Introduction
by Becky Tan

The 24th Filmfest Hamburg showed September 29 to October 8, 2016. Six cinemas hosted the 165 films from 53 production countries. For the first time a US film, AMERICAN IDYLL (American Pastoral), opened the festival. Director/actor Ewin McGregor and actress Jennifer Connelly were present at the premiere as was the mayor of Hamburg, Olaf Schulz. Nine prizes were awarded; prize money totaled 90,000 euros. Eleven accredited journalists represented Currents Magazine and its three sister media, where they saw 87 (or more than half) of the festival films in 210 viewings, plus the parallel Michel Kinder und Jugend Filmfest (children and young people). See you next year, at the 25th Filmfest Hamburg, October 5-9, 2017.