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12th HARD:LINE Film Festival: April 10th until April 13th 2025
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As these lines are being written, the Bundestag elections have just been held. As was to be expected, a strong radical right has established itself and there is evidence of a shift to the right across all party platforms. What does this mean for the cultural sector? If you look at culture as a whole, it may not be that much. Because funding will continue to be provided in the future. As far as progressive art is concerned, things may look different again. Because this much is clear: we don't really come across as nationalistic and we never will. We will always stand up for humanism and oppose a fascist ideological canon. You can't be folkish if you denounce the inhuman ... You don't want to read politics again? Well, then we're sorry to disappoint you. Because our genre is political - and always has been. When you attack people on film, it happens in a society and therefore has to be considered in an artistic context. Tricky stuff, but neither we nor the art we present are apolitical. So we will have to live with it! And that's a good thing!
But we are also full of zest for action and don't let the fun of the freest of all genres get in the way. To this end, we are researching perspectives in every nook and cranny. For the first time, we are presenting three 360-degree VR spaces, finally holding a panel discussion again and rejoicing like crazy during concerts and after-show parties. The masterclass with the director of the Director's Spotlight will also be open to the public. Can Evrenol will have a lot to say. You should be able to hear that. So there's a lot on offer. But our central task is and remains to bring you closer to genre films. Crazy, offbeat, exciting, new, fresh, well-made, courageous, ambivalent genre cinema. Once again we have 13 feature-length films, plus 17 short films. Almost 80% of them are celebrating (at least) their German premiere in Regensburg. You can expect guests at well over half of the screenings. So as you can see, it's jam-packed and fragrant, and what's more ... everything is awesome.
It would all be so nice if it weren't for these fucking Nazis. With this in mind: stay stable!
A total of 25 film premiere(s) in 2025, including 2 world premiere(s) [W]; 2 international premiere(s) [I]; 1 European premiere(s) [E]; 20 German premiere(s) [D];
Guests present at the screening
Méliès D'Argent for the best German fantastic short film:
Audience voting:
We're already a little bit in love with our Director's Spotlight. Since 2016, we have been taking a look at the oeuvre of filmmakers on the basis of three selected films, usually in the presence of the artists. This year, we'll be taking a closer look at the work of Can Evrenol and showing that we're not just dealing with "the director of BASKIN", but with a strong voice, a vision and an insanely good director! We are looking forward to Can like the snow kings. And you should be too!
We have been cherishing our Director's Spotlight for years. When filmmakers arrive to present their highly acclaimed work, they should also be given space to talk about it. It has become increasingly clear that there are needs that we also have to cover for a specialist audience. That's why for years the Masterclass was only open to accredited professionals. Why was that? Isn't it interesting for everyone? Yes, we said to ourselves, and from now on we are opening the doors to everyone.
>>> Friday, 11.4. | ca 12:00 | Cinemas in the Andreasstadel
We had actually planned to hold a panel discussion every year; more like a series of discussions. Because it was supposed to be about the same topic every year: Where does German genre film stand? A question that can be discussed anew every year. But then a hole appeared and we hardly had any German genre cinema on offer. What the hell is going on? We would like to explore this question and many more in this top-class panel discussion. Absolutely open-ended and unreserved.
How do you close a film festival in style? Dressy with a suit and shirt? Red carpet, odeuvre, champagne and all that? Not with us, friends! Here is demolition. In addition to a fabulously stupid closing film, there's the award ceremony and a full plank of music. This year, our artwork will be complemented by Cthulu disciples from ANTIPEEWEE, before we really go crazy again with ECAPE FROM THE 21ST CENTURY. One thing is certain: You shouldn't miss this!
When the movies are over, nothing is over. That's why we arrange parties for you to get down on your knees, especially at the weekend. The cinema pub does its job, so we don't have to help: Beer, Penninger schnapps and an ambience that can only be found in the Kinokneipe. The musical entertainment will be provided by Mr. Mojo on Friday and Moxy & Pacult on Saturday, who will mill the finest vinyl entertainment into your ear canals until the blood gushes out of your ears. Do you remember the party at BLADE?
Cinema is confined to the big screen, but horror also plays a role in other media: games, books, radio plays. But if you stick to film, there is potential, primarily in new technologies. Gamification, augmented reality and VR are the buzzwords of the moment. So as a festival, we are approaching these aspects cautiously. With three 360° VR spaces and three films from different years and countries, we are exploring the perspectives and limits of this technology.
