The Four Timeframes
The history of humankind cannot be told in just one festival day. Therefore, we have decided to give each period its own place and present each film in the context of other films with similar chronological contexts. Of course, we are aware that the classic divisions of Eurocentric historiography must be viewed critically and that they often pose difficulties when applied to global history. Therefore we are actively inviting films from as many different cultures and eras as possible into our festival.
Timeframe I “Prehistory – Antiquity”
The first category covers the longest period in human history and at the same time a collection of the most exciting and challenging epochs for filmmakers. Whether it’s the Palaeolithic, the Celtic era, or the Eastern Roman Empire, all films with themes up to the end of Late Antiquity are honored here. Together, we experience on the big and small screens how humans create fire, make bronze and iron subservient, and philosophers formulate the most fundamental theses of history.
Timeframe II “Migration Period – Middle Ages”
The Middle Ages is a traditional favorite theme of the film world. The magic of old themes such as the castles and palaces of Europe, the expansion of Islam, the equestrian tribes of the Mongols, and the beginning of European exploratory voyages. The focus of this category is on humans from the transformation of the Roman Empire to the discovery of America by Columbus.
Timeframe III “Modern Era/Colonialism”
This time frame offers great cultural diversity, with a variety of rapid development spurts, tragic events of epochal importance, and revolutionary ideas. Colonialism, the advancing rational mind with its fruits of industrialization, the uprising of the people against monarchic structures are all equally in focus, as lesser discussed topics like rise of the Qing dynasty, or topics that once were in the main focus of the film industry like Western or Pirates.
Timeframe IV “Great War – Contemporary History”
World War I and the following period such as the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, the rise of totalitarian regimes leading into the horrors of World War II was a time of seismic change, characterized by political upheaval, technological advancement, and profound shifts in culture. As the 20th century progressed, it brought the world closer together through the advent of television, the space race, and the birth of the internet. The Cold War’s tension, civil rights movements, and the push for gender equality defined the mid-century landscape. The cultural explosion of the 1960s, followed by the fall of the Berlin Wall, reshaped societies and created a global village.
Only the present moment is the limit of our history. Most recent events are still object of filmmaker’s endeavor to shine light on mankind’s condition. As long as there is historical relevance to the theme or plot of a film or documentary, it will be considered for our festival.