ONISM

Teach Me How to Cry(en)

Unable to tap into his emotions on stage, a middle-aged struggling actor is given one last chance to prove himself, and in turn, takes a class with an acting coach who promises to transform his performance.

Edifice 129(en)

In a strange place where daily broadcasts require everyone to “keep the silence”, the long-isolated residents of Edifice 129, trapped in their apartments and by distant memories, creep forwards, day by day. / Edifice 129 is a particular collaborative project, created by filmmakers across three countries. In the midst of the COVID-19 lock-downs, Linda Gasser — director of the Arc Film Festival in Mainz, Germany — invited filmmakers to join her Creatives Across Borders initiative. The aim was to meet via Zoom, support each other, and talk film, but talking film soon turned into developing a film. Meeting regularly, sometimes weekly, four writer/directors and a digital 3D artist created short films designed to work both as standalone projects and, when inter-cut, as one cohesive story, despite being filmed in Germany, the UK and Malta, and with the filmmakers never having met in person until after the films were finished.

The Best Place to Be(de)

After they have graduated from school, the two best friends Kati and Jo jump into their purple Benz and embark on a journey around the world southwards. Kati, however, struggled with the decision for the journey as the love of her life returned to their hometown Tandern shortly before their departure. The journey leads the two friends over the Brenner pass, where their car suddenly stops working. When Kati then also learns that her grandfather is about to die, she wants to return home – this puts the friendship of the two to an acid test.

The Three from the Filling Station(de)

Die Drei von der Tankstelle, meaning The Three from the Gas Station, was advertised as a German operetta when release and with it’s star studded cast would become the forerunner of Musical films. Even today the soundtrack of the comic harmonists is popular in Germany.

Eher fliegen hier UFOs(de)

Lovely Life(pt)

Kikujiro(ja)

Brash, loudmouthed and opportunistic, Kikujiro is the unlikely companion for Masao who is determined to see the mother he has never met. The two begin a series of adventures which soon turns out to be a whimsical journey of laughter and tears with a wide array of surprises and unique characters along the way.

Hotel Very Welcome(de)

Five young Europeans (German, English, and Irish) try to find answers to life's questions in India and Thailand.

Nightwatching(en)

An extravagant, exotic and moving look at Rembrandt's romantic and professional life, and the controversy he created by the identification of a murderer in the painting The Night Watch.

End of History(en)

A man obsessed with motivational and right wing culture war videos goes on a hollow road trip of discovery.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button(en)

Born under unusual circumstances, Benjamin Button springs into being as an elderly man in a New Orleans nursing home and ages in reverse. Twelve years after his birth, he meets Daisy, a child who flits in and out of his life as she grows up to be a dancer. Though he has all sorts of unusual adventures over the course of his life, it is his relationship with Daisy, and the hope that they will come together at the right time, that drives Benjamin forward.

Investigations of a Breakup(en)

Sophia struggles with overthinking her life as a poor, nihilistic drifter. Exiled to a life of solitude, she has the chance to change it all upon meeting Liza one night... Did she let her in or was she destined to burn it all? The aftermath of their breakup is explored through three different angles.

Puenting (Leap of Faith)(es)

A first feature based on sexual events. An actress undertakes her desire of directing her first movie, without a budget or any production company funding her project. She gathers a group of professional actors and actresses, and proposes a project based on a very particular experience: stepping on their fears through a metaphorical 'leap of faith'. As the project advances, individual conflicts will arise affecting the shoot, making the movie crew wonder whether or not they should go on. Will they take the leap of faith with all its consequences?

10:30 P.M. Summer(en)

A female traveling companion seduces a married man and his alcoholic wife.

Kiri and the Girl(en)

After the death of her mother, a young girl finds her strength and reconnects to her world.

Koh kood(en)

A young lad solo traveling to the end of Thailand hidden Gem Island known as Koh Kood. A fiery of storms and uncontrollable waves appear while departing off this island after a couple of nights of unimaginable paradise, beautiful landscapes, sceneries and breathtaking adventures.

The Performance(en)

Harold May, an excellent Jewish-American tap dancer, on tour in Europe with his company, receives an offer from a German that is difficult to pass up: a large sum to put on a show in Berlin. The German does not know that Harold is of Jewish origins; the year is 1937 and, once they arrive in Germany, the company discovers that he will have to perform in the presence of Adolf Hitler.

Morceaux choisis - Episoden aus dem Leben des Julius Schönfeld(de)

The film begins in 1780 and follows the footsteps of the poet Julius Schönfeld based on his fragmentary diary. The film tells the story of his life at a princely court in Germany in episodic form. One celebration follows another. But the prince's carefree everyday life takes a bitter turn: his cook dies. On her deathbed, however, she asks him to take care of her two children after her death. The prince promises to fulfill her request, probably only because she was his favorite cook. Thus, life changes abruptly for Julius and his sister.

The Seventh Seal(sv)

When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.

Green is Neutral in a Purple World(en)

A queer poet navigates heartbreak through writing, techno, and self-destruction.