The pandemic throws the culture makers almost completely off track, but one holds the position: cinema operator Matthias Helwig is holding his 14th Five Lakes Film Festival, although Corona is of course also virulent at the end of August and beginning of September. The idea, born out of necessity, to put much more emphasis on open airs than in previous years and also to hire Wolf Gaudlitz with his Cinemamobile, turns out to be a coup: In purely atmospheric terms, the “Special Edition” beats its predecessors by far Starnberg seaside resort with a view of the water, sailing ships and mountains has an almost Mediterranean flair.
In the end, the 15-day festival is also a success with the public: around 14,000 visitors come, 7,000 fewer than in 2019, but a lot more than Helwig had expected. Because of the distance rules, only half of the cinema seats in Gauting, Seefeld and Starnberg may be occupied. The highlight of the spectacle are the appearances of the actress Nina Hoss, who receives the Hannelore Elsner Prize, her colleague Lars Eidinger and the old master Klaus Doldinger. The saxophonist and film music composer chats about his life and gives a concert, both evenings are godsend for the festival. When the shine has faded, the great emptiness moves into Helwig’s film theaters: Until the winter lockdown comes, his cinemas will only record single-digit attendance.
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