Thomas Feldmann studied at the Städelschule in Peter Kubelka's class. From 1981 until his death – he was one of the first to die of AIDS in Frankfurt – he made around 12 films, small gems, including the somewhat longer documentary, Drei Tage Prinzendorf, of Hermann Nitsch's Orgien Mysterien Theater. "Movement, rhythm, editing: Feldmann's films derive their body language, their invocation of the physical, their eroticism from these elements [...] All films are pervaded by a shock-like unexpectedness: as a sudden, painful feeling, as a rushing happiness, as the crossing of boundaries, as an explosion of colours..." (Stefan Schädler 1986) Photographs from Frankfurt in the early 80s, from New York, the USA. Airplanes that fly from one continent to another in the shortest possible time: German Runs. In this film, one momentary shot follows another, interrupted and connected by a stretch of blackfilm. Everything seen is infused with seeing that seeks and is surprised all at the same time, with movements of gestures and views. No impression has time to solidify and thus diminish in intensity: a walk, a vibration, a departure. Start: Frankfurt views, decomposed and reassembled, convey a sense of life – in a space, in a time and in a generation. After the arduous struggles of the 60s/70s, lightness, play in coming out. Thomas Feldmann has made films and also cinema: legendary gay film nights at the Berger Kino.

(Karola Gramann, Heide Schlüpmann)

The program is curated by Karola Gramann and Heide Schlüpmann in collaboration with Regine Steenbock.