Hof International Film Festival
A feast for cineastes
Every year in the last week of October, Hof is transformed into the Mecca for film enthusiasts. With the start of the International Hof Film Days, Hof becomes the "HomeOfFilms" - a meeting place for filmmakers and thousands of visitors to the film festival. In addition to films, short films and documentaries in Hof's various cinemas, the International Hof Film Days are framed by a colorful cultural program such as readings, panel discussions and exhibitions. Many well-known directors (for example Tom Tykwer, Caroline Link, Wim Wenders, Jim Jarmusch, Peter Jackson and Werner Herzog) made their debut in Hof with one of their first films and went on to conquer the international film world. Critics agree: the Hof Film Festival is the second most important German film festival after the Berlinale.
By the way, the Filmtage catalog is published every year with a list of all the films shown and the respective venues and times. If you too would like to secure a copy, you should hurry: The coveted catalogs, which are on sale from the Friday before the Film Days in Hof's bookstores, among others, are usually already sold out on the same day.
Film culture in a family atmosphere
For the filmmakers, the Hof Film Festival is a big family reunion without pomp and chichi, an informal event to exchange ideas and make new contacts. For you as a film fan, the festival is not only the opportunity to see the latest films, but also many a film great up close over an espresso in the old town.
A traditional highlight is the awarding of the "Film Prize of the City of Hof", whose winners read like a "Who's Who" of German film. The "Hans Vogt Prize" is dedicated to the sound film pioneer and inventor of modern sound film, Hans Vogt, at the Hof Film Festival. The Hofer Filmtage are also connected with soccer: No festival takes place without a match of the FC Hofer Filmtage against the selection of the FC Hofer Filmwelt. By the way, one of the most successful goal scorers is the well-known director Werner Herzog.
Hof Film Festival - a success story
In 1967, the Hofer filmmaker Heinz Badewitz organized the "First Hofer Film Days" for the first time together with some other colleagues and under partly adverse circumstances. They were a resounding success. Audiences flocked to the cinemas in droves. Only a few years after the successful start, the term "Hofer Fimtage" could be preceded by the word "International". The Film Days have since become an established forum, attracting representatives of all media from all over Germany every year. As one of the main sponsors, ARTE dedicates part of its program to the Hofer Filmtage.
Heinz Badewitz, Filmtage founder and honorary citizen of the city of Hof, passed away on March 10, 2016.
For more information on the International Hof Film Festival, click here:
