SONNENALLEE - KOTTBUSSER TOR - MEDIASPREE

It’s the variety that makes Berlin special. It’s all about the contrasts between the different neighbourhoods, the daylife, the nightlife and most important the people living there. They are people from all over the world with individual interests, aims, problems and various social backgrounds. They meet in the centre of their daily life: their Kiez, their neighbourhood – sometimes in harmony, but often full of tension.

The Berlin short film festival kiezkieken makes it possible to show personal perspectives on chosen neighbourhoods cinematically and by this to share it with others. With this aim we are addressing everybody, no matter if old or young, if “home-grown” or new in Berlin, if professional or amateur. It’s your chance to have a say a in the matter of the neighbourhood and its facets.

This year, kiezkieken is designed around four locations that symbolize all the troublespots and focal points of Berlin. The area around the Kottbusser Tor as well as around Sonnenallee was categorized for strong interventions under the programme for urban development in the neighbourhood management. The “Kotti” is one of the hot spots in Berlin where families and drug dealers and addicts meet interface every day. As for the project of Mediaspree, one side thinks of the planned investigations along the respective part of the Spree to be a real godsend to bring new attractions and jobs into the neighbourhood. The other side however fears the increase of apartment rent and the disappearance of open spaces and established trendy hotspots. It’s the contrasts that makes the Oranienburger Straße so interesting as well: One of the worldwide biggest synagogues surrounded by the well-known red-light district, a very touristy area as well as the house of art Tacheles. These factors are always ready to become the trigger for conflicts.

Special about kiezkieken is the interaction between the films and their settings. The films are presented in close coffeeshops or bars so that the audience can visualize their own perception of the area as well as the perspective of the film makers. In this way, kiezkieken tries to create an access to new and unknown perspectives and to capture the diversity of the Berlin areas through the composition of different film material.

Which every-day aspects do the film makers take up? Do the locals consider the pre- sentations proper? What benefits does life in the neighbourhoods provide? Which points of view are coming together?

Variety makes interaction essential. We give you the chance for it.