From July to November 2022, this cultural engagement project aimed to foster a dialog about cinema and film by offering different experiences and perspectives in seven different formats. As part of the “WE” initiative, we invited Frankfurt residents from various migrant self-organizations to actively participate and help shape both the DFF space and local communities as inclusive meeting places. Key partners in this initiative included organizations such as the family education center “Al Karama” in Frankfurt’s Nordweststadt and “Über den Tellerrand Frankfurt”.
At the inaugural event, five film enthusiasts with international backgrounds each presented a film they personally loved and wanted to share with an audience on the big screen. The first two screenings took place in July at the DFF cinema. In collaboration with film educator Julian Namé, Nevin Bal Vagelakos presented Fatih Akin’s documentary “CROSSING THE BRIDGE – THE SOUND OF ISTANBUL” (DE 2005), a musical exploration of Istanbul. A week later, Laura Palys and Brygida Goryluk presented “ZIMNA WOJNA” (Cold War – The Latitude of Love, 2005) by Pawel Pawlikowski. The screenings were followed by lively discussions, which continued in the foyer of the theater.
In addition to the screenings, two “Behind the Scenes” tours offered insights into the DFF and Frankfurt’s city center. These tours were led by film educator Julian Namé and city guide Simone Rodriguez Stöhr. The initiative was launched in July 2022, with another tour planned for the fall.
The formats tested in the “WE” project have been integrated into the DFF’s ongoing outreach program.
The “WE” initiative was part of the state program “WE – Diversity and Participation” supported by the Hessian Ministry for Social Affairs and Integration.
