Thank you for 11 years HEIMSPIEL!

Fritz Göttler of the Süddeutsche Zeitung praised Heimspiel as “one of the really best festivals in Germany”. Referring to the event, director, Grimme-Preis winner and regular festival guest Dominik Graf said: “What is shown here has an exceptional position – a film festival with enormous charm.” This praise along with the experiences of many thousands of attendees and contributors over a decade is truly a testament to the work that was, and will continue to be done surrounding this festival.

In the eleven years of its existence, the festival has become a permanent institution in Regensburg’s cultural life. Every November the festival brought the highlights of the cinema and festival season to the city and distinguished itself through its passionately curated film selection and high standards. A special focus on the promotion of German-language cinema made Heimspiel a magnet for prominent and top-class industry representatives.

After a successful, well attended, tenth anniversary season in November 2018, founder and festival director Dr. Sascha Keilholz left Regensburg to take up a position as director of the International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg. Chrissy Grundl, Felix Rieger and Stefan Wallner, A young trio, which has already been actively involved in the festival, heralded the future with the interim edition Heimspiel im Transit 2019. From 2020, a volunteer team of film enthusiasts, media scientists, and students under the direction of Chrissy Grundl continue the festival’s curatorial vision, focusing on innovative, decisive and controversial productions that push boundaries and challenge assumptions. After much deliberation, the name “Transit” was chosen as a way to communicate these curatorial values.

Programme review