Star Pilot
Directed by Pietro Francisci, best known for his popular Hercules films, Raumkreuzer Hydra – Duell im All is an idiosyncratic science fiction B-movie from the later phase of Italian genre cinema. A group of Earthlings is abducted by aliens and drawn into an interstellar adventure that shifts between spy thriller, space fairy tale, and unintended comedy. A curious cosmos shaped by Cold War anxieties, technological euphoria, and pop-art sensibilities. The cast — including Roland Lesaffre, Leontine Snell, and Kirk Morris — navigates through theatrical sets and unfamiliar planets, while Nico Fidenco’s score, enriched by choral drama, adds unexpected gravitas. Premiered in 1966, the film went largely unnoticed internationally, but today it is considered a cult fringe artifact of European sci-fi cinema — valued less for its technique than for its style: Technicolor-bright, theatrical, and audacious. A vision of outer space — through the lens of Cinecittà.
Man Bites Dog
In this pitch-dark mockumentary, a camera crew accompanies the charismatic serial killer Ben, who kills people with the nonchalance of a boy next door and the eloquence of a literature professor. Along the way, he offers tips on the weight of corpses, interior design, and how to deliver mail more efficiently—literally. With biting humor and merciless satire, the film leaves an impression that is not easily shaken off. Directed by Rémy Belvaux, Man Bites Dog becomes cynical fun, bitter social criticism, and an absurd study of the fascination with evil. It shows how easily we consume violence as long as it is well staged. When it was released, the film shocked audiences—today it is considered a cult classic that asks questions that one might prefer not to answer.
Supporting Film: Der Wal
Über einem Feld taucht ein Wal auf und spricht zu einem jungen Mann: Bald ist es aus mit der Menschheit und er solle die Botschaft bitte unters Volk bringen. Gut, dass es Youtube gibt! Wenn da nicht die Besserwisser mit besserer Auflösung und besserem Mikro wären und mal wieder alles besser wissen… Bei diesem Film handelt es sich um Finns Erstlingswerk – er war 20 Jahre alt. Entstanden im 16mm-Seminar von Razvan Radulescu, analog und digital gefilmt, wild gemixt, krasse Grafiken, ein großartiger Alexander Thelen in Bestform und in einer Paraderolle als Youtube-Prediger. Dazu noch Morphing-Effekte, echte Hunde, falsche Wale, ein verpeilter Mitbewohner, Sonnenbrillen, knallharte Action, und ein wenig Gesellschaftskritik. Trash-Kino-Herz was willst du mehr? Daumen hoch!