Our next film event for children takes place on March 22, for all aged eight and above: Since the first time films were shown in 1895, they have been accompanied by sounds and music. Noises, music, sounds and language are combined to make a soundtrack. Before we make our own sound experiments and create a soundtrack to DÉMÉNAGEMENT À LA CLOCHE DE BOIS by Alice Guy (France 1905), we will find out what can be seen and heard in four shorts: In ROOTS (Germany 1996) by Bärbel Neubauer, colors and shapes swirl around and keep transforming themselves. In his FILMSTUDIE (Germany 1926), Hans Richter plays with light and shadows. LANTOUY by Isabell Spengler and Daniel Adams (Germany 2006) entices us into a magical world of images and sounds. Finally, in Matthias Müller and Christoph Girardet’s PLAY (Germany 2003) a moment full of suspense between thundering applause and the beginning of a piece of music being played seems to be never-ending.

The next event as part of our series for children takes place on February 16, for all those aged 5 and above: Sometimes life is wild and spectacular at the theater and cinema. Actors dress up and become magical beings. Women become butterfly women in Segundo de Chomóns LES PAPILLONS JAPONAIS (France 1908), artistes rise out from tiny boxes in a marvelous way in MAGIC BRICKS (France 1902) by the Pathé brothers. In ROSALIE DANSEUSE (France 1912) by Roméo Bosetti and THE MASQUERADER (USA 1914) by Charles Chaplin misadventurers achieve their goal humorously by disguising themselves with masks and costumes. Afterwards, there will be a chance to make masks and perform together. The composer and pianist Eunice Martins will provide live accompaniment.

Our next event for children takes place on January 19: The work of film projectionists in the cinema usually takes place out of view – in the projection booth behind the audience. This program gives an insight into the art of film projection and what it means to project analogue film prints. The film PREMIÈRE SÉANCE (Philippe Truffault/Auguste & Louis Lumière, France 1895/1995) about the legendary first cinema screening by the Lumière brothers in Paris in 1895 lays out the historical threads. The colorful, squeaking COLORFILM (Standish Lawder, USA 1972) shows how film strips turn into music when put through a 16mm film projector. After the screenings of the 35-mm Lumière print and the 16-mm film by Standish Lawder, filmmaker James Edmonds will show his collage-esque Super8 WE ALL LIVE IN THE BLUE IMAGE FOREVER (Germany 2007–2018) in a double screening with two film projectors in the cinema. Then, audience members will be invited to visit the projection booth and try their hand at playing projectionist themselves. For everyone aged 5 and more.