Dear film fans,

Last year, exground filmfest departed from its annual focus on the film scene of one specific country and set off on new paths with its thematic focus on “Flight and Expulsion”. This year, it is presenting “Courageously Utopian”. In harmony with the World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026, in 2025 the festival will already be examining utopias both large and small, action rooted in solidarity and positive perspectives, while placing stories that encourage those pursuits in the spotlight. These narratives are embedded in the challenges and conflicts of our times and reflect them as well. In selected long and short formats from diverse regions around the globe, these fiction, documentary and experimental films also consciously take up themes from the previous festival edition, such as violence and war as causes of flight and expulsion for instance, and repeatedly reveal glimmers of hope. They search in the stories of the past to discover potential for the future, they develop ideas and visions and propose models for communal living.

Once again, this year a jury will present the Amnesty International Wiesbaden Film Award, for which films from the “Courageously Utopian” section can also be nominated. For the overarching thematic focus, stadtmobil Rhein-Main is also sponsoring an audience award. Alongside screenings at Pupille Kino in Frankfurt am Main, the festival once again also encompasses an extensive supporting program for the focus theme, featuring an exhibition, a reading, a panel discussion and a thematically linked work of video art at Nassauischer Kunstverein.

Many thanks to the entire team at exground filmfest. I wish all guests and filmmakers travelling here courageous discussions and utopian experiences.

Sincerely,

Dr. Susanne Völker

CEO of Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain