A total of 62 long and short films are showcased in the Generation Kplus and Generation 14plus programs of the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival. 

Makoto Nagahisa’s feature film debut We Are Little Zombies opens  Generation 14plus, where four average Japanese 13½-year-olds embark on a brilliant journey through their troubled inner life.

An adventurous journey through time and a treasure hunt across the German capital to the earth of the Teufelsberg is told by the opening film of Generation Kplus , Cleo. After his short films Rhino galloping and Berlin Metanoia ( 14plus 2013 and 2016) , the Berlin director Erik Schmitt again thrilled with stylistically striking and surprising ideas.

Generation 14plus

By the name of Tania
Belgium / Netherlands
by Bénédicte Liénard, Mary Jiménez
World premiere – documentary form

The Amazon flows lazily through the landscape of gold mines in northern Peru. On the basis of real testimonies, the directors Bénédicte Liénard and Mary Jiménez describe the story of a young woman who falls into the trap of forced prostitution in the initially hopeful attempt to escape the confines of her home village. Step by step she is deprived of her moral and physical integrity. In contrast, the film sets a space of dignity and gives voice and identity back to a nameless fate. Imaginatively, the girl’s traumatic odyssey, combined with devastating natural devastation, symbolizes the destruction of life in a capitalist world.

Espero tua (re) volta ( Your Turn )
Brazil
by Eliza Capai
World premiere – documentary form

As a result of the worsening social crisis, many schools in São Paulo are due to close in 2015, and students are occupying more than a thousand public buildings in an unprecedented act of self-empowerment. In their third feature-length film, Brazilian documentary filmmaker Eliza Capai shows the evolution of the many-voiced protests through news clippings, self-directed interviews, and shots of protesters’ cell phone cameras. Starting with the first demonstrations in 2013, to the election of the far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro in 2018, Capai’s highly political work gains in relevance on a daily basis.

The Magic Life of V
Finland / Denmark / Bulgaria
by Tonislav Hristov
European premiere – documentary form

Young Finn Veera tries to face her violent childhood through live role-playing games. Whether as a sorceress or a warrior – she bravely confronts her adversaries, drawing the power to face her true tormentor. In his intimate and personal portrait, Tonislav Hristov shows slowly and slowly how the causes of Veera’s need for constant transformation lie.

The Red Phallus
Bhutan / Germany / Nepal
by Tashi Gyeltshen
European premiere – debut film

In the far reaches of the Himalayas, in a remote village, the 16-year-old Sangay feels trailed by demons behind blood-red masks. Her father holds on to the ancient repressive traditions of her culture: As a renowned craftsman, he carves phalluses made of wood, which are supposed to drive away evil spirits. In an archaic rhythm, the radical debut film by Bhutanese autodidact Tashi Gyeltshen tells a powerful backdrop of the girl’s tragic struggle for self-determination and independence.

Reconstruction Utøya ( Reconstructing Utøya )
Sweden / Norway / Denmark
by Carl Javér
International premiere – documentary form
Out of competition

In a sheltered room and under the supervision of psychologists, four survivors of the rampage, which was perpetrated on the Norwegian island of Utøya in the summer of 2011, entrust their personal experience to a group of young people. In order to cope with the experience, scenes from the border area between life and death are reconstructed in a haunting and minimalistic way: the flight from the bullets, the hiding, the fear. With great sensitivity, the renowned documentary filmmaker Carl Javér describes the joint work-up of a trauma and the awakening of new hope.

Ringside
Germany / USA
by André Hörmann
World premiere – documentary form

The latest work by the renowned director, author and producer André Hörmann traces the path of US boxing talent Kenny Jr. and Destyne Jr. in a patient as well as insightful observation. Growing up in the notorious Chicago South Side, the two friends and competitors start a promising career around the same time. But soon their ways separate. While Kenny begins to gain a foothold in the world of professional sports, Destyne must first go to jail. The result is a touching story of oppression, ambition, purposefulness and the overwhelming power of hope to escape his fate.

Shao nian de ni ( Better Days )
Hong Kong / People’s Republic of China
by Derek Kwok-Cheung Tsang
World Premiere

Nian tries to buff for the state’s Gaokao exam, on which her chances of finding a place to study depend. That she is bullied by her classmates is not exactly helpful. A nightly encounter brings the shy student with the savvy Trickser Bei together. When Nian’s school nemesis is found dead, both are suspected. Derek Tsang’s latest feature film is a wild ride between cool political thriller and exuberant romanticism. A melodrama that tells a lot about the social and private forces that pull on two young people in the Chinese present.

Already announced

Beol-sae ( House of Hummingbird ), Republic of Korea , by Bo-ra Kim, debut feature EP 

The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open , Canada / Norway, by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Kathleen Hepburn – WP

Bulbul Can Sing , India, from Rima das – EP

Goldie , USA , by Sam de Jong – WP

Guo chun tian ( The Crossing ), People’s Republic of China , Bai Xue, debut film – EP 

Hölmö nuori sydän ( Stupid Young Heart ), Finland / Netherlands / Sweden , by Selma Vilhunen – EP 

Knives and Skin ,USA, by Jennifer Reeder – WP

We Are Little Zombies , Japan, by Makoto Nagahisa, debut feature EP

Short films  Generation 14plus

Cocodrilo ( Crocodile ) , Spain, by Jorge Yúdice – WP

Four Quartets , United Kingdom, by Marco Alessi – EP

Hush , New Zealand, by Armağan Ballantyne – WP

Kids ,Switzerland / France, by Michael Frei – WP

Les petites vagues ( Little Waves ), Canada, by Ariane Louis-Seize – IP 

Leaking Life , Japan, by Shunsaku Hayashi – WP

Liberty , USA, by Faren Humes – IP

Los rugidos que alejan la tormenta ( The Roar That Keeps the Storm Away ),Argentina, by Santiago Reale, Documentary Form – WP

Mantra’s las olas ( Meanwhile the Waves ), Argentina, by Delfina Gavaldá, Carmen Rivoira – EP

Mosul 980 , USA, by Ali Mohammed Saeed – WP

Paula sans lui ( About Love ), France, by Maéva Berol – WP

Soeurs Jarariju ( The Sisters Jarariju ) , Switzerland, by Jorge Cadena – IP

Story ,Poland, by JolaBańkowska – WP

Tattoo , Iran, by Farhad Delaram – WP

Tigre , France, by Delphine Deloget – IP

Yulia & Juliet , Netherlands, by Zara Dwinger – IP

Generation Kplus

2040
Australia
by Damon Gameau
World premiere – documentary form
out of competition

Award-winning Australian director Damon Gameau makes his second guest appearance at the Berlinale after his documentary debut feature That Sugar Film ( Generation 2015). In his latest work, he embarks on a global journey and, in the face of manmade ecological upheavals, explores the question of what a future worth living in 2040 might look like. Designed in the form of a visual letter to his four-year-old daughter, Gameau combines 2040 elements of classic documentary film with unusual image effects, approaching an otherwise dystopian-style theme in an optimistic, down-to-earth manner.

Cleo
Germany
by Erik Schmitt
World premiere – debut film

Turning on time and undoing all past misfortune: Cleo’s biggest wish suddenly comes within reach, as she learns of a treasure map that reveals the hiding place of a magical clock. Together with Random acquaintance Paul and two quirky hobby treasure hunters, she embarks on a turbulent journey through time and across Berlin. After his short films Rhino galloping and Berlin Metanoia ( 14plus 2013 and 2016), the Berlin director Erik Schmitt returns in his usual distinctive style with his feature film debut back to the program of Generation .

Driveways
United States
from Andrew Ahn
world Premiere

Produced by, among others, Trudie Styler (Director and Producer Freak Show , Generation 14plus 2017), Celine Rattray (also Production Freak Show ) and James Schamus ( Indignation , Panorama 2016) , nearly nine-year-old Cody and his mother drive to his home deceased aunt. While she clears her sister’s house, he has to pass the time by himself. The introverted boy can not do much with the neighbor children. But with the grumpy, 83-year-old ex-military Del next door soon connects him an unusual friendship that touches all aspects of life in their casual ease. At the end, a new journey is imminent.

Kokdu : A Story of Guardian Angels
Republic of Korea
by Kim Tae Yong
European premiere

After Man chu ( Forum 2011), director Kim Tae Yong will be represented  by Generation for the first time this year . His most recent work, the cinematic adaptation of a Korean play, unfolds a turbulent fairy tale of a very different kind: in an attempt to get back the shoes of her dying grandmother, who are innocently exchanged for a puppy, the siblings Su-min and Dong-min suddenly find themselves in it Kingdom of death. They are accompanied by four Kokdus – mythical beings who assist the dead on their way to the afterlife.

Månelyst i Flåklypa ( Louis & Luca – Mission to the Moon )
Norway
by Rasmus A. Sivertsen
International premiere

According to Solan and Ludvig – Herfra til Flåklypa ( Louis & Nolan – The Big Cheese Race , Generation Kplus 2016), Elster Solan and the hedgehog Ludvig are back in generation . In the latest work of animation filmmaker Rasmus A. Sivertsen, a Norwegian mission is sent to the moon under the direction of genius inventor Reodor. And what can go wrong, if Solan as a brave astronaut with the party is? Apparently a lot. On the turbulent journey, stowaways are discovered, secret plans are revealed – and nothing seems to work as planned.

Sune vs Sune
Sweden / Denmark
by Jon Holmberg
International premiere – debut film

With drawn swords and powerful laser guns, ten-year-old Sune moves into new epic fantasy battles with his younger brother and best friend Sophie. But after the summer holidays changed realities expect him: A new classmate challenges him, his name is also Sune. With a lot of humor and almost inexhaustible ingenuity, director Jon Holmberg tells in his feature film debut of fear of failure and overly human behaviors to face it.

Where We Belong
Switzerland
by Jacqueline Zünd
World premiere – documentary form

For Alyssia and Ilaria every farewell is a goodbye. Just on the Italian Mediterranean coast, they now stand in the parking lot of an Esso gas station and wait for their father’s car to turn the corner. Lovingly they tell their mother “See you soon”. Because the parents of the sisters live separately. Like Carleton, Sherazade and Thomas, they both found a way to handle it. Swiss documentary filmmaker Jacqueline Zünd spends a lot of time portraits of five very different protagonists, who may have understood, rather than adults, that to be father and mother, one does not have to live together.

Already announced

Anbessa , USA / Italy, by Mo Scarpelli, Documentary Form – WP

Baracoa ,Switzerland / USA / Spain, by Pablo Briones and The Moving Picture Boys, Documentary Form – WP

Daniel fait face ( Daniel ), France, by Marine Atlan, debut feature – IP 

Di yi ci de li bie ( A First Farewell ), People’s Republic of China , by Wang Lina, debut film EP 

Children , Germany, by Nina Wesemann, Documentary Form – WP

Lotte ja kadunud lohed ( Lotte and the Lost Dragons ), Estonia / Latvia , by Janno Põldma, Heiki Ernits – IP 

Mijn bijzonder rare week met Tess ( My Extraordinary Summer with Tess ), Netherlands / Germany, by Steven Wouterlood, debut film – WP   

Une colonie ( A Colony ),Canada , by Geneviève Dulude-De Celles, debut feature – IP 

Short films  Generation Kplus

Ani , New Zealand, by Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu- WP

Armed Lullaby , Germany, by Yana Ugrekhelidze – WP

City Plaza Hotel , France / Germany / Chile, by Anna Paula Hönig, Violeta Paus, Documentary Form – IP

Dian Jiao Jian ( Tiptoe ) , Taiwan, from I-Ju Lin – WP

El tamaño de las cosas ( The Size of Things ) , Colombia, by Carlos Felipe Montoya – WP

Juste moi et toi ( Just Me and You ), Canada, by Sandrine Brodeur Desrosiers – WP

Le dernier jour d’automne ( The Last Day of Autumn ) , Switzerland / Belgium / France, by Marjolaine Perreten – WP

Los ausentes ( The Absents ), Mexico, by José Lomas Hervert, out of competition – EP

Magralen , Iran / Canada, by Maryam Zarei – WP

Nest, Germany, by Sonja Rohleder – WP

Oh Corbeau! Oh Corbeau! ( Oh Crow! Oh Crow! ) , Canada, by Pierre Garcia-Rennes – WP

Pappa ( Dad ) , Norway, by Atle S. Blakseth, Einar Dunsæd – WP

#pestverhaal ( #bullyingstory ), Netherlands, by Eef Hilgers, Documentary Form – IP

Šarkan ( The Kite ), Slovak Republic / Czech Republic, by Martin Smatana – WP

She-Pack , Norway, by Fanny Ovesen – IP

Zibilla , Switzerland / Belgium, by Isabelle Favez, out of competition – WP