Self-Declarations: Films about Film
On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of DEFA
Founded on May 17, 1946, the state-owned film company of the GDR, Deutsche Film AG, or DEFA for short, produced nearly 700 feature films, over 750 animated films, around 2,250 documentaries and short films, and countless newsreels between 1946 and 1992. Its productions were shown in state-owned movie theaters, summer cinemas, and open-air theaters, at festivals, and, last but not least, on East German television. In addition to films from the GDR and productions from socialist countries, its schedules and programs also included films from the Federal Republic of Germany and non-socialist countries. Film was an omnipresent medium in the GDR as well, a part of society.
Many contemporary DEFA films tell stories about film and cinema by focusing on the preparation and execution of filming, i.e., film production itself. Unlike self-reflective films of Western origin, which often point out the capitalist downsides of film in a serious tone and tell stories of greed, envy, and the pursuit of success, DEFA films prefer to use comedic registers. Many stage doppelgänger stories or surprising shifts between present-day and film narratives. Phenomena such as stardom, which was actually rejected in the GDR, and the preferential social treatment of prominent actors and actresses are also addressed. A loving, only cautiously critical view of the film industry dominates.
The retrospective Self-Declarations: Films about Film, curated by Michael Grisko on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the DEFA, brings together feature films and two documentary short film programs dedicated to film history and film production or portraying DEFA artists. It presents an anniversary program in which the largest film company in the GDR presents itself and, not infrequently, misrepresents itself. (Michael Grisko)
