Established in 2008, the Lichter Filmfest Frankfurt International is a film festival taking place in Frankfurt, Germany and the Rhine-Main region every year in spring. Aside from regional film productions in competition for Best Short and Feature Film, the festival also presents international films. Under the patronage of Doris Dörrie, the 2017 Lichter Filmfest takes place from March 28 to April 2. Both the international film program as well as the accompanying program addressed the key topic “Truth” (“Wahrheit”).
Under the name of Lichter Filmtage Frankfurt/Rhein-Main, the festival now known as Lichter Filmfest Frankfurt International wasinitiated by festival director Gregor Maria Schubert in 2008. The festival was founded by Gregor Maria Schubert, Stephan Limbach, Mark Liedtke, Alexander Dumitran, and Cordula Mack.
The festival made its debut as a show for regional film productions. In the years to follow it developed into a show featuring international productions as well as a film competition. The festival changed its location from the former AtelierFrankfurt near the Frankfurt main station to the former cinema Frankfurter Turmpalast in the inner-city of Frankfurt. The attendance increased from 3,300 visitors in 2008 to 12,000 visitors in 2015. During the festival and beyond, LICHTER plays films and other events at vacant buildings in the city, such as the former diamond exchange or the office building VAU. The Lichter Art Award (founded in 2008 under the name “Kunstlichter,” curated by Saul Judd) awards a prize for video art. In the festival center, installations and panel shows present new perspectives and approach the featured topic from a theoretical standpoint.
In 2012, Lichter Filmfest Frankfurt International was distinguished as a "motion sensor" (Bewegungsmelder) by the Federal Government‘s “Initiative Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft.” In 2013, the festival took place under the patronage of Volker Schlöndorff, in 2014 under the patronage of Leander Haußmann and in 2016 under the patronage of Edgar Reitz. Since 2014, in cooperation with the hessische Film- und Medienakademie and under the direction of Bert Rebhandl, the “Lichter Kritikerblog” offers students the opportunity to discuss the medium of film journalistically.
The festival is financed by public grants, donations and sponsors. In the years 2012 and 2016 the festival even used crowdfunding.
Beyond the regional film competition, the festival presents an international film program. Since 2012 this program addresses a certain thematic priority. In 2013, the key topic was “City”, while in 2014 the films addressed the topic “Humor, comicality, and comedy.” In 2015, the festival presented films from around the world focusing on “Money” and in 2016 on "Frontiers". In 2017, the international program is focussed on the topic “Truth".
Besides the film screenings, the program includes discussion panels and talk shows for the filmmakers of the Rhine Main Area. Moreover, throughout the year further cultural events take place, such as the events of the series “Frankfurter Sequenzen” or the screenings of the open air cinema “Freiluftkino Frankfurt.”
Aside from film screenings, the year-round events include concerts and talk shows and discussion forums. In addition, the Lichter Filmfest regularly guest in the cinemas both of the region and of Frankfurt’s twin cities.
Regional Competition (short film, feature film)
Films beyond the competition (short film, feature film)
International films (key topic)
VR Storytelling Competition (international competition)
Topical accompanying program (Lectures, Panels, business talk)
Lichter Art Award (International competition and exhibition)
Lichter Streetview (video installations in public space)
The Lichter Filmfest Frankfurt International plays at several cinemas in Frankfurt: at the cinema of the Deutsches Filmmuseum, at Mal Seh’n Kino and at Cantate-Saal. The festival has played its films in other cities of the Rhine Main Area as well:
2009: Atelierfrankfurt
2010: Turmpalast / Stephanstrasse
2011: Turmpalast / Metropolis / Mal Seh’n Kino / Erster Stock
2012: Turmpalast / Metropolis / Mal Seh’n Kino / Deutsches Filmmuseum / Erster Stock / Murnau Filmtheater Wiesbaden
2013: Metropolis / Mal Seh’n Kino / Deutsches Filmmuseum / Hafenkino Offenbach
2014: Frankfurt: Deutsches Filmmuseum, Cinestar Metropolis, Mal Seh’n Kino, E-Kinos, Cantate-Saal, Praunheimer Werkstätten; Offenbach: Hafenkino (Hafen 2), Lederpalast; Wiesbaden: Caligari Filmbühne; Hanau: Comoedienhaus Wilhelmsbad; Darmstadt: Rex-Programmkino
2015: Frankfurt: Deutsches Filmmuseum, Mal Seh’n Kino, E-Kinos, Cantate-Saal; Offenbach: Lederpalast; Wiesbaden: Caligari Filmbühne
2016: Frankfurt: Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, Deutsches Filmmuseum, Mal Seh’n Kino; Offenbach: Lederpalast; Wiesbaden: Caligari Filmbühne
Starting out with an improvised cinema and 3,300 visitors in its first year, the Lichter Filmfest has evolved into a festival with more than one hundred films and events and 12,000 visitors in 2016.
The winners of the categories “Best Short Film” and “Best Feature Film” are each awarded a “Lichter-Bembel” by the jury. In addition, the best contemporary video art production receives the Lichter Art Award. This prize includes prize money of 1,000 euros. Since 2013, there is an audience award including a prize money of 2,000 euros. In 2016, for the first time, the International Feature Award including a prize money of 2,000 euros has been awarded for the best contribution of the international program. 2017 the LICHTER Filmfest launched a new international competition on the subject of Virtual Reality Storytelling.
The winners are awarded the “Lichter-Bembel,” a typical Frankfurt earthenware apple wine pitcher. The Best Feature Film receives the advancement award MBF Förderpreis. This prize includes a voucher of 4,500 euros for technical equipment of the MBF Filmtechnik as well as 500 euros in cash. For the Best Short Film, the jury awards two seminar vouchers of the Filmhaus Frankfurt and 1,000 euros in cash. The Binding Audience Award includes a prize money of 2,000 euros. In 2016, the International Feature Award including a prize money of 2,000 euros has been awarded for the best contribution of the international program for the first time.
2008
Regional Feature Film: Video Kings by Daniel Acht and Ali Eckert
Regional Short Film: Der Jäger und der Bär by Joachim Brandenberg
2009
Regional Feature Film: Endstation der Sehnsüchte by Sung-Hyung Cho
Regional Short FIlm: Adamsapfel by Johannes Baptista Ludwig and Sascha Geerdts
2010
Regional Feature Film: Das Schreiben & das Schweigen by Carmen Tartarotti
Regional Short Film: T.R.A. by Eva Becker
Special reference of the jury: Marivanna by Olga Petrova and Riverrun & Touchdown by Gunter Deller
2011
Regional Feature Film: Im Alter von Ellen by Pia Marais
Regional Short Film: N Gschichtn by Eva Becker
Laudatory reference of the jury: Die Allerletzten by Otmar Hitzelberger
2012
Feature Film: Babycall by Pål Sletaune
Short Film: Die alte Frau by Ariane Mayer
2013
Regional Feature Film: Im Land Dazwischen by Melanie Gärtner
Regional Short Film: Misguided by Lukas Rinker
Audience Award: Die Meta-Morphose. Leicht verstimmt ins Rampenlicht by Daniel Siebert
Laudatory reference of the jury: Wildwechsel by Gunter Deller
2014
Regional Feature Film: Erhobenen Hauptes by DocView
Regional Short Film: Bahar im Wunderland by Behrooz Karamizade and RE50 Richtung Wächtersbach by Leslie Bauer
Audience Award: The Scrapbox by Daniel Herzog (director) and Robin Wissel (creative leader)
Laudatory reference of the jury: Meine Beschneidung by Arne Ahrens, Peter Rist - Idealist by Michael Schwarz, and Qasbegi by Michel Klöfkorn
2015
Regional Feature Film: Sin & Illy still alive by Maria Hengge and Conduct! Jede Bewegung zählt by Götz Schauder
Regional Short Film: Ein bisschen Normalität by Michael Schaff and Thomas Toth
Audience Award: Carlo, Keep Swingin’ by Elizabeth Ok
LICHTER Courage Award: X-X-XX—X—Gewobenes Papier by Michel Klöfkorn
Laudatory reference of the jury: Gezeitentümpel by Pablo Zinser, and Warum ist der Tisch schräg!/Warum mag jeder Geld! by Stefan Vogt
2016
Regional Feature Film: Meine Brüder und Schwestern im Norden by Sung-Hyung Cho
Regional Short Film: In the Distance by Florian Grolig
International Feature Award: Les Sauteurs by Abou Bakar Sidibé, Estephan Wagner, and Moritz Siebert and Masaan by Neeraj Ghaywan
Audience Award Feature Film: Auf einer Skala von 1–10 by Katharina Uhland
Audience Award Short Film: In the Distance by Florian Grolig and "The old man and the bird" by Dennis Stein-Schomburg
Laudatory reference of the jury: Der Langstreckenläufer by Zuniel Kim
Since 2011 the Lichter Art Award is awarded for the best contemporary video art production. The competition is curated by Saul Judd.
2011
Winner: Luciana Lamothe – Caja Tarro Silla Marco (2011)
Finalists: Mario Asef, Hanna Hildebrand, Jessica Sehrt, Rebecca Ann Tess
Jury: Judith Hopf, Saul Judd, Matthias Ulrich
2012
Winner: Oliver Husain – Dear What's Your Face (2010)
Finalists: Young Joo Lee, Yuki Kishino, Sabine Loew, Clemens Wilhelm
Jury: Mike Bouchet, Saul Judd, Sophie von Olfers
2013
Winner: John Skoog – Sent på Jorden (2011)
Finalists: Etienne de France, Jennifer Gelardo and Iván Robles Mendoza, Lena Grewenig, Henrike Naumann
Jury: Saul Judd, Felix Ruhöfer, Simon Starling
2014
Winner: Bertrand Flanet – Unmanned Distances (2013)
Finalists: Clémentine Coupau, Andrew de Freitas, Murray Gaylard, Luiz Roque
Jury: Peter Gorschlüter, Karola Gramann, Saul Judd
2015
Winner: Jonathan Van Essche The Second of August
Finalists: Mandy Krebs – Heritage Creek, Ayla Pierrot Arendt – Gespielin, Alina Vasilchenko – I Like Going To Pet Stores, Anna Zett – This Unwieldy Object
Jury: Katharina Dohm, Saul Judd, Tasja Langenbach
2016
Winner: James N. Kienitz Wilkins – B-Roll with Andre
Finalists: Zanny Begg – 1001 Nights in Fairfield, Fabiano Mixo – Woman without Mandolin, Yalitsa Riden – Shoreline, Sita Scherer and Tina Schönfelder – Ansichten
Jury: Saul Judd, Fabian Schöneich, Vivian Trommer
2017
Finalists: Holger Jenss "Last chance junction", Luzie Meyer "The balcony", Stefan Ramírz Pérez "As much as anyone", Tobi Sauer "Simba in New York", Fritz Laszlo Weber "Making waves"
Jury: Saul Judd, Olaf Stüber, Mathilde Ter Heijne
In 2017 the festival launched an international competition for the best fictional or non-fictional Virtual Reality storytelling two- or three-dimensional 360-degree film.
2017
Finalists: Linara Bagautdinova "Family Circle", Uwe Flade "Tankstelle des Glücks", Alexandre Perez "Sergeant James", Henry Stuart "Dublin in the Dark", Ali Weinstein "Siren Song"
A jury of filmmakers and film experts decides on the winners of the categories “Best Feature Film” and “Best Short Film.” Since 2016 there is also the category “Best International Feature.” Former jury members:
2008
Birgit Lehmann (director), Bahman Kormi (cinematogropher), Sebastian Popp (film producer)
2009
Rudolf Worschech (film editor), Rembert Hüser (film scholar), Martina Elbert (director)
2010
Astrid Rieger (director), Christiane von Wahlert (managing director Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft), Michael Wiedemann (department head at Film- und Medienstiftung NRW and head of Kinofests Lünen)
2011
Maryam Zaree (actress), Cyril Tuschi (director), Daniel Kothenschulte (film critic)
2012
Bettina Buchler (acting director Filmbewertungsstelle), Peter Dörfler (director), Anke Sevenich (actress)
2013
Pia Marais (director), Florian Koerner von Gustorf (film producer), Matthias Luthardt (director)
2014
Feature Film: Hans Robert Eisenhauer (film producer), Jakob Preuss (documentary filmmaker), Gaby Babic (director of “goEast – Festival des mittel- und osteuropäischen Films”)
Short Film: Toby Ashraf (film journalist), Oona Lea von Maydell (actress), Tidi von Tiedemann (producer)
2015
Feature Film: Christoph Thoke (film producer), Tatjana Turanskyj (director, film producer, screenwriter and actress), Anne Ratte-Polle (actress)
Short Film: Martina Valentina Baumgartner (film producer), Stefan Kriekhaus (screenwriter), Achim Forst (film editor)
2016
Short Film: Isabel Berghout, Lili Kobbe, Hendrik Schmitt
Feature Film: Stipe Erceg, Linda Söffker, Nico Sommer
International Feature Award: Max Linz, Barbara Schweizerhof, Hermann Vaske
Since 2012, the international program and the accompanying program of the Lichter Filmfest focus on a specific key subject in its lectures, talk show panels, performances and experimental formats of discussion forums.
2012: Revolutions (Revolutionen)
2013: City (Stadt)
2014: Humor, comicality, and comedy (Humor, Komik und Komödie)
2015: Money (Geld)
2016: Frontiers (Grenzen)
2017: Truth (Wahrheit)
