“Friday is the big day,” as the saying goes, and things really heat up here on Friday, too. After a relaxed warm-up on Thursday, we kick things off bright and early on Friday at 1:00 p.m. with the German premiere of *I LIVE HERE NOW*. Our “Highlight: German Cinema” is a packed lineup centered on German genre films and features two world premieres: CELESTIAL BODY and KRAMPUS. But that’s not all! The two main films will be followed by an extensive Q&A and a pitch for DER MANN AUS SOMALIA, a project we’re eager to support. The action continues at a breakneck pace. The German premieres come thick and fast with STRANGE HARVEST at 6 p.m. and GAUA at 8 p.m. The latter is part of our Director’s Spotlight, in which we want to shine a spotlight on the work of Basque director Paul Urkijo Alijo. Paul Urkijo Alijo will be our guest and will answer your questions. And starting at 10:30 p.m., things get short and sweet with our first short film block, SHORT & HOART.
Friday, April 17, 2026, 1:00 p.m.
I LIVE HERE NOW
Directed by Julie Pacino / USA 2025 / 93 min. / German premiere
Actress Rose finds herself trapped in a surreal hotel where the violent echoes of her past come to life—and the black hole of her trauma threatens to swallow her whole.
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Friday, April 17, 2026, 3:00 p.m.
“Highlights of German Cinema”
CELESTIAL BODY
Directed by Henry Han Ming Kho / Germany 2025 / 63 min. / World Premiere
KRAMPUS
Directed by Florian Ecker / Germany 2025 / 30 min. / World premiere
Includes Q&A + Pitch: THE MAN FROM SOMALIA
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Friday, April 17, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
STRANGE HARVEST
Directed by Stuart Ortiz / USA 2025 / 94 min. / German premiere
Sadistic murders that would make Jigsaw proud—and the threat of an impending apocalypse: An occult true-crime mockumentary about “Mr. Shiny,” a particularly sinister serial killer.
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Friday, April 17, 2026, 8:00 p.m.
GAUA
Directed by Paul Urkijo Alijo / Spain, USA 2025 / 87 min. / German premiere
While the Church tries to secure its power through tales of witches, the night comes alive and reveals its true face in four interwoven stories: as terrifying as it is intoxicating with freedom.
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Friday, April 17, 2026, 10:30 p.m.
SHORT & HOART 1
Our first of two short film blocks. Click the link to find out what’s in store for you in this short film block.
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