Feste & Freunde - Ein Hoch auf uns! 
Germany
2024
Opening 2 Jan 2025
Directed by:
David Dietl
Writing credits:
Elena Senft
Principal actors:
Katia Fellin, Henning Flüsloh, Annette Frier, Nicholas Ofczarek, Trystan Pütter
It’s 2019 and ten friends are watching fireworks to celebrate the New Year. Parties are a tradition with them. In 2020 they celebrate Natalie’s and then Ellen’s birthday, as well as a Hexenverbrennung. In 2021 there is a wedding, a baptism, and a Hoffest (farm party). Over these years they have serious discussions, support their friendships, kiss, and turn on the record player for entertainment. A favorite site is the country house at the beach, practical for celebrations, often also visited by children. Relationships are complicated. Ellen loves Sebastian, but he is married to Eva. Couples Rolf and Dina, as well as Mareike and Adam argue constantly. Maya wants a baby; Natalie isn’t sure. Then Max pops up unexpectedly.
The title translates to “Parties and Friends,” and we follow the interactions among ten friends at seven parties over three years. We recognize situations familiar with friends in our own lives. Main actors are Laura Tonke (Ellen), Ronald Zehrfeld (Sebastian), Nicholas Ofczarek (Rolf), and Annette Frier (Mareike). This is an adaptation of the Danish film Long Story Short from 2015. Hexenverbrennung means “burning of witches” and goes back to the 1500s. In Germany it developed into Walpurgisnacht which now features fire and dance, celebrated in the late spring. (Becky Tan)
