Press Release – Mountain Film Festival Tegernsee – 2024-09-05
How to Move Mountains
The print programme for the 21st Tegernsee International Mountain Film Festival is here! From 16 to 20 October, it presents an exciting and engaging selection of films curated from approximately 250 international submissions. Alpine celebrities and unknown summiteers will roam Tegernsee on screen as well as in person at the five screening venues and around the centrally pitched Movie Tent. Advance ticket sales start on 13th of September.
For years, the Tegernsee International Mountain Film Festival has been a hot spot for all mountain enthusiasts. Its varied fringe programme away from screens includes hikes in the Tegernsee Valley and special exhibitions. Every day, there are more than 30 films to watch, and productions come from all over the world. The new festival director Tom Dauer promises a top-notch program: “We offer a beautiful selection of films, all of which are worth seeing. One of the highlights is “Resistance Climbing”, a film set in Palestine before the outbreak of the current war. It shows a community constantly under threat and pressure. Climbing helps these people to re-ignite their own courage and face their many adversities.”
One of this year’s favourites in the competition is “Bodhichitta”. While Michi Wohlleben executes a first ascent in the Swiss Alpstein Massif, Agnes Gmünder tends to the alpine pasture at the foot of the mountain. The film tells of the spiritual kinship between an extreme climber and a dairymaid. They have more in common than one might at first expect. In “Mongolia – Valley of Bears”, Iranian filmmaker Hamid Sardar documents the struggle of a gamekeeper who uses unconventional methods to protect the population of bears in his homeland. This film examines the conflict between the exploitation and conservation of natural resources in an exciting and multi-facetted way. Then, there is the awe-inspiring expedition film “The Great White Whale” – a fascinating historical recording of the dramatic attempts by daring adventurers to climb Australia’s highest mountain.
In addition to such cinematic highlights, prominent guests from the German mountaineering scene will be in attendance, including Robert and Daniela Jasper during Wednesday’s Opening Night at Tegernsee Castle’s festive Barocksaal ballroom. The mountaineering couple will show their film “Gipfel-Liebe” (Summit Love), a touching family portrait depicting 30 years of love and roped adventures shared by Daniela and Robert Jasper – with all their ups and downs. Viewers are granted intimate insights into the lives of two mountain professionals in a film free from tired tropes.
This year’s Bayern2 Night on Thursday will revolve around the topic of “Iran: Mountains with a Message”. This screening segment at the Kurgarten Movie Tent presents Iran from the perspective of some very different women. The protagonist of the film “Climbing Iran”, Nasim Eshqi, is an extraordinary climber – and she will try to be present during the event to talk about the impact of her work. A mountain filmmaker retrospective is scheduled for Thursday at Schalthaus, celebrating the 100th birthday of Dr. Otto Guggenbichler, the Tegernsee Mountain Film Festival’s initiator. In remembrance of him, the Mountain Film Festival is showing three films from the 1960s, all of which bear his incomparable signature. Truly special films always await viewers on the German Alpine Club (DAV) Night. This year’s edition takes place at the Kurgarten Movie Tent and revolves around “The Next Alpine Generation: How to Promote Young Talent”, raising the question of whether or not to promote elite athleticism. On Saturday, the final stretch of the mountain film marathon begins at 10 a.m. at Schalthaus Tegernsee with high-quality films for all who didn’t make the first three days. Meanwhile, the Medius venue caters to all who appreciate young and action-packed films. By the way: Very young festival visitors will enjoy the Children’s Cinema programme at the Kurgarten Movie Tent from Wednesday to Friday starting at 9.30 a.m.
Anyone thumbing through the print programme or studying the short synopses of all 85 films online will be inspired by their fascinating diversity. To make sure that no one misses out, many films will be shown more than once. The question which films will swipe an award at the festive Closing Ceremony at Barocksaal tends to be every bit as exciting as the film selection itself. As always, the international jury will discuss all films in depth and award prizes to the best. If you want to be there and join in the celebration, you should attend Saturday’s ceremony: Guests will meet the award-winning filmmakers – in person or via video message – and watch excerpts from all award-winning films. While the festive awards ceremony is taking place in the venerable baroque ballroom, visitors at the Movie Tent can look forward to the winning film (Great Prize by the City of Tegernsee) in full length – plus an exciting pre-screening programme. So as not to reveal the winner before the official announcement, tent guests will be put into a winning (film) mood with productions that received a prize last year. Sunday presents the unique opportunity of watching all award-winning films at full length during a matinée at the Kurgarten Movie Tent as well as at the Medius and Schalthaus venues.
Please note that this year, there are NO box offices at the screening halls. Also note that evening events start at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available online at www.bergfilm-tegernsee.de and from all München-Ticket vendors. During festival days, the Tegernsee Tourist Information Office also sells tickets (open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
Further information: Sonderbüro Bergfilm-Festival Tegernsee, Phone +49(0)8022-1801 – 37; bergfilm@tegernsee.de
Advance ticket sales (starting on 13 September) and programme at Tegernsee Tourist Information, Phone +49(0)8022-92738 – 62; tegernsee@tegernsee.com; online at: www.bergfilm-tegernsee.de or www.muenchenticket.de. All films and the fringe programme are listed in the print programme and online.