Oldenburg Film Festival to Pay Tribute to Renowned German Filmmaker Dominik Graf
The Oldenburg International Film Festival, often referred to as Germany’s version of Sundance, will be honoring Dominik Graf, one of the country’s most respected filmmakers, with a special retrospective this year.
The 31st edition of the festival, taking place from Sept. 11 to 15, will shine a spotlight on Graf’s extensive career, highlighting him as one of Germany’s few masters in genre filmmaking.
At the age of 71, Graf started his career in the 1970s, drawing inspiration from American indie directors like Sam Fuller and Robert Aldrich, as well as French auteurs such as Jean-Pierre Melville. He utilized arthouse techniques and storytelling to craft crime, comedy, and other genre films.
The festival’s retrospective will feature six of Graf’s most influential films, including the thrillers Die Katze (1988) and Die Sieger (1995/2018 director’s cut), which have become defining works in German cinema, showcasing Graf’s unique and concise approach to plot and character development.
In addition to his work in feature films, Graf is recognized for setting new standards in TV movies and series in Germany, particularly with the groundbreaking series Der Fahnder (1993) and the limited series In the Face of Crime (2010).
Graf will be present throughout the festival and will conduct a masterclass on Sept. 14, moderated by filmmaker and journalist Rüdiger Suchsland, where he will delve into his filmmaking and storytelling techniques.
The Oldenburg International Film Festival is known for its diverse programming and support of innovative filmmakers, especially those who blend traditional genres with indie and arthouse styles, making Dominik Graf a fitting choice for celebration.
The 2024 Oldenburg Film Festival will kick off on Sept. 11 with the world premiere of Traumnovelle, Florian Frerichs’ adaptation of the Arthur Schnitzler novella that inspired Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut.