GoEast transforms the Hessian state capital of Wiesbaden from 19 to 25 April into one of the most important international locations for cinema from Central and Eastern Europe. More than 110 feature, documentary and short films, which are spread over seven festival days and at least as many sections, will address trade visitors and local cinema audiences alike.
As a project of the German Film Institute & Film Museum, goEast has dedicated itself to the task of raising public awareness of the diversity and richness of Central and Eastern European cinema "deep in the West" - because Central and Eastern European films are in regular cinema operations underrepresented at international festivals.
goEast is active as a bridge-builder on numerous levels: hand-picked programs span the spectrum from current cinematic positions to film-historical rarities, from experiment to art house and mainstream made in Central and Eastern Europe. The festival always understands its work in the context of differentiated socio-political, film-aesthetic and film-theoretical debates. goEast acts as a dialogue forum between East and West, but also as an actor and multiplier of creative interaction: Panels and workshops, lectures and film talks, cooperation with other cultural and social institutions bear witness to this. In particular, the next generation of the industry should benefit from goEast: Numerous networking, exchange and further training offers are made, e.g. as part of the EAST-WEST TALENT LAB.
The goEast opening film is warm-hearted encounters at a distance in DER BALKONFILM. The Polish documentary filmmaker Paweł Łoziński dares an experiment with DER BALKONFILM (Film balkonowy, Poland 2021). From his balcony he interacts with the passers-by on the sidewalk and captures their very different and personal stories with the camera. In this way, a variety of perspectives, life plans and realities in the world and in today's Poland emerge from a static situation over a period of two years.
With the heart of the festival, the competition, goEast offers a broad audience the chance to get to know the highlights of current Central and Eastern European film better. A five-person international jury awards three prizes worth a total of 21,500 euros and the FIPRESCI jury awards two prizes from the international film critics. Particularly coveted: the "Golden Lily" worth 10,000 euros as the main prize in the goEast competition.
More information can be found here.
