Cineastische Keimzelle: Antifa Schulter an Schulter, wo der Staat versagte

In the organizer's words:

Admission: 19:00
Start of movie: 20:00

The Cineastische Keimzelle invites you to a film by Marco Heinig and Steffen Maurer:

In the 1990s and 2000s, in the shadow of the racist pogroms that swept reunified Germany after 1989, an exceptionally strong anti-fascist movement emerged. Antifa worked more professionally in many fields than almost any other self-organized force of modern times. From militant actions to political education and investigative work - Antifa has made it its mission to counter the rise of neo-fascism.

Five activists speak publicly about their activities for the first time and merge with numerous treasures from the archive to create an intense cinema documentary. Instead of a simple historical retrospective, the film uncovers the layers that overlay the myth of Antifa. It gives us deep insights into a form of political work that led to violent overreactions from the state and the middle classes and yet was always necessary.

The documentary takes us on a historical journey through the highlights of the Antifa movement, which played an underestimated role in Germany in the 1990s and 2000s. The focus is not on individual events, but on the various practices and methods used by activists.

From street fights, investigative research and educational campaigns to the challenges of the province, which is characterized by self-defence and the protection of others, the film uses archive material, photos and scenic everyday images to document the history of a movement on a scale never shown before, bringing it to life. ANTIFA is not a mere retrospective, but an inspiring invitation to critical reflection on the power of resistance against the burgeoning neo-fascism.

The film takes a critical look at the movement, its enduring relevance and the enormous challenges of the present in 2024, when for the first time a far-right party has a chance of gaining government responsibility in Germany.