Programme | Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis

Leis & Kuckert Grafikdesign / ffmop

Feature Film

For the Feature Film Competition of the Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis, feature films with a minimum length of 70 minutes are eligible, provided they were produced for theatrical release. Films whose theatrical release or broadcasting date is before the festival and/or which were already available online are excluded from the competition. Only premieres and German first screenings are included in the competition selection.

Documentary Film

The documentary film competition is open to first, second and third works by young German-speaking directors with a length of 70 minutes or more. Only world premieres and German premieres will be considered.

Medium Length Film

Medium-length films with a length of between approx. 25 and approx. 70 minutes are admitted to this competition. The competition is open to young German-speaking directors whose feature films have premieres and German first screenings.

Short Film

The short film competition of the Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis is intended to promote innovative tendencies among young German-speaking directors. The competition is open to world premieres and German premieres of short films up to approx. 25 minutes in length.

Programme Series

Oliver Dietze / ffmop

Watchlist

In the Watchlist series, a selection of the best new German-language films from the past production year will be shown - preferably including current works by former festival participants that have already celebrated their premiere in Germany.

Diskurze

In addition to short fiction films, the Diskurze series also includes documentary, animated and experimental forms and focuses on a joint, critical dialogue on current trends, cinematic aesthetics and social issues. One of the four programmes is designed as a carte blanche by a guest curator from the festival cosmos.

SaarLorLux

In this series, we present projects from the two previous years of production in the SaarLorLux region.
It focusses on all types of creative moving images, even beyond classic fictional and documentary short and feature-length film formats.

MOP-Series

In this programme series, the festival presents unreleased and already broadcast serialised formats by up-and-coming directors or emerging production companies.

Tribute

The Max Ophuels Film Festival dedicates the tribute to people who have distinguished themselves through outstanding achievements in the field of German-language film. During the festival week, their films will be presented followed by an audience discussion. In addition, a masterclass will be held for the talents in attendance and there will also be a public workshop discussion for the audience.

Children's and Youth Film Series

In addition to current cinema films and short films for children and young people, the series includes a programme of short works produced within the framework of the European Broadcasting Union. Saarländischer Rundfunk is in charge of the ARD programme.

Special Programmes

ffmop / Markus Lutz

ATELIER LUDWIGSBURG-PARIS

The cooperation with the Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris, the one-year advanced training programme for film production, financing, distribution and marketing at the Ludwigsburg Film Academy, has a long tradition.

PREMIERE: SHORT.FILM.TOUR - THE GERMAN SHORT FILM AWARD

The KURZ.FILM.TOUR. celebrates its premiere each year at the Max Ophüls Preis film festival. Its programme presents a selection of short films that won or were nominated for the German Short Film Award in the previous year.

GUEST PROGRAMME FILMFESTIVAL COTTBUS

As usual, our partner festival, FilmFestival Cottbus, will be presenting a newcomer film from its own programme.

GUEST PROGRAMME BUNDESFESTIVAL JUNGER FILM

The Bundesfestival Junger Film, based in St. Ingbert, introduces itself with a short film programme.

Guest Programme Dreh's Um

Short films made as part of the Dreh's um film collective's workshop programme that explore Vietnamese-German identity.

Guest Programme FINÁLE PLZEŇ FESTIVAL

Together with the FilmFestival Cottbus and its co-production market connecting cottbus, the Max Ophuels Film Festival is cooperating with the Finále Plzeň Festival to strengthen German-Czech cooperation and is showing a short film block from its programme.

Hommage Max Ophüls

In honour of our namesake, the festival is showing a feature-length film by Max Ophüls.

Hommage Wolfgang Staudte

In honour of Saarbrücken-born Wolfgang Staudte, one of Germany's most important post-war directors, we are presenting one of his films in cooperation with the Wolfgang Staudte Society.

TATORT PREMIERE

In cooperation with Saarländischer Rundfunk (SR), we present the preview of the latest episode of the Saarland TATORT series.

Max goes Unifilm

For students of Saarland University, the Max Ophüls Preis film festival is showing productions from the competition in the winter semester programme.

Guest Programme Jüdische Filmtage Saarbrücken

In cooperation with the Saar synagogue community, the achteinhalb cinema has been organising ‘Jüdische Filmtage’ (Jewish Film Days) in Saarbrücken since 2009.

FESTIVAL CINEMAS

CineStar CS / camera zwo CaZ / Kino achteinhalb 8½ / Filmhaus FH / Thalia Lichtspiele TL / Kinowerkstatt KW / Capitol MovieWorld CMW / Kulturgut Ost OST / Passage-Kino Pa

Please note the FSK information for the individual films. Films that do not have an FSK rating have not been tested and are therefore only released from the age of 18.