Please don't forget to clap

The 43rd Munich Film Festival officially commenced on Friday, running until July 5th at the Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film (HFF). While the festival was formally opened with the film *Vaterland*, starring Sandra Hüller and Hanns Zischler, the true unofficial kickoff came in the form of a new episode of the popular German TV series *Tatort*. This particular episode, titled "Zwischenwelten," marked the debut of a new duo: Ferdinand Hofer as Kalli Hammermann and Carlo Ljubek as Nikola Buvak. The episode received widespread acclaim from the audience, who felt they had witnessed a successful revival of the Bavarian *Tatort* series. According to reports, director Katharina Bischof successfully transformed the previously under-the-radar assistant Kalli into a fully-fledged commissioner Hammermann. His partner, Nikola Buvak, played by Carlo Ljubek, brought a charm reminiscent of Charles Bronson and a voice similar to that of Klaus J. Behrendt, known for his role in the Cologne *Tatort*.

Ferdinand Hofer shared his relief after the premiere, noting that the audience reacted appropriately and that the two very different detectives—both on screen and off—managed to work well together. He emphasized their mutual respect and how their values aligned despite initial appearances. Hofer humorously noted the differences between himself and his character, stating that while he is a fan of FC Bayern Munich, his character is more of a 60s person. This dynamic, according to Hofer, enriched their collaboration and allowed them to support each other's growth.

The festival’s organizers, Christoph Gröner and Julia Weigl, have already moved on from the opening events but left behind personal recommendations for attendees. Weigl praised the “warm analog summer images” in Sandra Wollner’s drama *Everytime*, featuring Birgit Minichmayr, and recommended *Identitti* from the “New German Cinema” series. Both Gröner and Weigl highlighted *Geträumte Abenteuer* by Valeska Grisebach as a must-watch. Seventeen films directly traveled from Cannes to Munich this year, making up part of the total 130 films, documentaries, and series from 56 countries showcased at the festival. Of these, 45 were world premieres.

The official opening ceremony featured *Vaterland*, directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, which was presented in black-and-white. The director requested the audience to remember to clap when appropriate, though there wasn’t much applause during the screening. In contrast, the new green mayor of Munich, Dominik Krause, received full applause during the evening. Krause drew parallels between the world of Thomas Mann and today’s political climate, emphasizing the need for vigilance against authoritarian regimes that threaten freedom of thought, culture, and art. He urged all democrats to maintain their commitment to the "firewall" of democracy even in 2026.

Florian Herrmann, the state minister from CSU, took a combative stance toward Berlinale chief Tricia Tuttle, asserting that Munich’s film festival has grown significantly and that Berlin would need to step up its game. He highlighted the substantial investment made by the Bavarian state in supporting the film industry in Munich and Bavaria, amounting to 43 million euros annually.

Among the notable attendees were actors such as Sunnyi Melles, who appeared with her daughter Leonille Wittgenstein. Leonille recently wrapped filming with Kirsten Dunst and Keanu Reeves and credited her mother for teaching her wit and resilience, particularly in handling rejection. Zoe Fürmann, who landed the lead role in the new Amazon series *Superior*, shared her journey from an e-casting process to securing the role, which took one and a half years. Her co-star, Lisa-Marie Koroll, who plays an ambitious auto mechanic in the racing series *Drive – The Pretenders*, waited six months before landing her main role. She expressed a deep affinity for cars and mentioned having a point in Flensburg, indicating her passion for the automotive world.

Philip Pratt, head of "Deutsche Originals" at Amazon Studios, emphasized the growing momentum of German storytelling across multiple genres. He pointed out that productions originating from Germany are gaining global recognition, citing successes such as *Maxton Hall*, whose third and final season is set to air in December, along with the film *Der Tiger* and *LOL*. The latter, a comedy format originally from Japan, holds the top spot among non-English language series on Prime Video worldwide.

Moritz Bleibtreu, known for his frequent collaborations with Prime Video, praised the understanding of genre filmmaking by directors after decades of experience. His comments specifically targeted Tarek Roehlinger, the director of the comedy *Morgen ist jetzt*, where Bleibtreu portrays a family man. Bleibtreu also stars in the ARD mystery series *Ritus* and believes that the competition among streaming platforms enriches the landscape, although he laments the impact on traditional cinema.

The upcoming days promise a wealth of cinematic experiences, starting with the awarding of the CineMerit Award to Italian actor and theater director Toni Servillo. His latest film, *La Grazia*, was subsequently screened. On Tuesday, renowned filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar will be present, further adding to the prestige of the festival. As the event progresses, audiences can expect a diverse array of films and discussions that highlight both local and international talent, reinforcing Munich's status as a significant hub for cinematic excellence.