The SLASH (the) INDUSTRY events take place at the Metro Kinokulturhaus cinema, with free admission.

Day 1 – 25.9.

11:00 / Infusion: Extreme Characters

Morally disengaged antiheroes, seductive monsters, and damaged souls battling madness: film history thrives on boundary-pushing characters who challenge their audiences. The responsibility that fearless actors take on for their roles is essential. But is complete immersion in the role a prerequisite for a convincing, gripping performance, or can ambivalent characters also be portrayed with professional distance?

A conversation about the appeal of the deviant and our empathy with the all-too-human aspect of the cruelty.

With:
Annapurna Sriram (actress, director u.a. FUCK TOYS)
Jennifer Handorf (producer, director u.a. PREVENGE, THE BORDERLANDS)
Julia Franz Richter (actress, opening film WELCOME HOME BABY)

Hosted by Linus de Paoli (film and festival maker)

---

15:00 / Infusion: Hands-on Genre Filmmaking

Mr. Hitchcock, how did you do it? Using the concrete example of their works, filmmakers from the SLASH program provide a candid look at the creative intentions, production challenges, unconventional solutions, and lucky coincidences behind their films.

In three short, consecutive workshop discussions, we open up a variety of perspectives— from local debut filmmakers to internationally acclaimed genre auteurs. Let yourself be inspired by the wild beat of their heart’s blood!

Annapurna Sriram (actress, director FUCK TOYS)
Ben Wheatley (director BULK, FREE FIRE, KILL LIST)
Michael Gülzow (director DER TOTE WINKEL DER WAHRNEHMUNG)
Michael Peterson (producer BUFFET INFINITY)

Hosted by Till Kleinert (film maker, DER SAMURAI, HAUSEN)

Day 2 – 26.9.

12:30 / Circulation: The International Genre Film Ecosystem

Genre films are not only hugely popular at the box office and on streaming platforms, but they also enjoy a special status in the distribution chain. Numerous well-connected festivals around the globe share the same thematic focus and attract growing audiences. Filmmakers benefit from a network of development and co-production programs in the associated markets. Specialized distributors can count on a loyal fan base, as can print and online film publications. This infrastructure, mostly supported by passionate cinephiles, repeatedly manages to give a second life to special films that were overlooked during their initial release.
Selected industry representatives will discuss the emergence and rise of this fantastic ecosystem, economic and artistic crises, the significance of cult films, as well as future challenges and opportunities.

With
Jennifer Handorf (producer, director, DARK MATTER FILMS)
Tania Morrissette (deputy director, programmer, FANTASIA INT. FILM FESTIVAL)
Ben Croll (film journalist, INDIEWIRE)
David Gregory (producer SEVERIN FILMS)
Stefan Schimek (acquisition, DROPOUT CINEMA; programmer, WEIRD WEEKENDER)
James Flower (ARROW FILMS)

hosted by Linus de Paoli (film and festival maker)

---

15:00 / Hypertonia: Masterclass Dan Martin / SFX Make-up

For the grand finale of our Industry Days, we’ll get the juices flowing once again, and this time quite literally: British practical-FX guru Dan Martin, the mastermind behind the nightmarish prosthetics and make-up effects of The Color Out of Space, High-Rise, Possessor, and Infinity Pool, opens his toolbox and shows us his tricks.

At the end of a richly illustrated tour through Dan’s working biography, we invite inclined members of the audience to get their own hands dirty in a mini-workshop under Dan’s guidance.

Hosted by Till Kleinert (film maker)