VietNamNet Bridge – As part of the ongoing German Film Festival for Children & Young Audiences in Hanoi, five German films will be screened atKim Dong Cinema, 19 Hang Bai Street, from May 27 through May 30.

On May 25, “LenaLove” will be introduced. This thriller is about the danger of social networks for young people. 

The film was directed by Florian Gaag (born in 1971), who studied film at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Active as a director, screenwriter, musician and producer, he is concerned with the world of youth in his movies. After focusing on the German graffiti scene in his first movie “Wholetrain” (2006) he now launches the audience into the dangers of social networks and cyber mobbing with his movie “Lenalove” (2016).

“LenaLove” won several awards, including: 

– Label “especially worthwhile”, Nomination of Jannik Schürman as “Best Junior Actor” at the Film Festival Max Ophüls Preis (2016)

– Preselection at the German film award LOLA and performance within the framework of the Berlinale 2016

The movie is about 16-year-old Lena (Emilia Schüle), who is creative and highly sensitive, dreams of escaping the suburbs, where nobody understands her. Spending her time assembling expressive collages and chatting on the internet, she meets a guy online. As Lena begins growing closer with her classmate Tim, a gifted graffiti-artist, she only confides in her chat buddy, whom she has never met in person. 

A scene from "Center of My World"

When Lena sees her best friend Nicole kissing Tim, she throws herself head-on into the social network even more. The joke among teenagers becomes a bullying excess that the adults are just as much a part of. As the facade of harmonious suburban life comes tumbling down and not only Lena’s life is at risk, each one has to question their loyalties.

On May 26, the movie “Center of My World” will be screened. This film is based on the 1998 bestselling novel “The Center of the World” by Andreas Steinhöfel.

The movie’s director - Jakob M. Erwa (born 1981 in Graz), actually wanted to be a rock star but then, in June 2001, he started his studies at the University of Television and Film Munich, which he completed in February 2007. 

His movie “Heile Welt” received the Diagonale award for the best Austrian feature film in 2006/07 and the German Independence Award at the Oldenburg International Film Festival for the best German movie. Jakob M. Erwa is now living in Berlin and works as a director, screenwriter and film producer.

“Center of My World” won several film awards, including: 

– Internationales Filmfestival Moskau 2016

– Nominierung im Hauptwettbewerb für den Goldenen Georg

– Filmfest München 2016 (Auswahl)

– Nominierung in der Kategorie Bestes Drehbuch

– Nominierung in der Kategorie Beste Regie

– Nominierung in der Kategorie Bester Nachwuchsproduzent

– Nominierung in der Kategorie Beste/r Nachwuchsschauspieler/in (Ada Philine Stappenbeck und Svenja Jung)

Filmkunstmesse Leipzig 2016

– Auszeichnung mit dem Preis der Jugendjury (Jakob M. Erwa)

A scene from “Rico, Oskar and the Mysterious Stone”

The film is about a 17-year-old boy named Phil (Louis Hofmann) who returns home after summer camp, to find that his mother, Glass (Sabine Timoteo), and his twin sister, Dianne (Ada Philine Stappenbeck), aren’t speaking to one another. 

Not willing to confront his family during the last days of summer holidays, Phil escapes to hang out with his best friend Kat. When school begins, a new student arrives: the handsome and mysterious Nicholas (Jannik Schümann). Phil starts to question his feelings towards Nicholas and is thrilled when his feelings are returned. However, when first love’s volatility comes to light, Phil realizes that he must deal with envy, jealousy and secretiveness…

On May 27, the movie “Mullewapp – A Beautiful Mess,” an animated film based on the popular children’s books by Helme Heines will come to Hanoi.

After the great success of “Mullewapp – The Great Adventure of the Movie’s Friends” in 2009, directors Tony Loeser and Theresa Strozyk present the second adventure based on the work of German children’s author Helme Heine. “Mullewapp” is a production of MotionWorks in co-production with STUDIOCANAL FILM and Melusine Productions Luxembourg. Directed by Tony Loeser, and Theresa Strozyk, the 79-minute movie was produced in 2016.

The film is about the three friends Waldemar, Johnny Mauser and Franz von Hahn in the village of Mullewap. As Waldemar’s big birthday party approaches, the whole village is very excited about the strawberry cake that will be served in celebration of the big party. But Waldemar can’t resist the cake, and he eats the whole thing himself. 

Before Waldemar ruins the whole party, the village is surprised by the arrival of unexpected guests: the boar Horst and his gang have heard about the cake and they take over the village. 

A scene from "LenaLove"

The three friends Waldemar, Johnny and Franz want to liberate their beloved home from the intruders. Suddenly things start happening too quickly and the three friends find themselves involuntarily on an adventurous bicycle tour.

Another German movie - “At Eye Level” – will be also screened on May 27.

The author and directing duo of Evi Goldbrunner and Joachim Dollhopf has developed a moving story for the cinema. At Eye Level is not only entertaining, the film also conveys an important message: It is a plea for tolerance, openness and empathy for people who are different. 

The film was made possible by the initiative “Der Besondere Kinderfilm” (The Special Children’s Film) with which public broadcasters, sponsors, government and the film industry support children’s films that are based on original screenplays.

The movie won a lot of awards in Germany, including: Deutsche Film- und Medienbewertung – Prädikat besonders wertvoll, Kinder Filmfest München 2016 – Publikumspreis and Jugend Filmjury – Der besondere Kinderfilm.

The film is about an 11-year-old boy named Michi (Luis Vorbach), who lives in a children’s home and has to fight every day to win the respect of the other kids. 

One day, he finds out who his father is and writes him a letter. But when he eventually meets his dad Tom, it’s a shock for both of them. Tom (Jordan Prentice) happens to be a dwarf and is even shorter than Michael. He didn’t know about his son, but he wants to accept the challenge of fatherhood. 

For Michael, Tom’s condition is a disaster, as it’s the opposite of the manliness and strength he envisioned his father to have. When the other kids find out, Michael’s life becomes hell and he runs away from the children’s home. With nowhere else to go, he moves in with Tom. 

Tom is new to this fatherhood thing but tries his best, while Michael tries to hide his embarrassment and shame from his new friends he meets at a local skating rink. This forces Tom, who had coped well with his “differentness” so far in his life, to confront his condition head on.

The last movie - “Rico, Oskar and the Mysterious Stone” – will be screened on May 28. The film is based on the popular novel of the same name by Andreas Steinhöfel.

The film is directed by Neele Leana Vollmar.  From 1999 to 2000, Neele Leana Vollmar (born 1978) worked as a freelance assistant director for various productions. In 2000 she began her studies at the Film Academy of Baden-Württemberg in Ludwigsburg, from which she graduated in 2005. 

For the movie “Rico, Oskar und die Tieferschatten” she was awarded the Goldener Spatz 2014 for Best Script at the German Kinder-Medien-Festival. Filmography: “Rico, Oskar and the Deeper Shadows” (2014), “Maria, ihm schmeckt’s nicht!” (2009), “Peaceful Times” (2008), “Holiday of Life” (2005) i.a.

The movie is about Rico (Anton Petzold) and Oskar (Juri Winkler), both friends and amateur detectives, who experience a range of adventures. During their last one, the neighbor Fitzke dies and Rico inherits his stone collection. Rico and Oskar find out that the most precious stone is missing! The boys quickly decide to take the train to Prerow where they hope to find the main suspect. Their journey to the Baltic Sea will not only be their biggest adventure but also become the greatest test their friendship has ever had to endure…

Free tickets are available at:

Goethe-Institut Hanoi

56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi

Tel: +84 4 3734 2251

Monday – Friday | 9 AM – 12 PM & 1 PM – 5 PM at the reception

Saturday & Sunday | 9 AM – 7 PM in the hall

Think Playgrounds Workshop

244 Au Co, Tay Ho, Hanoi

Tel: +84 4 6663 6053

Monday – Sunday | 9 AM – 12 PM & 2 PM – 5 PM

Blossom Art House

6.Stock, 94B Tran Hung Dao, Hanoi

Tel: +84 91 320 1389

Monday – Sunday | 10 – 12 PM & 2 AM – 6 PM

Ti Toay studio

46 Ngo 121/14 Chua Lang

Tel: +84 4 6266 2940

Monday – Sunday | 9 AM – 12 PM & 2 PM – 6 PM

T. Van