The 25th Leipzig Film Art Fair began with a full house and an optimistic mood. Even the opening film "Sentimental Value" by Joachim Trier was sold out within an hour - a clear sign that the fascination for arthouse cinema is unbroken. For five days, around 1,200 industry guests and cinema fans are expected to discover 83 new productions, take part in panels and network.

The Leipzig audience also got their money's worth on the very first evening: director Julius Grimm presented his film "Zweigstelle" in person, accompanied by actor Reiner Bock. Also on the programme: Kirill Serebrennikov's "The Disappearance of Josef Mengele".

"Waves of change" - cinemas as cultural venues of the future

Parallel to the festival, a high-calibre political panel focused on the future of cinema. Under the motto "Waves of Change", representatives from politics, funding and the industry discussed the role of cinemas in the age of streaming and AI.

Christian Bräuer, Chairman of the AG Kino - Gilde, made it clear: "Cinemas need reliable funding in order to survive as places of concentration and exchange." Peter Dinges from the German Federal Film Board was also confident: in five years' time, he sees arthouse cinemas "in full bloom".

Politicians such as SPD media expert Martin Rabanus emphasised the social importance of cinemas: cinemas are meeting places that make diversity visible and enable democratic discourse. The planned annual programme funding of seven million euros is a first step. In the long term, however, industry representatives are calling for additional investment funds so that cinemas can remain modernised and fit for the future.

An anniversary with a signal effect

From sold-out screenings to lively debates: The anniversary edition of the Filmkunstmesse shows how lively and relevant cinema remains even in the digital age. This week, Leipzig will become a showcase for new films - and a forum for all those who believe in the power of the shared film experience.