Awareness

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Code of Conduct - Max Ophuels Film Festival

We believe that art and culture have the greatest impact when they are based on openness, mutual respect and solidarity. That is why the Max Ophuels Film Festival is committed to a clear set of values that promotes diversity, counters discrimination and makes it possible to share experiences on an equal footing.

Diversity, Respect and Equality

All festival participants have the right to be treated with respect and without discrimination. We do not tolerate any form of disadvantage or hurtful behaviour based on gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or cultural origin, skin colour, religion or belief, nationality, disability, social background, age or physical appearance.
Our festival explicitly takes a stand against all forms of sexism, racism, homophobia, biphobia, interphobia and transphobia, antisemitism, anti-Muslim hostility, ableism, ageism and any other form of group-focused enmity. We also recognise the importance of intersectional perspectives – that is, the interplay of multiple forms of discrimination that can disadvantage people in complex ways.

No Room for Fascism and Hate Symbols

The Max Ophuels Film Festival is a place of democratic exchange, a clear stance and a conscious approach to social responsibility. That is why our rule is: there is no place for fascism, extremist ideologies or the glorification of inhumane worldviews. People who visibly display fascist, racist or other discriminatory symbols or messages – for example on clothing, tattoos or flags – will be consistently excluded from the festival. The same applies to people who advocate, spread or act on such ideologies.

Consent Matters – and It Is Essential

Boundaries are individual and non-negotiable. We expect all participants to respect other people's personal space – in conversations, encounters and physical proximity. The following applies: Maybe does not mean yes. Silence does not mean yes. Only a clear, voluntary yes means consent. Consent must be actively sought – always and in every situation. Any action taken without clear consent is a violation of boundaries.

No Room for Harassment or Violence

We firmly reject any form of harassment, abuse or violence. This applies to physical and psychological assault as well as to verbal and non-verbal boundary violations – regardless of whether they occur in direct interaction, in digital spaces or as inappropriate behaviour at events. This includes, among other things, unwanted advances, sexualised language or actions, insulting comments, intimidation, bullying and aggressive behaviour.
Photo, audio and video recordings are made during the film festival. By attending the events, you consent to the editorial use and publication of these media recordings as part of the festival coverage. Any unauthorised recording of people by private individuals without their express consent goes against the spirit of our festival and must be avoided. Regardless of intention or context, such behaviour can make the people affected feel uncomfortable or unsafe. The principle therefore applies: responsibility always lies with those who act.

Language Shapes Reality

We actively promote inclusive language – on stage, in communication with visitors, in the programme booklet and online. All people should be addressed correctly and respectfully, regardless of their gender identity. We encourage everyone involved to strive for gender-neutral, respectful forms of expression and to reflect on their own language habits.

Power of Definition: We Believe Those Affected

When people experience discrimination, violence or harassment, their perspective is what counts. We do not question the accounts of those affected, we do not trivialise them and we do not force them to explain or justify themselves.
Instead, we listen, believe them and support them in whatever they need. The aim is not for those affected to have to withdraw, but for them to feel safer and for the problematic incident to be named and taken seriously.

Responsibility and Solidarity

We regard respectful interaction as a shared responsibility of all festival participants. It is our collective task to create an atmosphere in which everyone can feel safe, heard and respected. This applies not only to direct contact, but also to digital spaces in which festival content is discussed and shared. We invite everyone to actively take a stand against exclusion, discrimination or demeaning behaviour – whether by listening attentively, acting in solidarity or by addressing and reporting incidents.

Abuse of Positions of Power

Abuse of power occurs when people use their position, reputation or social role to overstep other people's boundaries, influence decisions or control and manipulate others. Power can take many forms – for example through organisational responsibility, expertise, physical or social superiority, access to resources or membership of certain groups.
A central part of our awareness work is to make power relations visible and to promote a responsible, reflective approach to them. We recognise that power is never distributed completely equally and that these inequalities can affect how we live and work together.
The aim of our concept is to create spaces in which power is exercised transparently, fairly and mindfully. We promote a culture in which hierarchies may be critically questioned and in which those affected by abuse of power receive support and protection. This includes clear points of contact, awareness-raising through training and consistent action in cases of boundary violations and abuse of power.

Awareness and Dealing with Incidents

If you experience a boundary violation yourself or witness a problematic incident, please feel free to contact our team in confidence. All concerns will be treated sensitively, confidentially and seriously. Violations of this Code of Conduct may lead to immediate exclusion from events or from the entire festival – without refund. We reserve the right to take further action.

Accessibility and Participation

We are committed to making the Max Ophuels Film Festival as accessible as possible – spatially, communicatively and structurally. If you have special needs or encounter barriers, please get in touch with us. We would like to work with you to find solutions that enable equal participation.

Four festival cinemas are wheelchair accessible: in Saarbrücken the CineStar, Kino achteinhalb and Kulturgut Ost / Sektor Heimat (the toilets are on the same level and can be reached without steps, but unfortunately they do not offer the space and turning circle required by the DIN standard), as well as the Thalia Lichtspiele cinema in Bous. Wheelchair spaces can be booked online via our ticketing system. All further information is available on our ticketing page. Companions are admitted free of charge to film screenings: each wheelchair space includes free admission for one companion.
The festival club Lolas Bistro and the E-Werk, where the award ceremony and film party take place on Saturday, also have wheelchair-accessible entrances and toilet facilities. The award ceremony is hosted by presenters, supported by sign language interpreters.

Every year, the Max Ophuels Film Festival offers its audience a selection of films from the competitions with audio description for people with visual impairments and special subtitles for people with hearing impairments. As in previous years, the festival is cooperating with the app-based system "Greta & Starks". In this system, designed for people with visual and hearing impairments, the relevant titles are made available specifically for the duration of the festival. Once the app has been downloaded and installed on a smartphone or tablet (Android or iOS), the services can be used conveniently in any cinema showing the equipped films to receive audio descriptions or specially created subtitles for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences. Devices for using "Greta & Starks" can also be borrowed free of charge at the info counter in the CineStar.

mobisaar is a free guide and escort service for people with reduced mobility on public transport in Saarland. Trained guides accompany you on buses and trains and offer individual support for your everyday journeys. After all, getting around means quality of life, and mobility is an essential prerequisite for participating in society – and that includes going to the cinema. Together with the Max Ophuels Film Festival, mobisaar invites you to enjoy the films. All you need for the mobisaar service is your own bus or train ticket.

More detailed information on accessibility (in German) can be found here.

Content Notes

The Max Ophuels Film Festival uses content notes to point out film content that may cause negative reactions in some people. These are listed in the festival magazine and in a film overview on the website.

A Living Code

This Code of Conduct is not a rigid set of rules but a living document. We want to keep learning and improving. That is why we welcome feedback, criticism and suggestions from participants to make our festival even more inclusive and safe in the future.

Thank you for joining us in working towards a respectful, supportive and diverse festival. Only together can we create a space in which film, dialogue and encounters are enriching for everyone.