German Screenings - international meeting place for quality TV
Cologne/Munich, 20 November 2009 - The annual German Screenings conference will take place in Munich from 29 November to 3 December at the deluxe hotel Le Méridién. This engaging TV distribution trade fair is organized by german united distributors together with Telepool, Deutsche Welle and ORF, who will be presenting their new program highlights in a special presentation area. Some 100 TV buyers from 26 countries have signed on to view the latest German-language productions in individual screenings. This multi-faceted broad-range of offerings encompasses the entire spectrum of television entertainment, full-length features, made-for-TV movies and series, documentaries, wildlife formats on to musical programs and children's shows. Timed to coincide with the cinema release of "2012," the latest hit film from Germany's star director, united docs presents the biography "My Life: Roland Emmerich" (45'). The distributing company from Cologne is also showing a documentary about the 1939 naval catastrophe "The Last Cruise of the Columbus" (2x45'), the ecological thriller "Salmonopoly" (52'), the consumer report "Why We Buy" (52') and "Vacuum" (90'), the moving life story of one of Uruguay's "disappeared."
"This year, we've decided to present the latest German-language documentaries in a family-style atmosphere, and I'm confident visitors will like the concept," said Silke Spahr, managing director of german united distributors. "The annual German Screenings event is not only a valuable communication platform for our international partners, it's also a very effective sales and distribution platform for us."
The film attracting the most attention in the run-up to the 2009 German Screenings is the biographical documentary "My Life: Roland Emmerich." A camera team accompanies the Hollywood director while on the set as well as during post-production of his latest film "2012," the final installment of a trilogy of disaster movies that included "Independence Day" and "The Day After Tomorrow." Emmerich even invites the crew to his home in L.A. and gives viewers insights into his private life, his priorities and goals.
The historical documentary "The Last Cruise of the Columbus" relates the true story of the tragic demise of a cruise ship that sank in the Atlantic in 1939. With the help of unique 16mm footage and many photos taken by the ship's official photographer, this film recounts the final voyage of the "Columbus" and investigates the fates of the ship's crew.
"Salmonopoly" is the first documentary of its kind to closely examine the business practices of the world's most successful aqua-farming corporation "Marine Harvest," the largest producer of farmed salmon, with 70 farms located in Chile. Negligent environmental regulations in Chile allow many practices that are forbidden in Europe. From an ecological viewpoint, there is cause for alarm, but economically the company is very successful. This "ecological thriller" exposes the shady practices of a huge corporation in the global food industry, focusing on influential Norwegian businessman John Fredriksen, who professes to be "green," "sustainable" and "transparent." Thanks to his 100,000 Euro annual contribution to the World Wildlife Fund, he is permitted to display the WWF's panda logo on his industrially produced salmon.
Another of united docs' new films on offer takes a look behind the scenes of the marketing world: "Why We Buy". Corporations invest millions to ensure their products are more sensuously appealing. This film provides viewers in-depth insights into the world of the "hidden persuaders." Will all of our perceptions someday be orchestrated by others?
The documentary "Vacuum" deals with the fate of the so-called "Desaparecidos" or "disappeared" - people who vanished between 1973-84 during the military dictatorship in Uruguay and were never heard from again. Many were murdered, while others were kidnapped and tortured. Maria Emilia Islas is one of them. At the young age of 22 she disappeared along with her husband and their 18-month-old baby. Since 2004 Uruguay's new government has been making an extended effort to locate the "Desaparecidos", the disappeared. Thanks to the fervent search conducted by her grandmother, Maria Emilia's daughter was finally located.
