Update #2, May 2020: The venue is currently still closed, but the exhibition will be extended until June 2, 2020, and can be visited again once the venue has reopened. 

Update #1, March 13, 2020: From Saturday, 14 March 2020 onwards, the Willy-Brandt-Haus will be closed until further notice. 

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About the exhibition:

An exhibition for cineastes, photo lovers and friends of GDR cinema history. Whether actors, models or musicians, Michael Weidt had them in front of the camera and created unforgettable black and white portraits from the GDR era, including portraits of Corinna Harfouch, Henry Hübchen, Jenny Gröllmann, Ulrich Mühe. He accompanied the director and friend Michael Gwisdek with his camera during the filming of “Treffen in Travers” in 1988. Numerous artist portraits and photo documentaries, pictures beyond the limelight, which reflect the atmospheric density and the artistic work, were created during the film work and during the filming breaks ,

MICHAEL WEIDT (* 1946), guest studies at the art college in Weißensee, training as a photographer with Arno Fischer. Freelance photographer since 1967, including for Das Magazin, Neues Leben, Neue Berliner Illustrierte, Filmspiegel. Theater photography, among others for the German Theater in Berlin. Portraits of actors for Progress film distribution. 1969–1986 fashion and essayistic photography for Sibylle.

East German film posters
While the New German Film caused a sensation in Germany in the 1960s, part of DEFA’s annual production was censored and kept under lock and key in the GDR. At the 11th plenary session of the SED Central Committee in 1965, the hardliners prevailed and banned twelve films because of supposedly anti-socialist tendencies. As a result, entertainment films and literary adaptations were mainly produced. The novel adaptation JACOB DER LÜGNER by Jurek Becker and Frank Beyer was the first DEFA film to receive a Silver Bear at the Berlinale and an Oscar nomination for the best foreign film.
According to estimates, the GDR’s cinematic heritage includes 950 feature and short feature films. The DEFA classics still include THE LEGEND OF PAUL AND PAULA and SOLO SUNNY. The film by Konrad Wolf and Wolfgang Kohlhaase had its premiere exactly 40 years ago. Renate Krößner in the title role received the Silver Bear at the Berlinale in West Berlin in 1980.
The film posters on display illustrate the development of DEFA film productions.

Supported by: DEFA Stiftung // gasag AG
Media partner: PiB – Photography in Berlin

(English translation by PiB, read the German original here)

Simultaneous exhibition at FkWBH:
»Aufbruch und Umbruch« – An hommage to the New German Film with photographs by Beat Presser

Framework program

Thursday, Feb 13, 2020, 7.30 pm
Opening Reception
Admission free | Photo ID required (ID card, driver’s license or passport).

Greetings:
Gisela Kayser, Managing Director & Artistic Director Freundeskreis Willy-Brandt-Haus e.V.
Speakers:
Prof. Dr. Jutta Brückner, Drehbuchautorin, Regisseurin und Produzentin
Wolfgang Kohlhaase, Drehbuchautor und Regisseur
The photographers Beat Presser & Michael Weidt will be present.

Feb 14 — Mar 22 extended until June 2, 2020
Opening Reception: Thursday, Feb 13, 2020, 7.30 pm,
Admission free | Photo ID required
Framework program: please see above

Freundeskreis Willy-Brandt-Haus e.V.

Stresemannstraße 28, 10963 Berlin
[District: Kreuzberg | Borough: Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg]

Opening hours: Tue – Sun 12 – 6 pm, last entry at 5.30 pm

Admission free | Photo ID required (ID card, driver’s license or passport)