Imagine 30 filmmakers – a mix of seasoned professionals and young talents – coming together to create short films from scratch. This is no ordinary film festival. It’s Munich’s Kino Kabaret. More precisely: Halloween KinoM.
From November 1st to 3rd, 2024, 30 filmmakers gathered to celebrate the 12th edition of Munich's Kino Kabaret. This time, 10 short films were created and presented to the audience. A demanding, long weekend:
"😴I now fall into bed much happier than 3 days ago. It was a great KinoM comeback!!!!❤️🥳"
Friday morning starts with about an hour’s delay, after all participants (including last-minute ones) have arrived and registered.
There’s no time to waste now.
The presentation round begins. Creatives introduce themselves and then present their project ideas.
Around noon, once the presentations are over, the hustle and bustle begin: Collaborators are sought, actors talk to the directors whose projects they find interesting, deals are made – above all, the principle is: I help you, you help me. That’s the essence of Kino Kabarets (not to be confused with political cabaret).
This is also the main difference from 48/72-hour competitions, where individual teams come together at the beginning and end, work alone in between, and then hope to win a prize.
At KinoM, what you gain is that you have a short film to show at the end;
you’ve spent a weekend full of creative energy with like-minded people and had a lot of fun;
you’ve made some contacts with whom you’re already brainstorming the next film projects...
Once the project initiators have their team and a rough schedule (it will always be rough and will be adjusted several times), the first shoots begin.
As mentioned, time is a limited resource here. The film must be finished by Sunday. Locations present the next challenge – where to shoot without money?
It’s good that the Kreativquartier already offers some options. Even better that we have enough locals who might offer their apartments as shooting locations.
“It was a wonderful and exciting time with wonderful people! We loved it very much and thank you all 🍀🍀🍀”
And since it’s early November, not too cold, and the sun is shining: outdoor shoots! The nearby Olympiapark is a great option, or exploring all of Munich, like our guests Marianne Gaudillere and Arthur Bacry from Nantes, who visited all the Munich landmarks because it perfectly fit their plot.
Are there any theme requirements? No. Although we celebrated the “Halloween KinoM” and some used it as an excuse for spooky stories (like Moritz Neumayr with his “Pumpkin Soup”), participants are completely free in their choice of topics and genres.
It’s not about us, the KinoM – it’s about the creatives and their projects. However, one restriction remains – no film can be longer than six minutes. Production time is short, after all. (That rule wasn’t always followed...)
Our role at KinoM is to provide the framework – a meeting place that’s (almost) always open, a screening venue, and catering – with snacks and dinners cooked by the participants themselves.
"“Thank you for the opportunity! It was so much fun, great organization, the food, and I’m already looking forward to the next KinoM!"
Das Wochenende ist schnell rum. Der Druck steigt, wenn es Sonntag Abend Richtung Screening geht. Mir fehlt noch diese Szene? Schnell noch drehen. Die Postproduktion dauert länger als erwartet?
Crunch time. The organizer urging everyone to finish on time. Some are still exporting or editing while the screening has already started. But the audience is waiting...