Berlinale 2016: Deutsche Kinemathek and Osram meet Volker Schlöndorff and Wolfgang Kohlhaase

The specialist for film lighting and projection is one of the cooperation partners to present the 2016 Retrospective

In cooperation with Osram, Deutsche Kinemathek will show the Retrospective entitled “Germany 1966 – Redefining Cinema” at this year's Berlin International Film Festival. Yesterday, Volker Schlöndorff and Wolfgang Kohlhaase shared their personal experiences from an eventful 1966. “As one of the leading lighting manufacturers in film and cinema lighting, we are delighted to have the opportunity to talk to people from the industry at this event”, said Hans-Joachim Schwabe, CEO Specialty Lighting at Osram. “This enables us to strengthen our long-term relationships and to learn first-hand which requirements lighting has to meet in film-making today.”

In an interview with Rainer Rother, Head of Deutsche Kinemathek, Volker Schlöndorff and Wolfgang Kohlhaase described how differently the film industry was developing exactly 50 years ago. It was at a crossroads; in the West, New German Cinema had its breakthrough and people could feel the spirit of optimism. “Young Törless”, a film by Volker Schlöndorff based on a novel, won three German Film Awards and received the Film Critics Award in Cannes. Things on the other side of the wall were completely different. Films that openly dealt with contradictions of everyday socialist life were banned by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, for example “Berlin um die Ecke” based on a screenplay by Wolfgang Kohlhaase. Often they were made accessible to the audience only years later. 

From February 11 to 21, 2016, the Retrospective will show around twenty feature films and documentaries from both parts of Germany. Osram has made a name for itself in the film and cinema industry as a lighting and projection expert and supports Deutsche Kinemathek as a long-term cooperation partner. Through its commitment, the Munich-based company wants to draw attention to how important lighting is in the film industry, both in front of and behind the camera. Its HMI lamp for film and TV productions won an Oscar in 1987, and the Xenon lamp (XBO) for projecting the film onto the screen won one in 1983. Today one in three cinema projectors across the world uses Osram lamps.

For details on the 2016 Retrospective click here, for further information on lighting for film and TV productions from Osram click here, and for information on projection systems for cinemas click here.