History

Outline

 

INTERFILM was founded 1955 in Paris by delegates of Protestant film associations in Europe. Jan Hes from The Netherlands is appointed as General Secretary, fulfilling this task until his death in 1991.

In 1961, an INTERFILM Prize is awarded for the first time. The film chosen is "Wild Strawberries" by Ingmar Bergman.

The first festival juries arise 1963 in Berlin and Mannheim, Oberhausen follows in 1964, Cannes in 1968; because the festival is cancelled after student protests, the first INTERFILM Prize in Cannes is awarded only in 1969. The winner is "Easy Rider" by Dennis Hopper.

1973 the first Ecumenical Jury is created in Locarno, the members being appointed by INTERFILM and OCIC (Office Catholique International de Cinema, later SIGNIS). More ecumenical juries are built in Cannes (1974) and Montréal (1979). Since the nineties, most festival juries involving INTERFILM delegates are ecumenical. Pure INTERFILM juries exist in Luebeck (since 1996) and Venice (since 2011).

Since 1989 Hans Werner Dannowski from Hannover as president (till 2004), and Hans Hodel from Bern as jury coordinator, since 2004 also as president, shape the INTERFILM acitvities.

In 2005 INTERFILM celebrates its 50th anniversary in Locarno. In the same year, Julia Helmke publishes her dissertation on the history of church film festival commitment ("Kirche, Film und Festivals. Geschichte sowie Bewertungskriterien evangelischer und ökumenischer Juryarbeit in den Jahren 1948 bis 1988" - Church, film, and festivals. History and criteria of Evangelical and ecumenical juries from 1948 till 1988).

In addition to festival observation and festival valuation INTERFILM regularly organises seminars and conferences, the first already in 1957 in Swanwick (UK), 1966 in Arnoldshain near Frankfurt/M, several times in The Netherlands and Switzerland, and 1987 in Colombo. 1997 a series of conferences entitled "Faces of Europe - Europe's Face" is launched in Bad Segeberg, followed by Riga (1999), Sofia (2011) Iasi (2003) and Crete (2004).

At the Berlinale 2000, the first INTERFILM website is launched.

 

 

Marks in the history of INTERFILM

from 1955-2005

 

General Assemblys and other meetings

by Hans Hodel

 

1949

 

Film Congres of the “Service Cinémathographique d’Evangelisation (SERCINEV) in Paris with representatives of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and of church film services from several European countries with propositions for future collaboration.

 

1955

 

22th October

(1.) Gründungsversammlung in the „Maison du Protestantisme“ in Paris

- Foundation INTERFILM under the names: International Interchurch Film Centre; Centre International Evangelique du Film and Internationales Evangelisches Filmzentrum.

- First members  Commission du Cinéma des Eglises Suisses Romande; Filmcentrum Holland; Filmwerk der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland; Office Cinématographique de l’Eglise Neuchâteloise; Service Cinématographique d’Evangelisation (Sercinev) France.

- President: Rev. Henri de Tienda (France);

- General Secretary: Dr. Jan Hes (The Netherlands)

 

1956

 

14th-15th January

1st meeting of the Board of Directors in Paris

 

3rd May

2nd meeting of the Board of Directors at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey/Geneva during the ecumenical consultation about audiovisual media of the Information Dept. of the WCC Geneva, with observers from the church film services from Denmark, Belgium, Norway, Italy, and from the United Bible Societies

- New members: Christian Cinema and Religious Film Society (Grand Britain); Filmstelle des Oberkirchenrates (Austria).

- First edition of the „Information“ from the „Centre International Evangelique du Film“ by Rev. Werner Hess on July 15, 1956, with 36 pages.

 

26.-29. September

2nd General Assembly in Wien/Vienna (Austria)

- New members: Christian Film Council Norway; Kirkliga Filmbyrros Sweden; “Protestantischer Film- und Radioverband“ Switzerland

 

1957

 

16th –21th  June

International Film Conference „Film in the Church“ in Swanwick (UK) unter dem Patronat des WCC, u.a. mit Dr. J. Stuhlmacher, Matthiasfilm Stuttgart, Rev. Werner Hess, Germany, Dr. Friedrich  Hochstrasser, Switzerland

 

18th June

Meeting of the Board of Directors in Swanwick (UK)

 

1958

 

13.-15. Mai

3rd General Assembly in Copenhagen (Denmark)

 

1959

 

29. Mai-1.Juni

4th General Assembly in Lucerne/Luzern (Switzerland)

- Screening of new films, like “Calvin”, “Rembrandt”, “Des andern Last”

- Conference by Mady de Tienda about “Film in the christian education” (in French)

- The General Secretary in Hilversum is now the official seat of INTERFILM

- The new President is Dr. Friedrich Hochstrasser, Lucerne (Switzerland)

 

1960

 

16.-18. Mai

5th General Assembly in Hamburg (Germany)

- Thema: „Filmkritik und biblische Filme“,

- Referat von Dr. Stefanie von Prochaska, Film- und Fernsehbeauftragte (Wien)

- Erstmalige (und einmalige) Herausgabe eines Film-Jahrbuchs in deutscher Sprache Nr. 1-1959/60, 70 Seiten.

 

1961

 

21.-23. April

6th General Assembly in Utrecht (The Netherlands)

- Erster INTERFILM-Preis für den besten Spielfilm an „Wilde Früchte“ (Wilde Erdbeeren/Wild Strawberries/Les Fraises Sauvages)  von Ingmar Bergmann, Schweden, 1957/58.

 

1962

 

26th –29th April

7th General Assembly in Brussels (Belgium)

- Leitsätze zum Thema „Mensch und Massenmedien“

- Zweiter Filmpreis für den besten Spielfilm an „Frage 7“ (Question Seven) von Stuart Rosenberg, USA/BRD 1960.

 

1963

 

9th-12th May

8th General Assembly in Stockholm (Sweden)

- Thema „Kirche und Filmproduktion“, Referat von Dr. B. Lauritzen (Stockholm)

- Short film Award for „Andras Bördör“ by Per Söderberg, Sweden and Commencation for the fiction film „The miracle worker” by Arthur Penn, USA.

- Das Informationsblatt von INTERFILM soll nun monatlich erscheinen.

 

Die Jury der INTERFILM, die zum erstenmal am Filmfestival in Berlin einen Preis

verleiht, zeichnet den Film „Lilien auf dem Felde“ von Ralph Nelson mit der Luther-Rose aus.

 

Erste INTERFILM-Jury an der „Mannheimer Dokumentar-und Kurzfilmwoche“ (später: Internationale Filmwoche Mannheim bzw. Internationales Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg) und Auszeichnung des Kurzfilms „Italia proibita“ von Enzo Biagi“ mit der Luther-Rose.

 

1964

 

23.-24. April

9th General Assembly in London (United Kingdom)

- Verleihung von Kurzfilmpreisen

- Aufnahme neuer Mitglieder aus Nordamerika

 

1st INTERFILM Award at the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen:

Luther-Rose in Form einer Medaille und dotiert mit 3'000 DM gestiftet von der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland an „Automania“ von John Halas (UK).

 

1965

 

8.-10. October

10th General Assembly in Paris (France)

- Thema: „Die geistigen Einflüsse der neuen Bildwelt auf den modernen Menschen“

- Neben dem Präsidenten wird die Funktion einer Chairperson des Board of Directors geschaffen und hierzu Oberkirchenrat Dr. Hermann Gerber (Germany) gewählt.

 

Erster (und einmaliger) INTERFILM-Preis am Filmfestival Locarno für „Aarhoi“ (Der Aufstieg“) von Tapon Sinha (Indien)

 

Silberner INTERFILM-Award an der Internationalen Filmwoche Arnhem (NL)  an Sidney Lumet für sein Werk.

 

Die Radio- und Filmkommission des Nationalen Rates der Protestantischen Kirchen Amerikas verleiht Preise an fünf Filme, u.a. an „Der Pfandleiher“ von Martin Ritt.

 

1966

 

14.-15. February

11th General Assembly in Oberhausen (Germany)

- Rückblick von Jan Hes auf zehn Jahre INTERFILM.

 

Grosser Preis von INTERFILM für das filmische Werk von Norman McLaren am Filmfestival von Edingburgh.

 

1st Audio Visual Aids (AVA) Consultation about „Bible and Image“ in Lage Vuursche (NL)

 

4.-6.Oktober

1st Study Conference together with the Academy Arnoldshain (Germany):

- Referate von Dr.Friedrich.Hochstrasser (Luzern), Prof. Dr. Alphons Silbermann (Lausanne/Köln), und dem Generalbevollmächtigten des C.Bertelsmann-Verlags, Dr. M. Köhnlechner (Gütersloh), dem Verleiher, Produzent und Theaterbesitzer Hanns Eckelkamp  (Duisburg) und dem Abteilungsleiter beim ZDF, Klaus Brüne (Wiesbaden).

- Der epd-Informationsdienst Kirche und Film“ publizierte in einer Sonderausgabe vom 10.10.66 den Wortlaut bzw. die wichtigsten Passagen einiger Vorträge.

 

1967

 

31rd March-2nd April

2nd AVA-Consultation „Looking on Images“ in Lage Vuursche (NL)

 

3.-5. April

12th General Assembly in Oberhausen (Germany)

- Theme: „What can the Churches do to promote the good film?”

 

2.-4. October

2nd  INTERFILM Study Conference at Oud-Poelegest (NL)

- Theme: „Film and the changing morality“

 

INTERFILM Award 1967 to the Dutch cinematographer Bert Haanstra for the totality of his work.

 

„A Man of all Seasons”, directed by Fred Zinnemann is the first film in the USA to be awarded both by Protestant and Catholic Film Commissions.

 

Dr. Jan Hes, Generalsekretär von INTERFILM, wird zum Direktor des Niederländischen Filminstituts und zum Generaldelegierten der niederländischen Filmakademie ernannt.

 

1968

 

21th-27th January

1st INTERFILM-Jury at the Agricultural Film Festival in Berlin. Award for “Un Cri”, by Armand Chartier.

 

5. April

13th General Assembly in Oberhausen (Germany)

- Theme: „The short film in church and school“, Conference, held by Arthur Lomas, England.

 

Erstmals INTERFILM-Jury am Internat.Filmfestival Cannes, das aufgrund der Studentenunruhen frühzeitig abgebrochen wird. Jury mit Mady de Tienda (Frankreich), Dr.F.Hochstrasser (Schweiz), Ernest McEven (USA), Dietmar Schmidt (Deutschland). Es kommt zu keiner Preisverleihung.

 

7.-10. June

3rd AVA-Consultation in London: “Audio-Visual Experiments in Worship”

 

4.-20. July

1st Ecumenical Film Festival at the 4th Assembly of the WCC in Uppsala.

First screening of John Taylor’s short films“Homo Homini” and “Acceleration”.

 

27.-29.September

3rd Study Conference in Arnoldshain

- Theme: „Marks of the Gospel in modern filming“.

 

1969

 

 23. March

14th General Assembly in Oberhausen (Germany)

- Nach dem Rücktritt von Dr.Hermann Gerber als Filmbeauftragter Deutschlands wird Arthur Lomas (London)  neuer Chairman.

 

1st  INTERFILM award at the Film Festival in Cannes for the film „Easy Rider“ by Peter Fonda und Denis Hopper.

 

6.-9.Juni

4th AVA-Consultation „Wort und Bild –Mittel der Kommunikation“ im Haus Villigst in Schwerte

 

4.-5. October

a.o. Generalversammlung in Arnhem (NL)

- Changes in the Statutes to build an organizational structure for Interfilm that is more world-wide that the present one. New: The Presidency would change from year to year within the Central Committee.

- President for 1970: Dr.Friedrich Hochstrasser resp. Ernest McEwen (USA).

 

6.-11. October

4th Study Conference in Arnhem (NL)

 

1970

 

Die in New York geplante Generalversammlung kann nicht stattfinden, „because the internal organization of Interfilm in North America had not yet been completed.“

 

8.-11. Mai

5th AVA-Consultation “New Media – new possibilities“  in Hedenesse/NL

 

1971

 

26.-27. April

15th General Assembly in Oberhausen (Germany)

- Statutenrevision: New individual membership to people who are active in the field of film and audiovisuals.

- President for 1971: Rolando Zapata (Mexico)

- Honorary President: Dr.Friedrich Hochstrasser, Lucerne (Switzerland)

 

17th-20th May

1st OCIC/INTERFILM AVA-Consultation in Gwatt a/Thunersee (Switzerland).

about the use of short films and audiovisual aids in the service of the Christian message and responsibility, with 90 participants

 

1972

 

24.-26. April

16th General Assembly in Oberhausen (Germany)

- Teilnehmer: Mme Mady de Tienda (France), Dr. Gerd Albrecht (Western Germany), Dr. R.Boeke, Drs Jan Hes and Mr.Wim Los (Netherlands), John Taylor (WCC), Rev. Dölf Rindlisbacher (Switzerland), Lars Sundh (Sweden)

- Rev. Harald Töns (Gelsenkirchen), der sich besonders im AVA-Bereich engagiert hat, tritt aus gesundheitlichen Gründen von seiner Funktion zurück und wird zum Ehrenmitglied ernannt.

- Präsident für 1972: Lars Sundh (Schweden)

 

1973

 

9.-10. April

17th General Assembly (1st part: administrativ session) in Oberhausen

 

27. Mai

17th General Assembly (2nd part) in Vienna/Wien (Austria)

 

27.-31. Mai

2nd OCIC/INTERFILM AVA-Consultation in Wien/Vienna

 

2.-12. August

1st Ecumenical Jury by OCIC and INTERFILM at the Film Festival in Locarno.

Members for INTERFILM are: Per Haddal (Norway), Jan Hes (Netherlands), Dölf Rindlisbacher (Switzerland).

 

1974

 

22.-24. April

18th General Assembly in Oberhausen (Germany)

- Nomination of the curatorium for the Interfilm-Academy, a project for advanced studies in responsible AV communication.

- New ExCom: Dr. Gerd Albrecht (Germany), Dölf Rindlisbacher (Switzerland), John Taylor (WCC).

 

Meeting of the CentCom of WACC, the World Association for Christian Communication, which would like to develop into a multimedia institute.

 

1st Ecumenical Jury by OCIC and INTERFILM at the Film Festival in Cannes.

 

1975

 

5.-6. Mai

19th General Assembly in Oberhausen (Germany)

 

12th May

Foundation of the World Association for Christian Communication in London (WACC). General Secretary: Dr.Hans-Wilhelm Florin (Hamburg).

 

24.-25. October

20th General Assembly in Paris (France)

zum 20jährigen Bestehen von INTERFILM (see reports No 26/27, S.47) and 25th anniversary Congress by „Film et Vie France“

- New Honorary Members: Pfr.Henri de Tienda (Paris), Dr. Anton Dronkers (Utrecht)

 

24. November-9.December

2nd Ecumenical Film Festival at the 5th Assembly of the WCC in Nairobi

 

1976

 

1.-3. März

Study Conference together with GEP in Arnoldshain

 

26.-27. April

21st General Assembly in Oberhausen (Germany)

Present are only five members(!). See reports No 30/31, p.6)

- New president: John Taylor (WCC)

- Jan Hes will represent INTERFILM in the CentCom of WACC

 

1977

 

28th May-2nd June

First INTERFILM Award and commendation at the 19th American Film Festival

 

First INTERFILM-Jury at the International Festival of Animated Film in Annecy, France, intiated by John Taylor (Reports No 32/33)

 

22nd-23rd  June

22nd General Assembly in Berlin (Germany)

 

27th-29th October

Seminar of the INTERFILM Academy in Brunswick (Germany)

Theme: “Passions of film analysis”

 

1978

 

21.-23. Juni

INTERFILM Study Conference in Bern-Bürenpark (Switzerland)

- Theme: „The christian message and the social-critical film“.

 

23rd June

23rd General Assembly in Berne (Switzerland

 

1979

 

25.-26. Mai

24th General Assembly during the 21st American Film Festival in New York

- New structure based on three regions: Europe, North America, Developing Countries.

- It is understood, that the Interfilm-Academy is not a separate institution, but a function of INTERFILM.

- NetWIC (Network of Women in Communication)

- INTERFILM has 38 member organisations and 112 individual members.

 

1st Ecumenical Jury by OCIC and INTERFILM at the World Film Festival in Montréal

 

13.-15, November

2. Europ.Gruppenmedien-Konsultation (Film und Gruppenmedien) mit WACC Europa

 

1980

 

20.-21. September

25th General Assembly in Hilversum (The Netherlands)

im Rahmen eines Symposions als Teil des 19. „Festikon“

- New President: Carlos Valle, (Argentinien)

- Eckart Bruchner (München) new Secretary of the Interfilm-Academy

- New Honorary Members: Mady de Tienda (France), Rudolph Boeke (Netherlands), Roger Durupthy (Switzerland), Hermann Gerber (Germany)

 

28.-29. November

3. Europ.Gruppenmedien-Konsultation in Arnoldshain

 

1981

 

15th-17th June

4th Women-Workshop by INTERFILM Europe in Berne

 

17.-20. Juni

26th General Assembly in Geneva/Genf (Switzerland)

im Rahmen einer Studienkonferenz zum Thema „Jugend und Kino“, organized by Maurice Terrail

 

1982

 

9. April

Tod von John P. Taylor, Filmmaker and photographer of the WCC Geneva, former President of INTERFILM.

 

8.-10. Mai

27th General Assembly in Zeist (The Netherlands))

 

1983

 

25. September

28th General Assembly in Ravensburg (Germany)

 

25th July-6th August

3rd Ecumenical Film Fortnight at the 6th Assembly of the WCC in Vancouver with a retrospective of John Taylor’s films, coordinated by Jan Hes on the request of the Communication Department of the WCC.

 

1st-2nd November

Film seminar in Copenhagen about religious dimensions in Film

 

1984

 

30. Juni

29th General Assembly in München (Germany)

- Board if Director for 1984-88: Carlos A. Valle, Buenos Aires (for Latin America/Caribbean), Elisabeth Okarenje, Nairobi (for Africa), Felix Permawardhana, Colombo (for Asia/Pacific), Dölf Rindlisbacher, Berne (for Europe),, Amal Dibo, Beirut (for Middle East), James M.Wall, Chicago (for North America) and Jan Hes, General Secretary. President is Carlos A.Valle.

 

1985

 

1st INTERFILM-Jury am Max Ophüls-Festival in Saarbrücken

 

June, 27th-28th

6th Women’s Workshop of INTERFILM in Munich, led by Katharina Jung (Berne), President of INTERFILM’s Women’s Committee. Theme: “Fear and how to deal with it”. Participation of more than 30 women from the Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the USA.

 

8.-11. November

30th General Assembly in Paris (France)

- Some minor changes in the statutes, which include the Women’s Committee;

- Hans W. Dannowski, the new Film Commissioner of the EKD is elected chairman  of the ExCom and new member of the Board of Directors;

- Gerd Albrecht is new President of the Interfilm Academy Committee.

- New in the Board of Directors are therefore: Hans W.Dannowski (Germany), Gerd Albrecht (Germany), Conrad Boerma (WCC) and Katharina Jung (Switzerland).

- New Honorary President: Henri de Tienda (France).

 

1986

 

May

Carlos A.Valle, since 1982 President of INTERFILM, has been elected as the new General Secretary of WACC. At the occasion of the meeting of the CentCom of WACC in Neumarket/England, a meeting of the Board of Directors of INTERFILM appointed Amal Dibo from Beirut/Lebanon as the new President.

 

21st-29th June

1st One-Future-Award of the Interfilm-Academy Munich at the 4st Filmfest Munich for “Half Life” by Dennis O’Rourke.

 

1987

 

9th-13th January

1st Inter-Cultural Film Seminar in Colombo followed by an  Intercultural-Study tour in Sri Lanka, organised by Felix Premawardhana, Head of the Comm. Dept. of the National Christian Council

31st General Assembly in Colombo (Sri Lanka)

- Genehmigung des Jahresberichts 1986

- Gerd Albrecht remains as Chairman of the Interfilm Academy Committee

 

28. Juni

32nd General Assembly in München (Germany)

- Genehmigung der Jahresrechnung 1986 und Budget 1987.

- Entscheid, am „Agricultural Film- and Television Festival Berlin“ wegen ausbleibender finanzieller Unterstützung keine Jury mehr zu entsenden.

 

1988

 

17.-19. Juni

Internat. Kongress des Frauenkomitees Interfilm in Bern

Thema: „Mitenand – 2000“: Gerechtigkeit, Frieden, Bewahrung der Schöpfung

 

19. Juni

33rd General Assembly in Berne (Switzerland)

- New President: Das Präsidium von INTERFILM wird anstelle der „verschollenen“ Amal Dibo kommissarisch von Hans Werner Dannowski (Hannover) übernommen.

 

1989

 

1st Ecumenical Jury by OCIC and INTERFILM together with delegates of the Russian-Orthodox Church at the Film Festival in Moscou.

Members for INTERFILM are Rüdiger Schloz and Hans Hodel.

 

3.-5. November

34th General Assembly in Hannover (Germany)

Change of Statutes:

- Unification of the function of President of the Association and Chairman of the ExCom:

- Meeting of the General Assembly at least every four years;

- acceptation of the Festival Coordinator as a member of the Board.

- Hans W. Dannowski (Germany) is elected officially President of INTERFILM;

- James M.Wall (USA) and Felix Premawardhana (Sri Lanka) were elected Vice-Presidents;

- Hans Hodel (Switzerland) is elected as the new Jury co-ordinator.

 

1991

 

15. September

Tod von Jan Hes, General Secretary of INTERFILM

 

1st Ecumenical Jury at the Leipzig International Festival for Documentaries and Animation Films.

 

1992

 

 1st Ecumenical Jury by OCIC and INTERFILM at the International Filmfestival Berlin (including the International Forum for Young Cinema).

 

22st February

Foundation of Pro-Fil France in Paris by Jean Domon

 

1993

 

17. November

35th General Assembly in Arnoldshain (Germany)

- Im Rahmen einer Statutenrevision wird die Schaffung selbständiger Regionen von INTERFILM Global beschlossen.

- Hans W.Dannowski wird sowohl als Präsident von INTERFILM Europa wiedergewählt wie auch als Präsident von INTERFILM Global gewählt.

 

1994

 

Erste Oekumenische Jury in St.Petersburg

 

1st Ecumenical Jury by INTERFILM and OCIC at the IFF in Karlovy Vary.

 

1995

 

24. September

36th General Assembly in Geneva/Genf (Switzerland)

- Jubiläumsveranstaltung 40 Jahre INTERFILM

 

1st Ecumenical Jury at the International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg.

 

1996

 

1st INTERFILM-Jury at the Nordic Film Days in Lübeck.

 

1997

 

16.-19.Januar

„Gesichter Europas – Europas Gesicht“. Eine nordisch-deutsche Filmbegegnung von INTERFILM in der Akademie Bad Segeberg (Deutschland)

 

15. Oktober

37th General Assembly in Mannheim-Heidelberg (Germany)

 

Stiftung eines jährlichen European John Templeton Film Awards

 

Studienprojekt „Film und Theologie“ von Lothar Warneke an der HFF Postdam-Babelsberg

 

1998

 

16.-19.April

Internat. Filmseminar by INTERFILM, WACC and ProFil in Nimes (France): „Europa eine Seele geben“. Ein filmischer Blick auf die Länder Südeuropas.

 

1999

 

7.-11. April

„Integration and desintegration – Europe’s two faces“. North-East European film conference of INTERFILM and WACC in Riga (Latvia).

 

1st Ecumenical Jury at the Film Festival Molodist in Kiev.

 

1st Ecumenical Jury by INTERFILM and OCIC at the Festival for East-European Cinema in Cottbus (Germany).

 

2000

 

31.Mai-4.Juni

North European Film Meeting and Seminar in Örebro (Sweden) by INTERFILM, WACC and the Kulturrad of the Swedish Church

 

1st Ecumenical Jury at the film festival for children and youth in Zlin

 

18. November

38th General Assembly in Mannheim-Heidelberg (Germany)

- Alexandr Askoldov (Russia), Wim Koole (Netherlands, Dölf Rindlisbacher and Maurice Terrail (Switzerland) and Fee Vaillant (Germany) new Honorary Members.

- Statutenrevision mit dem Ziel, schlankere Strukturen einzurichten; Präsidium anstelle des ExCom und Verkleinerung des Leitungsausschusses/SteerCom; Generalversammlung neu mindestens alle drei (statt bisher vier) Jahre,

 

2001

 

Verantwortung für die Oekumenische am Festival de Film du Sud in Fribourg (Suisse) durch SIGNIS und INTERFILM.

 

1st Ecumenical Jury by OCIC and INTERFILM at the film festival in Bratislava

 

29.November-3.December

Images of different faiths in Cinema- and TV-films in Balkan Countries

Seminar by “Svetlina” and WACC/INTERFILM and DEZA in Sofia (Bulgaria)

 

2002

 

8.-9. November

„(Dis)Regarding the Image“ - The new controversy about the image in present cinema. A SIGNIS/WACC/INTERFILM-Seminar in Mannheim

 

2003

 

 2.-5. October

„Stories and Signs of Hope in Cinema“

A WACC/INTERFILM/SIGNIS-Seminar in Iasi (Romania)

 

6.-7. November

Europas ferner Osten. Gespräche zum russischen Film in Cottbus

 

2004

 

30. April

39th General Assembly in Oberhausen (Germany)

im Rahmen der 50. Internat. Kurzfilmtage.

- Neue Statuten: INTERFILM wird wieder eine internationale Vereinigung.

- Wahl eines neuen Steering Committes; Wahl von Hans Hodel zum  Präsidenten.

- Hans W.Dannowski (Germany) zum Ehrenpräsidenten ernannt.

- Ehrenmitglieder; Ron Holloway (Germany), Felix E.Premawardhana (Sri Lanka), James M. Wall (USA), Carlos A.Valle (Argentina).

Jubiläums-Filmprogramm: 40 Jahre Interfilm-Präsenz in Oberhausen

18.-26. September

1st INTERFILM-Jury at the Film Festival Arsenals in Riga (Latvia).

October 20-24

„Iconography and Modern Film Culture“, An INTERFILM/WACC-Seminar in the Orthodox Academy of Crete/Kolympari with 35 participants from 12 countries.

4th November

Lecture with the 7th European John Templeton Film Award of the Year 2003 “The Return” by Andrej Sviagintsev in Cottbus.

 

Marks in the history of INTERFILM

Part II, 2005-2015 │ 60 YEARS INTERFILM

                                                                             

General assemblies, meetings and special events

 

2005

 

13th February

Award Ceremony of the 8th European John Templeton Film Award of the Year 2004 for the film “Yasmin” by Kenny Glenaan, endowed by the John Templeton Foundation for the first time with € 10’000.

14th February

Annual meeting of the SteerCom during the Berlinale

18th-24th April

1st Interreligious Jury by SIGNIS and INTERFILM (with the support of the Swiss Catholic Church and the John Templeton Foundation) at the Film Festival “Visions du Reel” in Nyon (Switzerland).

1st John Templeton Award for Documentary Film at the “Visions du Reel” in Nyon, in collaboration with INTERFILM, which is endowed by the John Templeton Foundation with CHF 5’000 (closing down after three years).

20th May

Reception in Cannes for the Ecumenical Jury, hosted by Jacques Charlier, with a surprising birthday-cake  by Corinne and Emmanuel Eugène Dit Rochesson to celebrate the 50th anniversary of INTERFILM.

6th-7th August

50th anniversary of INTERFILM. Presentation of the publication on INTERFILM’s history:

▪ Julia Helmke, Hans Hodel, Karsten Visarius: Church and Film in Dialogue/Kirche und Film im Dialog. Fifty Years INTERFILM 1955-2005, 165 pages, 800 Ex. Additional publications:

▪ Julia Helmke: Kirche, Film und Festivals. Geschichte sowie Beurteilungskriterien Evangelischer und Ökumenischer Juryarbeit in den Jahren 1948-1988, Band XI in der Reihe “Studien zur Christlichen Publizistik”, Erlangen 2005, 479 S.

▪ Philip Lee (WACC), Media Development no 1/2005 “Celebrating Cinema”

Celebration in Locarno with a lecture on INTERFILM’s history by Julia Helmke and round-table discussion with Hans W. Dannowski, Karsten Visarius, Christine Stark, Peter Malone, Charles Martig and Rose Pacatte.

26st September

Apéro at the General Assembly of Pro-Fil  in Paris to commemorate the foundation of INTERFILM on 22nd October in Paris. Greetings by Jean-Arnold de Clermont, President of the “Fédération des Églises Protestantes de France” and the Conference of the European Churches (CEC),  Marc Aellen, General Secretary of SIGNIS, and Jean Lods, President of ProFil.

Jean Domon, the founder of ProFil, is appointed Honorary member of INTERFILM.

6th November

To mark the 50th anniversary of INTERFILM and also the 10th jury of the INTERFILM Church Prize at the Nordic Film Days in Lübeck, the festival is screening Lars von Trier’s film “Breaking the Waves”, the first Church Film Prize in Lübeck in 1996. Introductory talk about the film by the jury member Julia Helmke.

19th/20th November

Meeting of the SteerCom in Mannheim, assisting the screening of “Katzelmacher” by Rainer W. Fassbinder, awarded 1969 in Mannheim by the INTERFILM-Jury.

 

2006

 

11th February

Annual meeting of the SteerCom during the Berlinale.

12th February

Award Ceremony for the 9th European Templeton Film Prize to “L’enfant” by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne in the Französische Friedrichstadtkirche Berlin.

July

INFO no 1/05-1/06

25th November

Meeting of the SteerCom in Mannheim.

Thanks to the helpful support of Waltraud Verlaguet, the need of a French Website can be covered by the link tohttp://profilfrance.free.fr

 

2007

 

January

INFO no 2/06

10th February

40th General Assembly in Berlin, including 23 partcipants. Reflection and discussion on the future of INTERFILM and questions of communication. Introducing input by Werner Schneider-Quindeau.

Hans Hodel re-elected as President. Are elected as members of the SteerCom (and the *Presidium) the former members: Robin Gurney (UK), Julia Helmke (Germany), Ron Holloway (Germany), *Andrew Johnston (Canada), *Denyse Muller (France), Jes Nysten (Denmark), *Werner Schneider-Quindeau (Germany), Gianna Urizio (Italy), Anita Uzulniece (Latvia), *Karsten Visarius (Germany), and new Angelika Obert (Germany). Are co-opted Dietmar Adler (Germany), Daniela Frumusani (Romania) and Christine Stark (Switzerland).

11th February

Special Programme for the Award Ceremony of  the 10th European Templeton Film Prize 2006 to „Grbavica“ by Jasmila Zbanic: Lunch in Hotel Hilton with about 40 guests, followed by the screening oft he awarded film in the Hackesche Höfe. Award Ceremony in the Matthäuskirche, followed by a reception in the „Gemäldegalerie“ with a welcoming speech by Petra Bahr, Commissioner for Culture of the EKD.

28th-31st  March

Seminar on „Spirituality in Eastern European Film“ by Hans J.Schlegel at the Festival GoEast Wiesbaden, supported by INTERFILM, including lectures by Karsten Visarius and Hans W. Dannowski.

9th-14th July

1st Ecumenical Jury at the 4th Golden Apricot International Film Festival Yerevan (Armenia)

19th-22th July

Seminar of INTERFILM and SIGNIS at the University of Edinburgh on „Peacemaking in the World of Film. From Conflict to Reconciliation“,  organized by Jolyon Mitchell and with the support of WACC.

24th-27th August

Seminar „Talk Film, Talk Faith“ organized by Andrew Johnston during the World Film Festival in Montréal.

14th October

Honorary member Fee Vaillant, former artistic director of the Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg from 1973-1991 passed away

30th November

Pfr. Dr. Christoph Weist, representing the Austrian Protestant Church  (AB) informs that  the film activities practically have been closed down. Still, INTERFILM has some personal members from Austria.

December

Publication of the documentation on the European Templeton Film Prize 1997-2006, including ten film sermons by Hans W. Dannowski.

 

2008

 

9th Februrary

Annual meeting of the SteerCom during the Berlinale

2nd-5th April

Hans Hodel and Jes Nysten participating at the WACC-ERA Assembly on Cyprus about the theme «Communication in Peace - Europe and the Middle East».

16th-23rd April

The presence of the interreligious Jury in Nyon is now financially supported by the Conference of the Protestant Churches in the Suisse Romande.

2nd-3rd September

For the first time, INTERFILM marks officially its presence at the Mostra del Cinema in Venice in collboration with the  Assoziazione protestante Cinema Roberto Sbaffi with two panel discussions. The first in the Lutheran Church was dedicated to Ingmar Bergman and his film „Wild Strawberry“ (which was the first film ever awarded by INTERFILM) and the second in the Hotel Excelsior on the Lido was dedicated on „Stimuli and Challenges of Contemporary Chinese Cinema“.

6th-10th October

WACC World Congress on „Communication is Peace“ in Capetown (South Africa), also attended by INTERFILM’s President Hans Hodel.

8th November

Meeting of the Presidium in Mannheim. Discussion about how to find new financial resources and about the need of a „Mission Statement“.

 

2009

 

7th February

Annual meeting of the SteerCom during the Berlinale

April

INFO no 2/06-2/07, Special Issue: Awards 2006/2007

15th April

The Honorary Member Dr. Wim Koole (*1929) from The Netherlands passed away.

25th-28th June

Seminar on Gotland and Färö organized by Ylva Liljeholm in the framework of the Bergman Week, sponsored by the Cultural Departement of the Swedish Church. Conference by Jes Nysten about the mirror as a symbol of man’s lack of understanding of both himself and others (see INFO Mai 2010, page 4).

14th September

Panel Discussion on Human Dignity in Iranian Cinema in Venice with the Iranian film directors Shirin Neshat and Babak Payami, Dario Viganò (President Ente dello Spettaccolo), Fr. Peter Malone (filmcritic SIGNIS), Heike Kühn (filmcritic) and Peter Ciaccio (moderator).

16th December

The Honorary Member and member of the SteerCom Dr. Ron Holloway (*1933) passed away.

 

2010

 

13th February

Annual meeting of the SteerCom during the Berlinale.

Robin Gurney appointed Honorary Member

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the International Film Festival Berlin, Prof. Dr. Thomas Koebner, Film scientist, researcher, academic teacher and publicist, is honoured at the Ecumenical Reception with an Ecumenical Honorary Award for his outstanding contribution to the perception and acknowledgement of film as art form. Laudatio by Hans Helmut Prinzler.

March

INFO no 1/08-2/08, Special Issue: Awards 2008

May

INFO no 1/09-2/09

10th-13th June

Seminar focusing on the Dogma films and their impact today, organized by Jes Nysten, and 41st General Assembly in Copenhagen, hosted by Kirke og Film Denmark, including 20 participants.

Hans Hodel re-elected as President. Are elected as members of the SteerCom (and the *Presidium) the former members: Julia Helmke (Germany), *Denyse Muller (France), Jes Nysten (Denmark), Angelika Obert (Germany), *Werner Schneider-Quindeau (Germany), Gianna Urizio (Italy), Anita Uzulniece (Latvia), *Karsten Visarius (Germany), and new Mikael Larsson (Sweden), *Philip Lee (Canada/WACC) and Jolyon Mitchell (UK). Are co-opted Dietmar Adler (Germany), Alina Birzache (UK/Romania), Robin Gurney (UK) and Christine Stark (Switzerland).

27th July

New web site www.interfimnorthamerica.org  launched for film enthusiasts in North America: INTERFILM in North America has launched its new website. The site had been created by Philip Lee, currently WACC Deputy Director of Programs and Editor of Media Development, and newly elected as one of the three Vice-Presidents of INTERFILM.

7th September                                            

3rd panel at the Mostra del Cinema in Venice. The event was devoted to contemporary Russian film art. Andrey Plakhov, an international renowned film critic and historian, talked about “Dreams and Reality” in Russian film productions.

08th- 17th October

1st Ecumenical Jury at the Warsaw Film Festival composed by three members; one of them from INTERFILM.

 

2011

 

10th-20th February

Brochure edit by SIGNIS (Peter Malone and Peter Hasenberg) to celebrate the presence of the 20th Ecumenical Jury at the Berlinale.

12th February

Annual meeting of the SteerCom during the Berlinale.

30rd March-2nd April

WACC-ERA Assembly in Frankfurt a/M. Denyse Muller elected for INTERFILM new member of the SteerCom WACC-ERA.

01st-09th July

Seminar with three Protestant and two Catholic theologians and panel on “Spirituality and film” in Karlovy Vary, including members of the Ecumenical Jury, organized by Lukas Jirsa and Michael Otrisal.

31th August-10th September

1st INTERFILM Jury at the Mostra del Cinema in Venice to award a film in competition or in the section “Orizzonti” with the "INTERFILM Prize for Promoting Interreligious Dialogue"

Panel on “Arab Spring and Cinema” in Hotel Excelsior, hosted by the Fondazione Ente dello Spettacolo.

17th-25th September

1st Ecumenical Jury at the 8th Jameson Cinefest Miskolc (Hungary). Retrospective of for Hungarian films awarded in former years by OCIC/SIGNIS, INTERFILM or Ecumenical Juries; selected by the festival.

7th October

The Swiss Honorary Member Doelf Rindlisbacher (*1919) passed away.

15th November

To celebrate the 60th International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg IFFMH and the longstanding close presence of the Churches at the festival, the Ecumenical Jury honored festival director Dr. Michael Kötz with a Special Prize for his outstanding achievements as festival director and patron saint of independent cinema. The laudatio has been held by Peter Hasenberg.

 

2012

 

12th February

Annual meeting of the SteerCom during the Berlinale.

1st-11th August

Celebration of the 40th Ecumenical Jury at the 65th Festival del Film Locarno: Screening of the 1st prize winnng film 1973 “Iluminacja” in presence of its director Krzysztof Zanussi. Panel with K.Zanussi, Moritz de Hadeln, Julia Helmke, Michael Sennhauser and Charles Martig. Masterclass with Zanussi.

3rd September

Panel in the memory of Theo Angelopoulos in Venice

20th September

Panel on “Religious dimensions in contemporary cinema” in Miskolc

29th September

Pro-Fil is celebrating in Paris its 20th anniversary during its General Assembly, which is attended also by Hans Hodel, who brings the greetings of the Presidium INTERFILM and express his personal recognition.

8th November

Introductory lecture prepared by Milja Radovic on Religion and Nationalism in Eastern Europe and its Cinema, focussing the film “Pretty Village, Pretty Flames” from S.Dragojevic in the frame of the focus “Eastern Europe by Religions” in Cottbus

 

2013

 

9th February

Annual meeting of the SteerCom during the Berlinale.

7th-8th June

42nd General Assembly in Hannover, hosted by the Lutheran Landeskirche and its Office for Art and Cultur, including 22 participants.

Hans Hodel resigns after nine years as president (staying still for re-election as jury coordinator) and presents his last report for the years 2010-2012. SIGNIS, represented by the European president Jos Horemans, is honouring him for his ecumenical merits with an Honorary Award of SIGNIS.

Dr. Julia Helmke is elected as new president. Are (re-)elected as members of the SteerCom (and the *Presidium) the former members: *Philip Lee, (Canada/WACC),*Denyse Muller (France), Jolyon Mitchell (UK), Jes Nysten (Denmark), Angelika Obert (Germany), Werner Schneider-Quindeau (Germany), Gianna Urizio (Italy), Anita Uzulniece (Latvia), *Karsten Visarius (Germany), and new  Charlotte Wells (Sweden), *Philip Lee (Canada/WACC), Are co-opted Dietmar Adler (Germany), Eckart Bruchner (Germany),  Robin Gurney (UK), Christine Stark (Switzerland) and Waltraud Verlaguet (France).

Evaluation of the jury awards and reflections and discussion on the “best film” in the frame of “Faith-Religion–Film”.

Reception by Bishop Ralf Meister in Honour of the new President of INTERFILM, honoring also Hans W. Dannowski, the Honorary President of INTERFILM.

9th June

Constitutional meeting of the new SteerCom in Hannover.

 

2014

 

9th February

Annual meeting of the SteerCom during the Berlinale.

25th February – 2nd March

Hans Hodel and Julia Helmke are invited to attend in Rom the World Congress of SIGNIS. At the end of the workshop on “Cinema and Spirituality", Philip Lee, deputy secretary of WACC, is honouring Hans Hodel in the presence of all participants with the Honorary Life Membership of WACC.

3rd May

The Swiss Honorary Member Maurice Terrail (*1933), who has been a co-founder and supporter till 2000 of the ecumenical presence in Cannes, passed away.

10th May

The International Short Film Days Oberhausen are celebrating their 60th anniversary, where INTERFILM is present including the former Protestant Filmwork since 1964. On this occasion, SIGNIS and INTERFILM are honouring Festival Director Lars Henrik Gass, director since 1997, with an Honorary Award.

22nd May

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Ecumenical Jury in Cannes, SIGNIS and INTERFILM are honouring the Belgian directors Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne with a Special Award. The films of the Brothers Dardenne are marked by a profound humanity which is guiding the choices of the ecumenical jury as well.

10th-11th June

General Assembly of WACC-ERA in Hilversum. Julia Helmke is elected new member of the SteerCom representing INTERFILM

1st November

At the 57th Festival DOK Leipzig, the Ecumenical Jury celebrated 25 years of presence. The jury was created in 1990, a year after the fall of the Berlin wall in which the Churches in East Germany had played a significant role. On the occasion of his resignation after eleven successful years supporting all the time our presence, the Ecumenical Jury pays tribute to the leaving director Claas Danielsen honouring him with an Honorary Award.

6th November

During the Ecumenical Reception at the Festival for East European Film in Cottbus, INTERFILM’s jury coordinator gives a speech about “queerEAST in the mirror of the Churches”.

 

2015

 

12th January

Swiss members are establishing the association “Interfilm Swiss” as a working group for supporting INTERFILM’s presence in Switzerland.

19th – 25th January

After 30 years of presence with a jury INTERFILM, an Ecumenical Jury is established at the 36th Film Festival Max Ophüls Prize Saarbrücken.

8th February

Annual meeting of the SteerCom during the Berlinale.

Karsten Visarius is presenting the relaunch of the website www.inter-film.org

10th-12th September

Initiated by the SteerCom members Jes Nysten and Charlotte Wells organized a conference on church and film in the Zentropa Studios in Denmark with participants from Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

13th September

Due to the 20th INTERFILM-Jury 2015 at the Nordic Film Days from 4th-8th November, INTERFILM is honouring the artistic director of the NFL Linde Fröhlich Honorary Member of NTERFILM. The ceremony was held on Sunday by INTERFILM’s president Julia Helmke after having the sermon in St. Marien. Also Bo Torp Pedersen and colleagues from Kirke og Film/Denmark brought greetings for the members from the Nordic countries (see www.kirkeogfilm.dk).

 

2016

 

9th-12th June

INTERFILM Seminar "Making Visible the Invisible Through Film" and 43rd General Assembly in Uppsala. Re-election of Julia Helmke as President, Hans Hodel as Jury Coordinator and Karsten Visarius as Executive Director. Charlotte Wells elected as new member of the Presidium, replacing Philip Lee who remains a member of the Board.

31st October - 6th November

First Interreligious Jury at the DOK Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film, replacing the Ecumenical Jury (1990-2015)

28th November

Hans Werner Dannowski, Commissioner for Film of the EKD 1985-1992, INTERFILM President 1988-2004 and Honorary President of INTERFILM since 2004 passes away.

 

2017

 

14th January

First screening of the restored silent film "Luther" from 1927, directed by Hans Kyser, in the Passionskirche in Berlin, with live music played by Stephan Graf v. Bothmer on the piano, on the occasion of the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017.

21st May

Serge Molla is appointed as new INTERFILM Festival Delegate in Cannes. Denyse Muller, his predecessor, receives an honourable mention in recognition of her merits, together with Jos Horemans from SIGNIS, her long-standing cooperation partner.

24th August

Werner Schneider-Quindeau, Film Commissioner of the EKD 1999-2003, Vice President of INTERFILM 2004-2017, passes away

 

2018

 

21st May

Aleksandr Askol'dov, director of the film "Commissar", banned in 1967 and redicovered in 1988, Honorary Member of INTERFILM since 2000, dies in Göteborg

24th August

INTERFILM celebrates Hans Hodel's 80th birthday in Ligerz and Twann (Switzerland)

 

2019

 

16th-20th October

INTERFILM Seminar "Religious Elements in Contemporary Cinema" and 44th General Assembly in Erlangen, hosted by the Faculty of Philosophy and the Department of Theology at the Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, represented by Prof. Johanna Haberer.

Hans Hodel and Denyse Muller are leaving the Presidium, Piet Halma, Gianna Urizio and Anita Uzulniece the Board. Julia Helmke is reelected as President, Charlotte Wells (Sweden) as Vice President and Karsten Visarius (Germany) as Executive Director. Newly elected Presidium members are Ingrid Glatz-Anderegg (Switzerland) and Jes Nysten (Denmark). Reelected as Board members are Philip Lee (Canada), Jolyon Mitchell (UK) and Waltraud Verlaguet (France). Dietmar Adler (Germany), Christian Engels (Germany), Joël Friso (Netherlands), Viktor Kókai-Nagy (Hungary)  and Michele Lipori (Italy) are elected as new Board members. Dietmar Adler follows Hans Hodel as Jury Coordinator.

Hans Hodel is appointed as Honorary President, Denyse Muller, Piet Halma, Gianna Urizio and Anita Uzulniece are appointed as Honorary Members.

19th November

At the Ecumenical Reception of the International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg Dr. Michael Kötz is appointed Honorary Member of INTERFILM, on the occasion of his leave as director of the festival.

 

2020

 

March 2020

The Corona Pandemic causes many restrictions, concerning for instance public events, travels etc. Festivals react by organising online or hybrid formats, some of them dispensing independent juries like the ecumenical juries. The hardest setback for INTERFILM is the cancellation of the longtime planned symposium "Looking Beyond the Screen: Spiritual Diversity and the Post-Secular in Contemporary Cinema" in New York, scheduled for March 25-29. A number of restrictions will apply well until 2021. INTERFILM Board and Presidium meetings take place in an online format.

 

2021

 

22nd March

Death of James M. Wall, former president of Interfilm North America and key figure of Protestant film activities in North America.

 

2022

 

16th July

INTERFILM and SIGNIS protest against the imprisonment of Iranian film directors Mohammad Rasoulof, Mostafa Aleahmad and Jafar Panahi.

8th October

45th General Assembly of INTERFILM in an online format. Due to the restrictions of the Corona pandemic the Assembly had to take place online for the first time. Julia Helmke is re-elected as president. Re-elected as Board members (and *Presidium mebers) were Dietmar Adler (Germany), Christian Engels (Germany), *Ingrid Glatz (Switzerland), *Viktor Kókai-Nagy (Hungary), Philip Lee (USA), Jolyon Mitchell (United Kingdom), *Karsten Visarius (Germany) and *Waltraud Verlaguet (France). Newly elected Board members were Peter Ciaccio (Italy), Mia Lund Rao (Denmark), Johan Roeland (Netherlands) and Marie Starck (Sweden).

Main topics were the Covid restrictions of festivals and festival juries, the preparation of the seminar in Budapest in April 2023, and the Russian war against the Ukraine and its consequences for an international, intercultural and dialogue oriented organisation like INTERFILM.

In the constitutional meeting of the Board after the assembly Praxedis Bouwman (Netherlands), Jacques Champeaux (France) Juha Rajamäki (Finland), S. Brent Rodrigues-Plate (USA) and Sofia Sjö (Finland) were co-opted as additional Board members.

 

2023

 

19th February

First physical meeting of the INTERFILM Board elected in 2022 at the Berlinale in a room of the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche

26th-30th April

Conference in Budapest entitled "In Uncertain Times - A bizonytalan időkben" in the Corvin Cinema about Hungarian cinema, with a special focus on the actual situation in the Ukraine, prepared by INTERFILM board members Ingrid Glatz, Viktor Kókai Nagy and Karsten Visarius, supported by the Reformed Church and the Lutheran Church in Hungary. At the end of the event, Michael Otrisal from Prague is appointed Honorary Member of INTERFILM.

8th August

Honorary Award of the Ecumenical Jury to István Szabó on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Ecumenical Jury at the film festival of Locarno

 

Hans Hodel, Jury Coordinator of INTERFILM since 1989 and former INTERFILM President (2004-2013) / Karsten Visarius, Executive Director of INTERFILM