The world premiere of Arndt Ginzel’s documentary “White Angel – The End of Marinka” will open our this year’s festival edition.

This film documents evacuation and rescue operations in the small town of Marinka in the Donetsk region from the spring to the autumn of 2022. The impressive close-up footage of the operations is from a GoPro camera worn by police officers who repeatedly drive around the town in a white van which the civilians call the “White Angel”. In the spring of 2023, Arndt Ginzel and his team returned to Ukraine and spoke with the rescuers and survivors about their traumatic experiences – and about the demise of their home town, which no longer exists.

“The survivors’ testimony speaks of loss, of pain and grief, but also of hopes and dreams,” comments festival director Christoph Terhechte. “More than a film about war, ‘White Angel – The End of Marinka’ is a document of humanity and a longing for peace.”

Our opening ceremony will take place on Sunday, 8 October 2023 at 7 pm in CineStar 4.

“White Angel – The End of Marinka” will be screened in cinemas on two days during the week of the festival. We will publish our programme including all dates on 21 September, when ticket sales will also start.

You can find more information about the opening film in our press release.