A journey through time to the former GDR, the linking of two biographies that actually have very little in common – the Hof Film Festival began on Tuesday evening with the film “Olaf Jagger”.
At first he thought what a strange title, said festival director Thorsten Schaumann about the opening film. But then he was totally “flashed”. “Because here the stories of two great personalities, Olaf Schubert and Mick Jagger, are very, very beautifully intertwined in an incredibly funny but also critical way.”
Mick Jagger and an old tape
And that’s what it’s all about: The well-known artist Olaf Schubert discovers an old tape in the basement of his parents’ house, on which an interview with his mother and “Rolling Stones” frontman Mick Jagger can be heard. From the year 1965 – that’s where the parents’ house was in the GDR. A search for clues begins.
Numerous other feature films, documentaries and short films by national and international directors follow. The film days end on Sunday. Although there are hardly any corona restrictions this year, the Filmtage organizers are sticking to the concept tested during the pandemic of offering a streaming platform on which the festival films can be viewed throughout Germany. Couch or cinema chair – that’s not a contradiction, said Schaumann: “We go where the audience is. The audience decides when and where they want to see films.”
Hof is a film festival where you will search in vain for red carpets and shiny robes – instead, filmmakers and guests meet at the bratwurst booth, in the pub or on the football field. “Celebrate cinema professionally in a family atmosphere,” said Schaumann.
