With the recent conclusion of the Studio Ghibli Festival and the ongoing Japanese Film Festival happening until the end of October, the Filipino moviegoers have no shortage of film festivals to explore. Now the Goethe-Institute brings German films to local cinemas with the return of KinoFest: The German Film Festival!
Known as the cultural institute of Germany that promotes German language and culture, Goethe-Institut is celebrating its 60th anniversary in the Philippines. To commemorate the continued relationship between the two countries, a new lineup of films is coming to Kinofest 2025.
The film lineup was curated following themes of family, belonging, and care in contemporary German cinema, while examining them through the lens of memory, reimagining, and the confrontation of perspectives. There will be a total of 13 films featuring 8 contemporary German films (Riefenstahl, Another German Tank Story, From Hilde with Love, Giants of La Mancha, Köln 75, The Light, Vena, and Woodwalkers) and 5 Filipino short films (Baradiya, Ngatta Naddaki y Nuang?, Rumbles of the Earth, Sa Ilalum sa Balabal sa Alitaptap, and Water Sports).
Riefenstahl, a biopic about the life and enduring legacy of filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, will open the festival on October 16 with a hybrid Q&A with renowned producer Sandra Maischberger, offering audiences a chance to gain insights into one of the most debated figures in film history.
There will also be a special event called KinoFest Special: Stories Across Continents on October 18, where the five Filipino short films will be screened. Each of these will explore the interwoven relationship of climate change and the lived reality of the characters through love, myth, displacement, and grief. After the screening, there will be a talkback session with the filmmakers, including Krystahl Guina and Miko Reyes (Baradiya), Carl Joseph Lara (Rumbles of the Earth), and Whammy Alcazaren (Water Sport), with transfeminist artist Jaya Jacobo as the moderator. To conclude the event on the 19th, there will be an in-person Q&A session with Svenja Vanhoeffer, producer of the German film Vena.
Catch Kinofest 2025 from October 16 to 19 the Shangri-La Plaza Red Carpet Cinemas in Mandaluyong City and visit www.goethe.de/ins/ph/en/index.html for more information.
Which film are you most excited to watch? Share your picks with us in the comments!