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Germany’s Cinematic Output Lights Up Industry’s Gloomy Atmosphere
Tom Tykwer's latest leads a crop of new pics hitting theaters this year amid a dismal industry outlook and a delayed film funding overhaul.
Taking over directing duties, Bernhard Jasper and Maggie Peren offer “School of Magical Animals 4,” the latest installment in the hugely successful fantasy franchise, while Gregor Schnitzler reboots “Bibi Blocksberg,” based on the popular children’s books about a precocious young witch. Upcoming family films also include “Momo,” Christian Ditter’s English-language adaptation of the fantasy novel by “The Neverending Story” writer Michael Ende; and Mike Marzuk’s “Ein Mädchen namens Willow,” about a young girl who inherits a magical forest and discovers she’s a witch. Discussing the impact of regional funding in the states of Berlin and Brandenburg — popular locations for international filmmakers — Kirsten Niehuus, CEO of local funder Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, said 2024 had been a good year, noting that with 5,000 days of shooting, production in the area remained at a high level despite the economic downturn.
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