Shortly before the start of this year's TeleVisionale in Baden-Baden, it has now been decided that the film and series festival will take place in Weimar for the first time in 2025. "The activities of the German Academy of Performing Arts have so far focussed on West Germany. With the relocation of TeleVisionale to Weimar, the Academy is expanding its sphere of activity. As the organiser, the Academy expects a productive further development of the festival from the exchange with the cultural city of Weimar and the state of Thuringia," explains Academy President Hans-Jürgen Drescher.

For Weimar, the festival means an expansion of the contemporary cultural programme and the associated media discourse. "This is not an easy decision for us," says the artistic director of the festival, Urs Spörri. "For 36 years, the festival has had a firmly established and valued location in Baden-Baden after its beginnings in Frankfurt. In this respect, an era is now coming to an end."

In 2024, the festival management was forced to reduce this year's TeleVisionale from five to three days, as constantly rising costs left no other option. "Despite all our efforts, we were unable to raise the necessary funds to make it possible to watch the nominated films together. This was the trigger for us to look for alternatives to secure the future of the festival," reports Managing Festival Director Daniela Ginten. "In the course of this process, a completely new perspective emerged for TeleVisionale - in Weimar."

The Academy and festival management are aware that this step represents a turning point - especially as the decision was made shortly before this year's festival. They would like to express their gratitude to all partners who have worked so hard to keep the festival in Baden-Baden. "We hope that we will now be able to celebrate another interesting and exciting festival together in Baden-Baden. And we look forward to seeing everyone who loves TeleVisionale again at the new location in 2025," says Urs Spörri.

This year's TeleVisionale - Film and Series Festival Baden-Baden will take place from 27 to 29 November at the Kurhaus Baden-Baden.

Further information and the entire press release can be found here.
Photo: TeleVisionale festival directors Daniela Ginten and Urs Spörri, © TeleVisionale / Sophie Schüler