At a press conference in Hanoi on October 8, Oliver Brandt, director of the Goethe Institute, announced that KinoFest 2024 will bring a unique cinematic experience to Vietnam, with a focus on social issues and a special target audience of teenagers.
The film festival, taking place in Hanoi, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City, and Binh Duong, promises a diverse lineup of documentary and fiction films, offering insights into the perspectives of young people navigating an ever-changing world.
Kicking off in Hanoi at the National Cinema Centre from October 10 to 15, the festival opens with The Teacher Lounge, a compelling drama directed by İlker Çatak.
The film centers around Carla Nowak, a dedicated teacher who finds herself in a difficult situation when one of her students is accused of theft. Determined to uncover the truth, Carla becomes entangled in a web of ideals, the education system, and the potential consequences of her actions. As she strives to mediate between parents, colleagues, and students, Carla’s journey becomes a testament to the challenges faced by educators everywhere.
Suitable for audiences aged 12 and above, The Teacher Lounge has garnered critical acclaim, winning Best Screenplay at the Günter Rohrbach Preis and multiple awards at the German Film Awards 2023, including Best Feature Film, Best Director, and Best Actress. It was also nominated for the Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards.
KinoFest 2024 will present a captivating selection of eight additional films from Germany, including The Universal Theory, Winners, Life is Not A Competition but I’m Winning, In The Blind Spot, Shahid, Love and Fear, The Crossing, and Checker Tobi and The Journey to The Flying Rivers.
Of particular note is Checker Tobi and The Journey to the Flying Rivers, which showcases the breathtaking landscapes of Son Doong Cave and Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam, as well as the Amazon rainforest. This film carries a powerful message of environmental conservation and the value of friendship.
All films will be presented with German, Turkish, Polish, English, and Vietnamese subtitles. Tickets are affordably priced at VND20,000 each, making the festival accessible to a wide audience, especially students.
Germany film festival KinoFest debuts
Twenty selected German films of different genres will be screened online from February 18 to March 31.
Four special German films to be screened online
NDO – Four special films of from German cinema will be screened online as part of German Film Week 2021, held from August 28 – September 18, 2021, as a spiritual gift in the context of the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic.
