Films Across Borders, the annual multi-cultural film series, co-presented by American University in partnership with the ACF Washington and other embassies, cultural organizations and environmental groups, focused in its sixth edition on “Stories of Resilience and Hope”.
“This year’s theme of resilience and hope is especially timely given the challenges we face over the world. The series brings together inspiring stories of how humans and wildlife prevail and flourish against the odds.”
The ACF Washington presented as part of the 2020 series the film UTOPIA REVISITED by Austrian director Kurt Langbein. The film was streamed through Vimeo, from October 15, 9am through October 16, 2020. In addition to the film, a prerecorded conversation between the filmmaker, Kurt Langbein, the main protagonist, Petra Wähning and the director of the ACF, Eva Schoefer, can be seen.
The prerecorded Zoom conversation addresses the making of the film, its relevance in today's challenging times, as well as possible ideas to create more equal societies in the future.
You can watch the prerecorded conversation below.
When: Thursday, October 15, 9am through October 16, 2020
Where: online | Vimeo
Ticket: Free admission, registration obligatory
UTOPIA REVISITED
Directed by Kurt Langbein
Austria, 2018
95 min, in German with English subtitles
The market economy has brought prosperity to developed countries – at the expense of other continents and with growing inequality. But apart from capitalism, is there even a social model worth discussing? Protagonists of four projects say yes and take us on their personal journey to the promising possibilities of solidarity: to live sustainably and to preserve nature are a direct “Reward” for sharing and cooperation. Their stories are supplemented by experts who see the larger context and give valuable insights into the economic importance of cooperation and moderate economic development rather than unlimited growth.
ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS
KURT LANGBEIN | DIRECTOR
Photo | © Langbein & Partner Media
Kurt Langbein, born in 1953, studied sociology in Vienna. From 1979 to 1989 he was a documentary filmmaker and magazine journalist for the Austrian broadcasting company ORF, from 1989 to 1992 head of the domestic department at the Austrian news magazine "Profil", since 1992 he is the managing director of "Langbein & Partner Media". He is the Producer and Director of numerous documentaries and TV reports such as “Eating differently – that Experiment "(2020)," Time for Utopias "(2018)," Land Grab "(2015)," Miracle Healing " (2012).
He is also a writer and author of several non-fiction books and received numerous prestigious awards such as the “Axel Corti Award for Outstanding Achievements in Media and TV” or the “Dr. Karl Renner Journalism Award for his Life Achievement”.
PETRA WÄHNING | PROTAGONIST
Photo | © Langbein & Partner Media
Petra Wähning has a degree in sociology (LMU Munich) and lives as a communication consultant and project developer in a small community near Munich. She started her business 2010 after 15 years of experience as a market researcher and marketing specialist.
She advises companies and farmers and has been accompanying initiatives for rural development in Bavaria since 2014.
Since 2010 she has been campaigning for the preservation of rural agriculture and, together with the Slow Food Association, initiated the “Genussgemeinschaft Städter und Bauern”, which aims to create a new culture of relationships between rural farmers and urban costumers. Her focus is on community-based, small-format solutions, a new quality of relationships, mutual commitment and solidarity, as well as alternative development opportunities for farms in rural areas.
Petra Wähning works as a speaker on these new forms of economy and the corresponding philosophical background and methodological tools. She can be seen in this role in the film “Utopia revisited”, an Austrian cinema production.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Films Across Borders, a showcase of critically acclaimed films, documentaries and shorts from around the world, launches virtually this fall. In its sixth year, the theme for 2020 focuses on “Stories of Resilience and Hope”. The film series is co-presented by American University in partnership with 19 embassies, cultural organizations, arts institutions, and environmental groups.
The 2020 series includes a diverse range of films – all free to the public and viewable on a variety of online platforms from October through December. As additional selections are made, presenting partners will include new films to those currently listed on the series website -- FilmsAcrossBorders.org.
A complete film listing is available at FilmsAcrossBorders.org.
