WELCOME TO THE 29TH EDITION OF FILM|NEU, WASHINGTON’S ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW FILMS FROM GERMANY, AUSTRIA, AND SWITZERLAND!
This year in its 29th edition FILM|NEU, Washington’s annual festival of new films from Germany, Austria and Switzerland was brought to you in a hybrid format. The ACF Washington represented Austria with the comedy RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS (Michael Kreihsl), which could be seen in-person, and the drama FOX IN A HOLE (Arman T. Riahi), which was available online.
When: Thursday, November 18 – Sunday, November 21, 2021
Where: online | E Street Cinema (555 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20004)
Ticket: online $2 | E Street Cinema $10
RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS
Directed by Michael Kreihsl, screenplay based on the on the play Die Niere by Stefan Vögel
Austria, 2021
92 min, in German with English subtitles
Photo © Risiken und Nebenwirkungen
A routine check-up reveals that the Pilates trainer Kathrin is suffering from kidney disease and needs a transplant. Her husband Arnold is a successful architect in the middle of a large project and is afraid of donating one of his kidneys. Götz, a friend of the couple's, would undergo the operation immediately if it means saving Kathrin's life - even though this causes problems with his partner Diana. Confronted by issues of life and death, the fragility of the relationships within and between the couples is laid bare. Eventually, the question can no longer be avoided: what is true love?
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Photo © Philipp Horak
Michael Kreihsl studied Art History and Archeology before joining the directing class at the Austrian Film Academy and a postgrad directing class at the NYU Department of Film and Television. Since his feature debut CHARMS INCIDENTS (1996) and his second feature HUNTERS IN THE SNOW (2000) - both premiered at the Berlin Film Festival - Michael is often focussing on tragic-comical characters. After his two previous features LOVE MAYBE (2016) and THE MIRACLE METHOD (2018), RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS is Michael’s latest feature film as director.
When: Saturday, November 20 | 6 pm
Where: E Street Cinema
555 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
Ticket: $10, registration obligatory
FOX IN A HOLE
Directed by Arman T. Riahi
Austria, 2020
100 min, in German with English subtitles
Photo © Fuchs im Bau
His new position takes the middle school teacher Hannes Fuchs to an unusual job - the prison school in the youth wing of a large prison in Vienna. There, Fuchs meets the stubborn colleague Elisabeth Berger, whose art class is a thorn in the side of the prison management. Conflicts soon arise between Fuchs and Berger, who does not let anyone get too close. Fuchs succeeds in developing a basis of trust with the with the introverted inmate Samira, whose artistic talent he recognizes and promotes. Later Fuchs learns from the prison director why he was really called to the prison school. A suicide attempt by his protégé Samira finally tears open old wounds in Fuchs, and he realizes that the position as a prison teacher is more than a job for him.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Photo © Michael Mazohl
Arman T. Riahi was born in Iran in 1981 and grew up in Vienna. He studied media technology and has worked as a graphic and screen designer in London (GB) and Vienna. Since 2005 Riahi works as a freelance director and author for various Viennese film productions.
When: Thursday, November 18 - Sunday, November 21, 2021
Where: online
Ticket: $2
