Heinz Hermanns was born in 1958 in Duisburg, West Germany. In 1981 he founded the cinema Eiszeit during the squats movement in Berlin which he directed during 9 years. In 1986 he directed the International Documentary Film Festival Berlin. From its beginning in 1982 until now, he directs the international short film festival and distribution Berlin interfilm.
interfilm Berlin
interfilm Berlin organises the Berlin International Short Film Festival as well as interfilm Short Film Distribution. Established in 1982 the festival has years of experience and ever-expanding contacts in the international cultural and short film sectors. More than 6000 films up to 30 minutes were submitted in 2009. There are competition sections in International, German, Documentary and Children films, as well as a Documentary Films and Shorts against Violence competition. Special programmes focus on productions from a specific country or region. Thematic programmes also concentrate on animation, music videos, advertisements, experimental films, historical films and retrospectives.
interfilm initiated and co-presents an annual short film festival in the Berlin Underground called Going Underground in which the films can be viewed on monitors in train carriages. The festival is also a partner of the Zebra Poetry Film Festival. Together with Siemens , interfilm held the world's first competition for short films realised using mobile telephones. Regular events are also held, such as the monthly „Shorts Attack, which is an integral part of the cultural calendar in Berlin
Ulrich Wegenast
Artistic Managing Director Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film
born 1966 in Stuttgart. In 1987 he was founding member of Wand 5 and Stuttgart Filmwinter Festival for Expanded Media a festival for experimental film and media art. He was member of the board until 2006. In 2005 he became the artistic director of the Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film and the Ludwigsburg Short Film Biennale. He has curated programmes for the Goethe-Institut and various other institutions and festivals and works as a jury member for various festivals. Since 2003 he is lecturer for festival management at the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg and is head of the media department of the Nürtingen Free Art Academy
Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film
Established in 1982, the Festival is now one of the most important events in the field of animated film. The Festival attracts more than 50,000 visitors. Cash prizes worth more than 50,000 Euros are awarded and more than 500 films are shown. Together with its partner events, the FMX and the Animation Production Day, the Festival of Animated Film is the central event for the animation industry in Germany. The unique flair of the Festival Garden with its open air cinema at the Schlossplatz attracts tens of thousands of animation fans to Stuttgart. The competitions for animated short films, feature-length films, student films and childrens films aim at the highest international standard.
