Most recent articles by Jochen Kürten
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Afghan director Salim ShaheenMaster of dreams
Making films in a country that has been torn apart by years of war and occupation is truly a tall order, but this is what Salim Shaheen has done – over 100 times. For many, Shaheen is Afghanistan's answer to Steven Spielberg. A new documentary shines a spotlight on the zero-budget filmmaker and his films. By Jochen Kurten
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German-Turkish film festival defies the oddsSending a message
This year's Film Festival Turkey Germany has kicked off without any financial backing from Turkey. Ankara withdrew funding at the last minute from an event that it seems to perceive as far too critical. By Jochen Kurten
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Fatih Akin's film "In the Fade"Back in the saddle
In his latest film, "In the Fade", Fatih Akin puts his leading lady through hell. The acclaimed director draws on the series of murders committed by the NSU terror cell in Germany to produce some of his best work to date. By Jochen Kurten
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″Gaza Surf Club″ – a film documentaryCresting the wave
In the occupied Gaza Strip, young Palestinians get a taste of the freedom they lack through surf. Jochen Kurten met German director Philip Gnadt and producer Mickey Yamine to discuss their documentary "Gaza Surf Club"
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Mention-Schaar′s "Heaven will wait"Rebels without a cause
Sonia and Melanie, two French teenagers fall into the clutches of radical Islamists: a new film takes a look at the real threat of Islamist radicalisation in Western societies. Review by Jochen Kurten
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French films on terrorShould this be shown?
Fictional depictions of terrorism are sometimes a little too close to reality. After the horrific attack in Nice, two films, "Bastille Day" and "Made in France," fuel the debate on the media's role in glorifying terror. By Jochen Kürten
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Germany′s BerlinaleWhere film meets reality
As refugees have dominated the news in recent months, Berlin's International Film Festival is also focusing on their stories. It's not just a politically correct trend: the event's social commitment has deep roots. By Jochen Kurten
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Werner Herzog′s epic ″Queen of the Desert″Hackneyed melodrama
"Queen of the Desert″ tells the life-story of eccentric explorer Gertrude Bell. This well-bred Englishwoman was drawn to the Middle East at the turn of the last century. It’s the first time that Werner Herzog has made a female character the main focus of one of his films. The result is disappointing. By Jochen Kürten
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Berlinale 2015: Golden Bear for Jafar Panahi's film "Taxi"An incredible feeling of warmth and humanity
Jafar Panahi's "Taxi" truly deserves the Golden Bear it won at the Berlinale. For Jochen Kurten, the film's victory is more than just a political statement because "Taxi" takes the viewer on a journey through the Iranian capital and is full of warmth and humanity. The whole experience moved him deeply
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Film on the Case of Murat Kurnaz''A Scandal of Democracy''
"Five Years" examines the fate of the German Guantanamo prisoner Murat Kurnaz. Director Stefan Schaller's film exposes viewers to the horrific abuse of human rights endured by camp detainees. Jochen Kürten reports