Filmfest Mannheim-Heidelberg: Discover the cinema highlights 2023!

Filmfest Mannheim-Heidelberg: Discover the cinema highlights 2023!

by Daniel Schottmüller

Mannheim. The 73rd Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg opened its doors on Thursday evening, and program manager Tim Moeck is in its element! He has the exciting task to discover the best films of the future - and that directly at the hotspots of the cinema such as Cannes and Venice. "One is one of the very first people who can examine a work. This is one of the privileges of this job," enthuses the 46-year-old.

But the challenge is great! Moeck and his team have to view films that have not yet had marketing campaigns or reviews. "For me, working at the IFFMH means an 180-degree job change," he explains. With studying director in Munich and experience as a script lecturer, he brings a sharp eye for originality and the ability to captivate viewers over 90 minutes or more.

The insider tips by Tim Moeck

A film that blew up the jury is "April" by Dea Kulumgashvili from Georgia. "There was total unity in the committee: your film is at least one of the three best of the year," emphasizes Moeck. The moving history of obstetrician Nina (Ia Sukhitshvili) is a must for every cinema lover!

Another hot tip is "Across the Sea", a drama by Saïd Hamich Benlarbis, which offers a fresh perspective on migration. It tells of a man who comes to France from Morocco and fights for his legal status - and is taken up by a police officer and his bizarre family. "It is possible to tell something about the present and at the same time expand our perspective," explains Moeck enthusiastically.

and not to forget: "Universal Language", the Canadian comedy by Matthew Rankin, which is reminiscent of the early Wes Anderson. "It is almost impossible to summarize the content of this weird work, but my colleagues and I laughed," reveals Moeck with a smile. A film that takes the cinema on the shovel - that is pure entertainment!