A look back: GDR films in the focus of the international short film days!

A look back: GDR films in the focus of the international short film days!

The 71st International Short Film Days in Oberhausen devoted themselves to the extensive work of the GDR film art in their retrospective "detours to the neighbor". Between April 29 and May 4, 2025, the organizers, under the direction of curator Felix Mende, not only illuminated well -known classics of the GDR, but also numerous less noticed works. The goal was clear: to question the homogeneous film culture and to examine the complex relationship between the festival and the GDR, which is still characterized by challenges.

A central aspect of the retrospective was the representation of films that were shown at the West German Festival between 1955 and 1990 or were excluded for political reasons. Over 150 GDR films have been presented in Oberhausen since the first cultural film days in 1954, which makes the profitable, although never conflict-free relationship with the GDR at the time. critic.de reports about the various program items that were distributed over nine programs and offered a cross-section through 35 years of GDR film history.

The film works shown included numerous styles - from agitprop to experimental formats to documentary stories. Films such as "Command 52" and "But if you want to live like me", addressed the conflict between individual lifestyle and state requirements. A special highlight was the performance of "Wink from the neighbor", which acted as a reflection on the rejection of "Command 52". Kurzfilmtagen.de adds these findings with the reference that the program also provided insights into German-German history and the relationship between the FRG and GDR.

Another program entitled "Do not open" devoted to documentary films about biographies that did not want to open in the GDR. One example is the film "That was it, brothers and sisters-the East-Side Story", which documented the dramatic events from 1989 to 1990. These programs were accompanied by public discussions in which filmmakers and experts discuss the background and the importance of the works shown.

insight into the history of the GDR film culture

DEFA, as the central film producer of the GDR, was crucial for the development of the GDR cinema. Founded in 1946, it shaped the East German film system until its dissolution in 1990 and was significantly involved in referring the topics of socialism and self -assertion towards the FRG. DEFA produced over 950 game and short feature films as well as numerous documentaries and animation works. dw.com offers deeper insights into the versatile and often controversial film history of the GDR.