DEFA-Conference "Experimental laboratory genre cinema"
On the 19th and 20th of May 2022 the DEFA Foundation together with the Zeughauskino Berlin held a two-day symposium.
Today, reflections on genre film are mainly focused on Hollywood movies. Apart from the well-known fairytale and “Indianerfilme” (films about Native Americans) of the DEFA, were there others that film studies would recognise as genre films? Furthermore: What did that cinema look like? What peculiarities can be identified as special features of a DEFA genre?
On the 19th and 20th of May 2022, concurrent to the publishing of the new book "Audience Pirates. DEFA Genre Cinema and its Directors (1946-90)" ("Publikumspiraten. Das Genrekino der DEFA und seine Regisseure (1946-90)", eds.: Stefanie Mathilde Frank & Ralf Schenk) the DEFA Foundation in cooperation with the Zeughauskino Berlin hosted a two-day symposium on the topic of DEFA genre films. Film historians, academics and contemporary witnesses reported on their studies and/or viewing experiences regarding DEFA genres like Schlagerfilm and Revuefilm (two genres of musical film distinct to Germany), spy films, science-fiction films, road movies, "Indianerfilme" and fairytale films, children’s detective films and comedies. Directors Roland Oehme, Richard Groschopp, Konrad Petzold and Siegfried Hartmann were highlighted for their work and placed into film history.
Collage of excerpts from DEFA gerne films, created by Adèle Marie Prauka
You can find this collage of excerpts from DEFA gerne films as well as video recordings of all lectures on DEFA Foundation’s YouTube channel.
You can read the final conference program in German here (298 KB).
19th of May 2022:
- Ralf Schenk: Opening and key not address
- Andreas Kötzing: Spy films
- Michael Grisko: Utopian Dream and Sciene-Fiction
- Mariana Ivanova: Road movies of DEFA
- Claus Löser: Genre films by Richard Groschopp
- Panel discussion »Talking about genre cinema« (no recording)
20th of May 2022:
- Günter Agde: Genre films by Konrad Petzold
- Anett Werner-Burgmann: The children and fairytale films of Siegfried Hartmann
- Guido Altendorf: Genre films by Roland Oehme
- Andy Räder: DEFA's "Indianerfilme"
- Hans Jürgen Wulff: Schlager- and Revuefilme [musical films] (cancelled)
- Ralf Schenk: Conclusion and outlook
Jörg Frieß, Director of the Berlin Zeughauskino, greeting the guests. Photography: Andreas Domma
DEFA Foundation Director Stefanie Eckert opening the conference. Photography: Andreas Domma
Ralf Schenk, Co-editor of the book "Publikumspiraten" presenting the key note address. Photography: Andreas Domma
The new Scientific Advisor of the DEFA Foundation, Linda Söffker, who moderated the event. Photography: Andreas Domma
Andreas Kötzing giving a lecture on the spy films of DEFA. Photography: Andreas Domma
Science-Fiction at DEFA: Michael Grisko giving a talk about the "Utopian Film". Photography: Andreas Domma
Came from the USA for this occasion: The Academic Director of the DEFA Film Library, Mariana Ivanova, speaking about DEFA’s road movies in her lecture. Photography: Andreas Domma
Claus Löser sharing his insights of the films of Richard Groschopp. Photography: Andreas Domma
Panel discussion about the genre cinema between the directors Roland Oehme and Peter Kahane as well as the former chief dramaturgist at DEFA Rudolf Jürschik and moderator Ralf Schenk. Photography: Andreas Domma
Rudolf Jürschik during the panel discussion. Photography: Andreas Domma
Roland Oehme during the panel discussion. Photography: Andreas Domma
Peter Kahane during the panel discussion. Photography: Andreas Domma
Exchange of ideas between Andy Räder and Anett Werner Burgmann in front of the Zeughauskino Berlin at the closing of the first day of the conference. Photography: Andreas Domma
Director of the DEFA Foundation Stefanie Eckert mid-conversation with Barbara and Winfried Junge and former Director of the DEFA Foundation Wolfgang Klaue. Photography: Andreas Domma
Zeughauskino director Jörg Frieß in conversation with Andreas Kötzing. Photography: Andreas Domma