goEast 2020

Every year, goEast transforms State Capital Wiesbaden into one of the most important international centres for Central and Eastern European cinema. goEast is a project organized by DFF – Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum.

In 2020 the festival will celebrate its 20th edition. Around 110 films, 200 invited guests as well as over 450 professionals gather during goEast. The festival brings films to the silver screens in Wiesbaden, Frankfurt, Darmstadt, Giessen and Mainz. The festival brings artists and filmmakers into “the heart of the West” and offers them networking opportunities and possibilities to make their next project. Apart from that goEast supports human rights: we cooperate with organizations like Amnesty International and award a grant for documentary film projects with a human rights focus.

Our guests and visitors appreciate the familiar atmosphere, the get-togethers at our Festival Centre, the late night drinks at the festival bar and last but not least the notorious goEast parties.

goEast sees itself as a builder of bridges between East and West: within the framework of our side bar program Pan-European Picnic we collaborate closely with Central- and Eastern European cultural associations from the Rhine Main Area. Language crash courses, lectures, master classes and a picnic in the Wiesbaden market square all offer opportunities for discourse and to explore new cultures.

goEast offers Networking and Training Programs for young talents from Central and Eastern Europe. Here they can present their newest project during a public pitch. The Open Frame Award showcases curent Virtual Reality works from Central and Eastern Europe. During the annual Symposium film scientists focus on topics related to Eastern European Cinema, in lectures, discussions and a curated film program.

As part of our year-round program goEast presents once a month our team selects a beautiful film from Central or Eastern Europe and organizes a screening at the historical Caligari FilmBühne in Wiesbaden.

WHEN? May 05 – 11, 2020
WHERE? Wiesbaden, Frankfurt, Darmstadt, Giessen and Mainz

“The time has come to open ourselves to the thoughts, images, myths and stories of our Eastern neighbours. To their culture. To their films…” wrote Claudia Dillmann, former director of DFF, upon founding the goEast film festival in 2001.

goEast aims to make cinema and culture from Central and Eastern Europe visible in Germany as well as to support filmmakers from the region. Despite their many international festival successes and awards, Central and Eastern European films seldom find their way into the German cinemas. Over the course of one week Wiesbaden turns into a Centre for Central and Eastern European Cinema and becomes a meeting point of cultures – in the cinemas and beyond. Not all countries in Central and Eastern Europe have film funding structures in place. That is why the prize money and a visit to goEast provides many filmmakers from Central and Eastern Europe with valuable support.

Our festival targets both film industry professionals and film enthusiasts from all ages and backgrounds. All our films are screened in the original language with English subtitles. Producing additional German subtitles allows us to reach an even wider audience.

Central and eastern European cinema is diverse, alive and kicking. goEast offers exciting perspectives on art and culture from our eastern Neighbors. We offer a platform for creativity, we provide artists with visibility for their work and we facilitate cultural exchange.

goEast supports filmmakers and artists from Central and Eastern Europe. State support might be in short supply or limited by political and/or ideological criteria. Especially the young and independent creative scene in many countries in the region depends on support from abroad.

Our perks are truly unique: the goEast festival publications are designed in collaboration with artists from Central and Eastern Europe, our festival passes offer access to all screenings and we even offer the possibility to exclusively rent the DFF cinema for a screening of your favorite film.

On the occasion oft he 20th festival edition goEast plans to involve our audiences even more closely: for the first time we would like to award an audience prize, based on votes from all of our visitors.

Our film guests come from far and beyond and the travel costs put a heavy strain on our budget. Environmentally friendlier options like train travel and direct flights are usually more expensive than regular travel options. With your support we will be able to invite more filmmakers to Wiesbaden while simultaneously reducing our CO2 footprint.

With the help of crowdfunding we can produce German subtitles for all of our films in competition – thus making them accessible for a wider audience. The filmmakers also profit from this!

• goEast Audience Award (1.500,- EUR)
• Environmentally friendlier travel costs for more film guests
• Production of additional German subtitles and live subtitling at the Caligari FilmBühne for all competition films.