FSFMUC - Festival of Future Storytellers

Films, Talks, Labs. Get Inspired Now. 

FILMSCHOOLFEST MUNICH – FESTIVAL OF FUTURE STORYTELLERS is a celebration of inspiration and creativity. Stories tell us who we are and who we want to be. Stories allow us to raise questions instead of accepting simple answers. Stories allow for subtleties. This festival is the place where the stories of young filmmakers are told. This is where you’ll find inspiration in them and catch their spirit. And in turn: we invite young filmmakers to contribute new ideas and formats to the festival, something that is at the core of our mission.

That’s the story behind our new descriptive title: FESTIVAL OF FUTURE STORYTELLERS. Networking at an international level in Germany has been a distinctive feature of the festival since its founding over 40 years ago. By holding a new competition for films from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland alongside an international competition, we are honoring our commitment to German-speaking countries as we promote the sharing of ideas between domestic and international talent.

We are a festival of short forms and new ideas, a festival centered around film, but one that seeks to connect to other art forms and types of media. Films, talks, labs — our new motto. That’s why our festival is bolstered by a variety of collaborations, from the European Film Academy, Munich Film Up! and the First Steps Awards to numerous other national and local institutions, all of which pursue one goal: giving a platform to the unique work of young filmmakers, accompanying emerging artists on their path to success, and all the while offering them inspiration and support.

The premise of the festival as a competition among premieres is now met with a new approach: a 10-day festival whose success is measured by its inspiration — of the makers, the industry, the audience, the city, and society. All of this is made possible by incredible supporters in the public and private sectors who embrace our vision: of constructing a unique platform on which young cinematic storytelling artists can share their ideas.

FILMSCHOOLFEST MUNICH has a long tradition of bringing together talented young filmmakers to enable mutual inspiration in a casual setting. Examples include NOCTURNE, a short film by a young student of film directing in Copenhagen named Lars von Trier, which was among the films screened at the first edition of the festival in 1981 and was followed by his graduation film BEFRIELSESBILLEDER (1982), which was also screened here. Celebrated local directors such as Caroline Link, Marcus H. Rosenmüller, Maren Ade, Detlev Buck, Rainer Kaufmann, and Florian Gallenberger have gathered here, as have such luminaries of international cinema as Thomas Vinterberg, Lone Scherfig, Mathieu Kassovitz, Jan Svěrák, and Nick Park, the creator of “Wallace and Gromit” and “Shaun the Sheep”.

Be sure to join us when the next generation of future storytellers gathers to discuss ideas of form, content, and society.