As we continue to unveil the anniversary programme of the Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF), we are delighted to present the latest film by Baltic-German cinema pioneer, Margarethe von Trotta, titled Ingeborg Bachmann – Journey into the Desert (2023). This biographical drama offers a portrayal of Ingeborg Bachmann – the shining voice of the post-war generation of writers (played by the multi-talented Vicky Krieps). Celebrating the anniversary of its tenth season, RIGA IFF will offer cinema screenings from 12 to 22 October in Riga, with online screenings across the country.

On October 13, RIGA IFF will present a single screening of the elegant retro drama titled Ingeborg Bachmann – Journey into the Desert as part of its German cinema programme ZEITGEIST DEUTSCHLAND. In celebration of its anniversary, RIGA IFF offers a selection of topically diverse and artistically compelling cinematic findings from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other German-speaking countries. The festival also maintains a close collaboration with the Goethe Institute in Riga. This year’s programme is curated by Jenni Zylka, the leading curator of selection Perspektive Deutsches Kino, dedicated to German cinema at the Berlinale.

The highly acclaimed film on the festival circuit examines the complicated relationship between the Austrian-born poet Bachmann (1926–1973) and her rival, lover, and creative competitor, Max Frisch. The creative director of RIGA IFF, Sonora Broka, aptly describes the film, which had its world premiere at the Berlinale, as follows:

A love story of oil and water. A flamboyant world traveller and a man pierced with jealousy – their story is known to the world, yet here so captivatingly brought to screen.

Both writers were worshipped by readers and fellow writers alike in the 1950s and 60s and went on to become the most significant figures in German-speaking literature during the post-war period. Bachmann sought to find a model for their ideal relationship somewhere between Zurich and Rome. However, it was the energy of the Cairo desert, as documented by the writer herself, that made her reassess the notion of monogamy and what was considered conventional, ultimately leading to her union with the Swiss writer. Bachmann, considered one of the most influential writers of the last century, is portrayed by the Luxembourgish actress Vicky Krieps, who received the European Film Academy’s Best Actress award last year. Local audiences are already familiar with her portrayal of the rebellious Empress Elizabeth of Austria, aka Sisi, in the movie Corsage (2022).

The 81-year-old von Trotta has direct ties to Latvia – her grandmother is a Baltic German from the Trotta-Treiden family. Von Trotta is considered an icon of feminist cinema and one of the most important European directors, alongside names like Agnès Varda, Liliane Cavani, Claire Denis, and many others. She began her career as an actress in the 1960s but later became one of the most influential directors in the New German Cinema movement, collaborating with her former partner and director, Volker Schlöndorff. The pair were a part of the generation that gave us Harun Farocki, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Wim Wenders, Werner Herzog and many other filmmakers.

Von Trotta’s films follow the logic of classical narration and often feature extraordinary, strong-willed, and magnetic female characters – including notable historical figures such as the philosopher Hannah Arendt, the political activist Rosa Luxemburg, and others. Female characters have always occupied the emotional core of von Trott’s films – her conceptual drama Marianne and Juliane (1981) garnered the main prize, the Golden Lion, at the Venice Film Festival and is a noteworthy example. At the time, von Trotta was only the second female director to receive this prestigious award in the festival’s nearly 50-year history.

RIGA IFF has already announced the first batch of films for this year’s festival, which features discoveries of contemporary and strong auteur cinema from Sundance, Rotterdam, Berlin, Cannes, and various other film festivals. To stay updated on the latest news about the anniversary program and this year’s special events, we encourage you to follow the festival’s social media channels and visit our homepage!

The main partner of RIGA IFF is media and technology company Tet. The festival receives support from the State Culture Capital Foundation, Creative Europe MEDIA, the National Film Centre, and the Riga City Council.