision, CineRebels, and CineCoPro sections, further competitions with their own glamorous award ceremonies. And as a venue where the political aspects of filmmaking can be discussed, the Filmfest is also a meaningful platform for creative discourse.
One of Germany’s loveliest summer festivals, the Filmfest also benefits from the distinctive character of the Bavarian capital. Beer gardens, rafting trips on the Isar River, and numerous open-air events in all parts of the city make for inspiring interactions and unforgettable experiences.
Bayerischer Rundfunk has been with FILMFEST MÜNCHEN from day one as a founding member and shareholder of Internationale Münchner Filmwochen GmbH, which was established on January 25, 1979. As a co-producer, award sponsor, promoter of young talent, and media partner, we are involved in many ways and are a source of technical, organizational, and programming support for the week-long festival. Through this commitment, BR strives to characterize film as a unifying shared experience for the broadest sections of the public and to highlight the importance of film as an artistic and cultural medium. In this anniversary year, highlights from the BR television archive will be shown on the big screen and the social media channels of the Filmfest and Bayerischer Rundfunk.
Considering all this, I warmly congratulate the team of Festival Director Diana Iljine and Artistic Director Christoph Gröner on 40 years of FILMFEST MÜNCHEN and look forward to continuing this rewarding partnership.