Film Festival Munich officially opened: “The summer film festival par excellence”

“When Captain Kirk died – that really almost threw me off track at the time,” Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder confessed at the opening of the 42nd Film Festival Munich on Saturday evening in Gasteig HP8. The confessing “Star Trek” fan and Cineast showed himself from his emotional side and revealed that he also had to keep with Robert de Niro with family films such as “Everybody’s Fine”.

Around 1,600 invited guests celebrated the start of the renowned festival, which takes place from the warm-up day on June 27th to July 6th in various locations in Munich. There were numerous celebrities on the turquoise carpet, including Veronica Ferres, Maria Furtwangen, Uschi Glas, Michaela May, Jutta Speidel, Rosalie Thomas, Christine Neubauer, Cathy Hummels, Lisa Maria Potthoff, Lara Mandoki, Marie Nasemann, Gloria-Sophie Burkandt or Max from the Groeben and many more. Spot on News was on site.

Tosing applause also received Munich’s second mayor Dominik Krause, who put the film festival in the context of the parallel Christopher Street Day. “We celebrated in the city today, at the same time it was also a demonstration because hatred and agitation in general, but especially against queer people, is currently increasing massively,” said the politician responsible for culture.

He was proud and happy that the rainbow flag could blow from solidarity both at the town hall as well as at the Bavarian state parliament and in front of the State Chancellery.

The artistic management duo Christoph Gröner and Julia Weigl also spoke of the connecting power of the film in difficult times. “Of course, the news shocked both of us and brought out of balance,” they said with a view to the current world situation. Nevertheless, they believed that “there is always reason for careful optimism” – and there is always a reason to come together. “

Films are the best way to get together “to get together, to listen, to step into dialogue – and that is exactly what we want to stand for,” said Weigel and Greener, who lead the film festival for the third time.

With his entertainer qualities, Söder made the audience laugh: “Sure, there are also the Oscars – quite well. There are the Berlinale – it is always very cold and beautiful – but this is the summer film festival par excellence,” he enthused from the Munich Edition. Bavaria is “a bit of Hollywood” and Munich is a city that combines great feelings.

However, the Prime Minister also became more serious and emphasized the importance of freedom of art: “The freedom that everyone who does art can represent their art – it does not have to please everyone, but to be able to do and represent what you want – that is part of our democracy.” The first thing to do is try to limit, master and control art and film. “We are not allowed to allow this. And we are not allowed to save art, culture and education.”

After these more serious tones, Söder opened the film festival with the words: “The great, earth -shattering, heartbreaking, highest quality, which is characterized by a great audience, a wonderful film -sighted film festival is opened.”

The British feel-good comedy “The Ballad of Wallis Island” tells of a fan who wants to bring his favorite band together again in a fascinatingly rough landscape. In the presence of the leading actors Tom Basden and Tim Key and director James Griffiths, the film celebrated its German premiere. Actress Carey Mulligan, who couldn’t be there, sent a videoogruss. The official theatrical release is planned for July 10th.

After the greetings and the film screening, the evening ended at a party. The festival runs until July 6th and promises to become a highlight in the cultural life of Munich.