On May 14th, the Neisse Film Festival starts it's 21st run. Through May 19th, the film festival will be showing approximately 90 current feature films, documentaries and short films from Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic as well as from broader eastern Europe at 19 cinemas and locations in the three neighbor countries. In addition to three competitions and various thematic film series, there will also be an exhibition, concerts, a reading and more. The complete program can now be discovered online.

The 21st film festival grand opening is on May 14th in the Gerhart Hauptmann THeater in ZIttau, with the film "Elbow" by Aslı Özarslan. The drama based on Fatma Aydemir's novel by the same name is an atmospherically intense portrait of a young woman who pays a high price to free herself from society's projections. Afterwards, in the theater foyer, DJ Sagan will set the stage musically for the coming festival days.

Trinational Competitions and Other Thematic Film Series

In the feature film competition we will once again have three productions each from Germany, from Poland and from the Czech Republic. The films in this competition take a look at people who flee -- flee into a new life, because of of political convictions or via suicide. They also look, however, at political realities with farmers' protests and corruption -- in the past and present. The nine entries tell of life and death in a moving, entertaining and suspenseful way. In the documentary competition, too, nine films compete with topics that move us: flight and very special living situations, politics, regional conflicts and social injustices as well as every-day life, art and especially music. They tell stories which are both light and serious, fascinating or even unbelievable, and portray both impressive and inspiring people. The shortfilm competition of the 21st Neisse Film Festival captivates its audiences once again with its diversity and originality, presenting a total of thirty short and amusing entries, ranging from fictional or documentary to animated or experimental.

In addition to the competitions, in the series entitled "Regionalia" you will find current films by regional filmmakers on life in Lusatia, on the border or Sorbian film. Three country series reflect the current filmmaking in Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. In addition, Centrum Panorama in the Czech city of Varnsdorf will once again show film classics and cinematic milestones in opulent 70mm technology or in the special 35mm format and also in 3D versions. The particular richness of detail, the extremely enlarged sequences as well as an auditorium with the largest film screen in Europe create the unique fascination of this series of films. An additional pull in this year is this year's Oscar-winning "Oppenheimer", and with it portraying an important piece of history.

The Focus series "Female Perspectives"

The topic of women's rights and the woman's role is being discussed in all societies, and is present in many ways in art and culture. In the focus on "Female Perspectives" we have films which were directed or produced by women and which tell the stories or discoveries of strong, laconic female figures. The Focus' supporting program is also marked by great female artists. On May 16th there will be "An Evening for Thomas Brasch". Marion Brasch and Masha Qrella honor the writer and playwright wiht a fascinating mix of texts, film and Indie-Pop songs. On May 15 the singer and musician Barbara Morgenstern is being hosted in the Kulturfabrik Meda in Mittelherwigsdorf. And during the festival, the exhibition "Rebels -- Women changing the world" may be seen in the Kulturcafé Alte Bäckerei in Grosshennersdorf.

A highlight of the festival week is the concert with the Ukrainian rapper alyona alyona on May 18 in Kühlhaus Görlitz. Since her breakthrough with the viral hit "Ribki", alyona alyona's powerfully eloquent and authentic messages have been flowing from live stages across Europe into an extraordinary rap universe. Her texts, which she raps in her native Ukrainian, are about images of women beyond all clichés and about the challenges for young adults in the Ukraine in light of the ongoing war.

The award ceremony will also take place on May 18 at the Kühlhaus in Görlitz. In addition to the best feature, documentary and short films as well as the audience favorites, awards for best acting, best screenplay and best production design will be awarded. In addition, a Special prize will be granted a film which is dedicated to the understanding of cultural and ethnic differences between countries or the existing commonalities.

You may find the complete program and current news on the Neisse Film Festival online at www.neissefilmfestival.net.