Southern Lights

Cinema of the Global South

Southern Lights is an event that celebrates diversity and highlights various approaches to cinema through a selection of films and related activities. Discussions with filmmakers and talks with experts, which give space to different perspectives, are an important part of the festival.

Southern Lights complements the film festivals and series organized by the DFF – Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum, which have been actively exploring the cinema of different parts of the world for many years. Building upon this tradition, Southern Lights places emphasis on films from the global South. The festival originated in 2020 under the guidance of the DFF’s 360° team as part of the German Federal Cultural Foundation’s 360° – Fund for Cultures of the New Urban Society program. This program aims to increase the accessibility of cultural institutions to diverse and traditionally underrepresented audiences. The accompanying program of the festival is shaped by various actors, institutions, associations, and initiatives within Frankfurt’s diverse communities.

Looking Back

In its first year, 2020, Southern Lights focused on the perspectives of young people. The second edition, in 2021, focused on “Mobility” and explored various facets of movement and mobility, such as freedom, flight, migration, travel, and physical disability. The third edition, in 2022, focused on “Relationships” and took a look at the diversity of human bonds.