Press Release          April 2008

6th International Tegernsee Mountain Film Festival 22nd - 26th October 2008

After five successful runs, the Tegernsee Mountain Film Festival has finally come of age. Whether expectations have been fulfilled or not and where the Tegernsee festival wishes to head in the future is under scrutiny in the following interview with its artistic director, Michael Pause from Bavarian Public Broadcasting (Bayerischer Rundfunk).

In 2008 the Tegernsee Mountain Film Festival will take place for the sixth time. Do you still run the event with the same kind of enthusiasm as in the beginning?

Yes, of course. In fact, my enthusiasm has even grown stronger. At the beginning, there were a lot of question marks. We didn’t know whether this type of festival would be accepted, whether we’d be able to realise and finance it. But the last year in particular showed that we have really made it. Both in terms of attracting an audience and the film makers’ scene. And that finally makes us interesting for sponsors. Now that is a great motivator!

What were your intentions back then, six years ago?

The driving force behind the scheme was of course Dr. Otto Guggenbichler, the great pioneer of documentary film, a resident of Tegernsee. He insisted for years that Germany, the birthplace of mountain film, needs to host a mountain film festival again, one with a competition. The latter is important to offer film makers an attractive platform to show their productions to a broad audience, but also to encourage producers to invest in qualitative mountain films again – with the competition in mind. The rising numbers of participants and visitors show that we are answering to a real need. Last year we had almost 6,000 viewers and 135 films submitted.

All of which are shown in Tegernsee?

No, of course not. A preliminary jury has to separate the wheat from the chaff. We do get a couple of productions which we would not force upon an audience. But thanks to the great number of submitted films, we are able to choose around 60 out of the lot that will make for an attractive programme.

What sort of changes have mountain films undergone in the last few years?

Mountain film comes with the temptation to string together too many imposing and momentous images, without giving the film an actual through-line, a story, which is no less fascinating than the cinematography itself. And that is not enough to engage viewers who will be bored quite quickly, especially when scenes do not move on. To make it short: there are many productions with impressive footage but rather weak content. However, there always are a good few brilliant films, which definitely get under your skin. Recent Tegernsee winners demonstrate this, especially Gerhard Baur’s Nanga Parbat documentary, which won the Great Prize in 2005. But not just old hands like Baur are capable of making fantastic films: in 2007 two young Canadians won the main prize with their first production ever. ‘Asiemut’ is one of the most touching travel reports I have seen in a long time. A film that has been produced by the simplest means and which proves that the state of the budget does not necessarily translate into the quality of the film.

Talking about quality. Is there anything you can say about the films which will be on view in Tegernsee in October 2008?

No, I cannot say anything as yet. Even though we have already received about 50 submissions, we will have to wait until the 31st May deadline. To me, one important indicator is the mountain film festival in Trento at the beginning of May. That’s when you get a first decent idea of what has been happening in the film scene over the last year.

And finally a glance at the future: how will, how can Tegernsee develop from here on? Is Trento the great role model?

Naturally, Trento is and was our great role model. After all, it is the big mountain film festival in Europe, and those who run it have always supported us a lot. Still, it is crucial not to copy anyone else but to develop something individual and independent. And that is what we have been able to achieve by now. Tegernsee is a small, charming town where all events take place within a small area. This means that people keep running into one another and meet after shows in the restaurants and guest houses. This atmosphere is cosy and personal, but it also restricts our scope for expansion. But we do have a certain amount of legroom still. This year, for instance, we will add a fifth theatre so as to accommodate the growing number of visitors.

And conceptually?

Our concept has been established and will not change very much. We have smoothed down some of its edges, and it works very well the way it stands. However, it is of course important to keep progressing: last year, for instance, we introduced a new ‘Extra’ category which also caters for older films relating to a specific competitive theme. ‘Ski and snowboard’ in 2007 was a real winner, which the audience really responded to. I am sure that this year as well, in the ‘People on the Mountain’ portraits, we will get to see some amazing productions. One element that will never change is that our film festival is strictly based on the concept of ‘mountains’. In Tegernsee, mountain films of every stripe enter for competition. Adventure or nature films set in random landscapes, however, have no place in this event. That, by the way, is one point which sets us clearly apart from our ‘older brother’ Trento.

Application for submission and further information at:
Bergfilm-Festival Tegernsee, Hauptstrasse 2, 83684 Tegernsee, Germany,
Tel. +49(0)8022-180140, E-mail: Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spam-Bots geschützt, Sie müssen Javascript aktivieren, damit Sie es sehen können and online at
www.bergfilm-festival-tegernsee.de