On the occasion of the upcoming 65th anniversary of the recruitment agreement with Turkey, the BIFF is offering GenerationGOLD offers an insight into the far too unheard stories of so-called guest workers. The film series is intended to pay tribute to all the people who contributed significantly to Germany's economic miracle with their labor. The lack of appreciation of the first generation also leaves its mark on the following generations. The films touch us with their intimate insights and take a critical look at the living conditions of Turkish immigrants and their position in today's society. The film series was curatorially supported by Can Sungu (SİNEMA TRANSTOPIA in Berlin). The special film series ties in with the project idea of the same name by Türkân Deniz-Roggenbuck (Kulturton - Agency for Diversity & Transculturality).
"This heartfelt project is a kind of belated thanks to a generation that has done so much for our country without ever getting the stage or platform they deserve. And they should now be given this visibility as contemporary witnesses whose stories have been marginalized for too long, even though they belong at the heart of our national history," explains Deniz-Roggenbuck.
Forbidden, cinematic milestones in Braunschweig
The movie KARA KAFA which was banned by the then censorship committee in Turkey after its completion, will be given an appropriate platform at the festival. The film bluntly shows the challenges faced by a Turkish guest worker family in Germany - and how they are dealt with. In order to shed more light on the real story and fates behind this film, a discussion will be held after the screening on November 11 will be followed by a panel discussion. Diversity Salon: Ali Baba and his 11 siblings. Guest workers between myth and reality – what do we really know about them? brings German-Turkish contemporary witnesses on stage and brings memories to life. What remains in the collective - and what responsibility do our institutions bear?
Another highlight of this special series is the film HYSTERIA a film within a film. After a burnt Koran is found during a shoot in a refugee home, mistrust, prejudice and political tensions grow. A film that encourages reflection and doubt and sheds light on the tensions and finding one's way in Germany.
"The special series GenerationGOLD: Yesterday - Today - Tomorrow / dün - bugün - yarın highlights yesterday, today and tomorrow and uses current and older films to show stories that make viewers aware of the difficulties and challenges faced by the families of migrant workers then and now. The cooperation with Türkân Deniz-Roggenbuck/Agentur Kulturton is therefore particularly important to us - because it opens up spaces for remembrance, exchange and recognition. The history of the so-called guest workers is a central part of German post-war society and the German economic miracle - and their voices, experiences and perspectives belong at the heart of our cultural debate", Karina Gauerhof, Festival Director and Head of Program.