Interview with Anthony Bandmann

The cooperation with the Braunschweig International Film Festival has been running for many years. What does it mean to you?

The Braunschweig International Film Festival is an affair of the heart for us. We've been doing it for 27 years. I've only been involved for 11-12 years, but I've been able to accompany it for exactly that long and I really enjoy doing it. The continuity of our commitment over this period says it all. And I think it makes it clear how important the Braunschweig International Film Festival is for the city of Braunschweig and the region - and I am convinced that the BIFF is firmly anchored in Braunschweig's cultural calendar and among the people of Braunschweig. I'm a film fan anyway, so it's just fun and enjoyable - and I think it's simply good for Braunschweig.

How important is your commitment here locally? You are active in many areas.

I certainly am. Sometimes you imagine that someone comes and says: "Say, Volkswagen FS, can you sponsor here or can you sponsor there?" Or we say: "Oh come on, that's a nice thing to do, let's do it." Of course, we have come up with a sponsorship strategy - and it is based on three pillars. One is sport. I think everyone in Braunschweig knows where we are involved. Namely Eintracht Braunschweig and the Basketball Lions. But here, too, we do far more than just the really big issues; for example, we have set up a great program to promote young talent. The second topic is culture, the third is social affairs and the environment. These are the three pillars - and of course we make sure that we give equal weight to all three pillars.

As you mentioned earlier, what do you think makes the Braunschweig International Film Festival special as a cultural format?

I've been able to attend a few times myself and it's impressive to see the personalities we've been able to bring to Braunschweig with the Braunschweig International Film Festival. Whether it's Senta Berger, Mario Adorf, Sebastian Koch... I particularly remember Brandon Gleeson because I was able to present him with an award and I'm also a huge fan of his. He usually plays supporting roles, but I think he's just great. For me, it's a bit of a glamorous effect when they arrive. It gives Braunschweig a certain glamor and makes it even more special. The keyword "international" is already in the name of the festival. I think it's a particularly nice thing to find something international in Braunschweig.

Is there a film from the past few months that has particularly stuck with you?

I do fly quite a lot and am often on the road. I sometimes have time to watch a movie on cross-country flights. Just now, on the return flight from Washington D.C. to Frankfurt, I watched the movie "A Man Called Otto". A movie with Tom Hanks...a remake of a Swedish movie, a bit of a comedy, a bit emotional, almost a tragicomedy. That's the kind of work that really touched me on the plane.

Which films would be at the top of your "eternal list"?

A few, but first and foremost certainly Braveheart, which I must have seen 20 times. I just said that I had the pleasure of meeting Brendan Gleeson in person. It's also a historical movie and he's a bit of an underdog, someone who stands up for his cause. I always enjoy watching it.

We've already talked about cultural formats in the region and cultural funding. Apart from the ones that are already running, that are on the road, what else could be good for our region?

I think the topic of culture is very important, especially for young people. There is still a lot that can be done, there is still potential there. Cinema or the film genre can play a valuable role in this. I also appreciate the fact that the Braunschweig International Film Festival is also about smaller films that deal with socially critical and socio-critical topics. I think it's worth using a format like this to get young people out of mainstream cinema and onto something that goes off the beaten track of pure entertainment.