On Sunday, November 3, the 58th Hof International Film Festival 2024 (HoF IFF) came to a successful end with the plus7streamdays and many films online.
Whether in cinemas in Hof, on the street in front of the bratwurst stand, in the virtual XR room, on the soccer field, in the festival center BG, in the Hoftex hall or on the digital channels, encounters between people took place everywhere. We succeeded in establishing an exchange between the filmmakers and the audience at all levels. This was made possible by a cross-generational, low-threshold, supra-regional and, as far as possible, barrier-free range of films, supporting program, talks and discussions.
The 180 volunteers, more than ever before, worked together with the core team to create the unique Film Days atmosphere.
A successful collaboration with the Theater Hof took place for the first time. The starting point was the play THEA VON TAUPERLITZ about the screenwriter Thea von Harbou, who was born near Hof, a screening of a HoF film in the theater, rounded off with a reading and talk on the subject of “Cinema - the grand theater”.
The exhibition ANTHROPZÄNTA was once again an extended space for experiencing art in Hof, as were the exhibitions of local artists organized by the Filzfabrik in the Hoftex event hall and the special exhibition with works by various protagonists of the opening film ZEPPELIN OBEN RECHTS from Atelier23 in the German city Gießen. The Filmtage and ARTE parties also took place in the Hoftex. The Arts Avenue dance school in Hof hosted the Queer Eve.
There were also film festival cookies, scarves, beer, coffee, socks, shirts, hoodies and HoF IFF socks, all made by companies in Hof. This demonstrates the strong roots and community in the city that make the Hof International Film Festival the HoF - Home of Films.
The HoF PLUS industry program was diverse. At ALPENDATING - Forum of Emerging Production Talents from the Alpine Region, an initiative of the funding institutions Austrian Film Institute, IDM Film Commission South Tyrol, Zurich Film Foundation, FilmFernsehFonds Bayern, there was a creative exchange with industry representatives and up-and-coming producers with of pitches as well as round tables. The HoF PLUS 7 Minute Pitch was once again a professional marketplace. The NUREMBERGER WRITER’S SCOLARSHIP opened the submission on the topic of “Awakening” for the 2025/26 class.
Every day, the accredited participants met to exchange ideas at the Blue Hour in Hof’s institution GALERIEHAUS. After the presentation of the German Cinema New Talent Award and the Award of the City of Hof, State Parliament President Ilse Aigner welcomed guests to her reception in the Hofer Freiheitshalle. On Friday, the FILMFERNSEHFONDS BAYERN welcomed the industry to the traditional FFF Brunch. The BG - Bürgergesellschaft was the festival center with a meeting point and industry events from morning to night.
With almost unchanged cinema figures of just under 16,000, the average occupancy rate of the screens increased by 10% compared to the previous year, despite the lower number of seats due to the cinema renovation and fewer films in the program (145) than last year (154). HoF on Demand remains stable with 7,000 requests. Usage has increased, particularly among accredited industry people.
Sustainability and the challenging implementation of corresponding measures remain an emerging topic. These include avoiding and separating waste, offering an event ticket from Deutsche Bahn and e-mobility. The increasingly popular rickshaw service was a new addition to the transport service in Hof. A discussion on green storytelling with sample films from the program as an opportunity to make a difference in environmental protection through creativity was part of a talk at the BG.
The traditional match between FC Hofer Filmtage and FC Filmwelt, which was particularly high-class in the first half, ended 3:3.
The Hof International Film Festival is active throughout the year. These include the film series HoF Filmtage Rendezvous in Hof and Hanover, the presentation of Filmtage films at cinema screenings and the communication of premieres, film releases and other creative activities of the HoF family. For example in November:
Screening of WHO’S AFRAID OF HITLER’S TOWN? in the presence of producer Julia Mitterlehner and director Günter Schwaiger, moderated by Thorsten Schaumann (HIFF Artistic Director)
HoF Film Festival Rendezvous with a surprise film from this year’s festival
The announcement and awarding of the Audience Short Film Award of the City of Hof 2024 is being planned at the Central-Kino Hof.
We deeply thank all our guests for making the 58th Hof International Film Festival such an exciting and, above all, emotionally unforgettable experience. Our heartfelt appreciation goes to our incredible sponsors and supporters for their unwavering commitment and dedication.
Looking forward to welcoming you to the 59th Hof International Film Festival from October 21 to 26, 2025, plus 7 stream days until November 2, 2025.
Yours, Hof Festival Team
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