German Film Festival Returns to Ludwigshafen as Rural Churches Host Nationwide Screenings

The 22nd Festival des deutschen Films will take place on the park island in Ludwigshafen from 19 August to 6 September, transforming the site into a large outdoor cinema. Organized by festival director Dr. Michael Kötz and programme chief Daniela Kötz, the event will showcase 74 productions—including feature films, special screenings, and children’s movies—and expects to build on last year’s 130,000‑visitor record. The opening film is the contemporary comedy “Plötzlich Schwiegervater,” with guests such as producer Doris Zander, actors Uwe Ochsenknecht, Nina Gummich and Leslie Malton, and regional dignitaries including Rhineland‑Palatinate Minister‑President Gordon Schnieder and Ludwigshafen Mayor Dr. Klaus Blettner. A competition for the Filmkunstpreis will feature 13 titles judged by a three‑person jury, while 50 films vie for the Rheingold‑Publikumspreis.

Simultaneously, the “Starke Stücke. Berührt und diskutiert” series will bring 19 films to 46 church halls and parish barns across Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern from late July through early November. The 15th edition, organized by Filmland MV gGmbH and supported by the regional church districts, aims to make quality cinema accessible in rural areas where commercial theatres no longer operate. The programme includes a mix of German, French, Spanish and Icelandic titles, and is promoted by local clergy and cultural officials as a vital contribution to community life.