Films take us to different worlds and open up new perspectives. Among the feature films in the programme of the 56th Hof International Film Festival, we can find an exciting range of stories from many different countries:
ALLER TAGE ABEND (THE EVENING OF ALL DAYS)
Direction: Felix Tissi (Switzerland, Italy 2022)
The people in four stories struggle with love, life and death. From the smallest change that could put an end to everlasting love, to two people who meet in a car accident, a prisoner with freedom aversion, and finally, to a doctor who bursts into tears in face of suffering.
With Sandro Di Stefano, Hiltrud Hauschke, Uli Krohm, Vilmar Bieri and Hans Diehl
BI ROYA (WITHOUT HER)
Direction: Arian Vazirdaftari (Iran, 2022)
Two weeks before emigrating to Denmark, Roya meets a quiet woman who seems lost and cannot remember anything. Roya takes her in, although her husband is against it. When Roya refuses to betray a colleague, she faces problems with her exit permit. Slowly, the situation begins to change: No one recognizes or remembers Roya anymore, not even her husband. Gradually, Roya loses her identity. The young woman takes her place and becomes Roya.
With Tannaz Tabatabaei, Saber Abar, Shadi, Karamroudi, Reza Davoudnejad
APHASIE (APHASIA)
Direction: Dominik Balkow (Germany, 2022)
Twins Cosmo and Carmen meet again after 15 years and try to work through their shared traumas, but this effort is hindered by a fatal dynamic between them, Cosmo’s new girlfriend, and their mysterious housemate, Heins. The twins’ inability to communicate pushes even Carmen, who is actually a therapist, to her limits.
With André Lewski, Sandra Tirre, Hannah Prasse, Heiko Pinkowski
BIS ES MICH GIBT (STARRING MYSELF)
Direction: Sabine Koder (Germany, 2022)
Ricky Sokatoni and his sister/manager Tanja Freitag go on a tour of Bavarian villages, but Ricky isn’t really committed to the idea and their mother is spinning in her grave. The two of them suffer relentless setbacks.
With Johannes Dullin, Karin Hanczewski, David Zimmerschied, Gisa Flake, Petra Morzé and Anne Müller
GRAUSCHLEIER
Direction: Ferdinand Dölberg and Milan Dölberg (Germany 2021)
Christoph’s and Branko’s idyllic lives are turned around when they cross the border into Saxony, where they encounter strange, backward behaviour from the people. A murder plot against them is uncovered. How are they going to get out of this one?
With Ferdinand Dölberg, Milan Dölberg, Paul Boche, Georg Vierbuchen, Jasna Fritzi Bauer, Amelie Plümpe
HALBMÄNNERWELT
Direction: Karl Leopold Furtlehner (Austria 2021)
His dream of an undertaking business is over: Richard has to go on delivering food. Meanwhile, a water crisis threatens people’s health in the town of Forsius. A new start for the funeral director-to-be?
With Karl Leopold Furtlehner, Gerhard Haubenberger, Josef Hader, Wolfgang Steinacher, Magdalena Schartmüller
SESSHAFT (SETTLED)
Director: Rici Dohle (Germany 2021)
Ulf Winkler is a real estate agent who falls into a trap set by a pack of wolves. Bit by bit, he starts to become just like them. The question is, who is the real beast? The human being or the wolf?
With Peer Göring, Juliane Freistedt, Martin Neuhaus, Matthias Rheinheimer, Lutz Lansemann
THE MENU
Direction: Mark Mylod (USA 2022)
An opulent meal takes place on a remote island, where the facade of a luxury restaurant hides more than may appear at first sight. A young woman attempts to get to the bottom of it all.
With Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, John Leguizamo, Hong Chau, Judith Light, Janet McTeer
TROIS NUITS PAR SEMAINE (THREE NIGHTS A WEEK)
Direction: Florent Gouelou (France 2022)
Baptiste falls in love with drag queen Cookie Kunty and needs to choose between her and his current girlfriend, Samia. The more he gets involved with Cookie, the more he immerses himself in the drag scene; eventually, he begins a relationship with Quentin, the man behind Cookie.
With Pablo Pauly, Romain Eck, Hafsia Herzi, Harald Marlot, Mathias Jamain Houngnikpo, Holy Fatma
VAMPIR
Direction: Branko Tomovic (Austria 2021)
Arnaut, a child of Serbian parents raised in Germany, arrives in the small Serbian village of Rujišnik looking for a place to hide. He takes a job as a cemetery caretaker, but soon he is having nightmares, haunted by a mysterious elderly woman Baba Draga, who seems to be leading him into darkness.
With Branko Tomovic, Gorica Regodic, Eva Ras, Joakim Tasic
RUBIKON
Direction: Leni Lauritsch (Austria 2022)
2056. The earth is being exploited by large corporations, resulting in an environmental catastrophe. At the extraterrestrial research centre Rubikon, a corporate soldier, a scientist and a biologist are forced to witness this firsthand. They make contact with the survivors and face a moral dilemma.
With Julia Franz Richter, George Blagden, Mark Ivanir
LISBETH, MEIN LISBETH (LISBETH, OH LISBETH)
Direction: Frederik F. Günther (Germany 2022)
Mia and Kai try to survive after a nuclear attack by sheltering in a bunker. In their search for other survivors, they embark on an emotional journey.
With Isabel Will, Iris Albrecht, Oskar Hoof, Frederik F. Günther
VEDEN VARTIJA (MEMORY OF WATER)
Direction: Saara Saarela (Finland, Germany, Norway, Estonia 2020)
In a dystopian future world where there is no longer any fresh water, Nora, the idealistic daughter of a tea-master, finds out that her strict father has concealed a secret source of fresh water. The mysterious Taro also seems to be looking for a solution to the water problem. Nora puts a close friendship at risk to help him.
With Saga Sarkola, Mimosa Willamo, Lauri Tilkanen
NICHYA (UNWANTED)
Direction: Lena Lanskih (Russia 2021)
Vika is a teenage girl living in a small town in the Ural Mountains in Russia. She collects berries that grow in the swamp, and she and her mother sell them at the market. She loves her dance classes at school. But then, there is the baby that no one must ever know about.
With Anastasiya Strukova, Olga Malakhova, Slava Baranov, Ivan Ivashov
SHARAF
Direction: Samir Nasr (Germany, Tunisia, France, Luxembourg 2021)
Sharaf is sent to prison for killing a man in self-defence. He has to navigate the prison’s complex social hierarchy, which reflects the general problems of Arab society. His dream of wealth and consumerism is shattered.
With Ahmed El Munirawi, Fadi Abi Samra, Jala Hisham, Khaled Houissa, Salha Nasraoui, Laarousi el Hanachi
VACANCES (VACATION)
Direction: Léo Wolfenstein and Béatrice Sebbah de Staël (France 2021)
A woman on vacation with her children has a one-night stand with a strange man. This already risky venture turns into a nightmare.
With Géraldine Nakache, Andranic Manet, Béatrice de Staël, Malonn Lévana, Zélie Rixhon, Elvis Asseraf