Film and Media Forum Lower Saxony

• Conventions, Conferences & Meetings

From October 23 to 26, the 15th annual Film and Media Forum Lower Saxony, the state’s most significant networking event for the film and media industry, will take place in Lüneburg. Organized by the Film & Media Office of Lower Saxony (FMB) and supported by funding from nordmedia and the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony, the forum offers an engaging mix of panel discussions, information sessions, pitch events, and film screenings that focus on current trends in the media landscape. The event will be held across several venues, including the Kunstsaal Lüneburg, the SCALA Art Cinema, and the Lüneburg Adult Education Center (VHS).

Quo Vadis, Content: Mainstream or Creativity?

One of this year's highlights is a panel discussion on the expectations of streaming platforms and their influence on the creativity of independent filmmakers. Under the theme "Quo Vadis, Content?", Burkhard Althoff, head of Das kleine Fernsehspiel at ZDF, author Annette Hess, and director Hilke Rönnfeldt will explore the impact of increasingly standardized content on the industry. Another panel discussion, titled "Dangerous Docs!", will address the growing threats faced by documentary filmmakers and strategies for how commissioners and editors can protect and support them. Dietmar Schiffermüller, head of political documentaries at NDR, will be in conversation with journalists Jakob Springfeld ("Among Nazis") and Peter Laudenbach ("The Right-Wing Attack on Artistic Freedom").

Film Funding: Learning from the Netherlands

Sustainable filmmaking will take center stage in a case study on "The School of Magical Animals", followed by a discussion involving Julia Hoepfner (nordmedia), Katja Schwarz (Green Consultant), Judith Niemeyer (Board Member of Green Consultants), Dr. Maike Reinerth (Babelsberg Film University KONRAD WOLF), and Lisa Plesser (Green Toolbox). A special focus will also be placed on the Dutch funding system, featuring insights from Roel Oude Nijhuis (Netherlands Film Commission), Anette Unger (Leitwolf Filmproduktion), Niek Teunissen (Umami Media Amsterdam), and Petra Schleuning (head of Film and Media Funding at nordmedia), exploring what neighboring countries can learn from each other. Additional keynote talks and discussions will cover topics such as experiences with global distribution, storytelling with animals, and the role of artificial intelligence in film production.

Workshop with Nora Fingscheidt

A workshop discussion with Braunschweig-born director and writer Nora Fingscheidt, internationally renowned for "System Crasher" and "The Unforgivable", will offer a deep dive into her career, the secrets behind her success, and her special connection to Lower Saxony. Her latest work, "The Outrun", is set to premiere soon. The forum will also feature "Works in Progress" presentations, offering insights into current film projects from Lower Saxony and Bremen, including "Luisa", "Free", "Moormel", and "A Fucked Up Tribute to Motherly Love".

Lüneburg’s Film Scene Takes the Stage

On Wednesday evening, October 23, Lüneburg's vibrant film community will present itself at the Kunstsaal with a diverse short film program, "Lüneburg Presents", followed by interactive film discussions with the audience. The SCALA Art Cinema will host exclusive screenings of films such as "A Study of Empathy", "Greetings from Mars", and "House of Silence", along with documentaries like "Reproduction" and "Dragon Women", in the presence of actors, directors, protagonists, and team members.

Workshop Day at VHS

For the first time, on Saturday, October 26, participants will have the opportunity to attend an additional workshop day at the Lüneburg Adult Education Center, featuring intensive courses on topics selected through online voting. Workshops will cover a range of subjects, including tools for film funding, tips for green storytelling, the use of artificial intelligence, and professional screenwriting, all conducted by renowned experts. The Lüneburg Film and Media Forum aims to further deepen the connections between producers, filmmakers, media professionals, TV editors, cultural actors, scholars, students, cinema operators, and funders, fostering the growth and development of the media culture industry.