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GIFFONI FILM FESTIVAL 2017 - 14.22 JULY

Sections & Films

AT EYE LEVEL

Category: Edition 2017

Synopsis
Michael, an 11 year old orphan, lives in a children's home and has to fight every day to win the respect of the other kids. One day, he finds out who his father is and writes him a letter. His dad, Tom, happens to be a midget and is even shorter than Michael, but he wants to accept the challenge of fatherhood. For Michael, Tom’s handicap is a disaster, as it’s, the opposite of the manliness and strength he envisioned his father to have. When the other kids find out, Michael’s life becomes hell and he runs away from the children’s home. With nowhere else to go, he moves in with Tom. Tom is new to this fatherhood thing but tries his best, while Michael tries to hide his embarrassment from his new friends he meets at a local skating rink. This forces Tom, who had coped well with his differentness so far in his life, to confront his handicap head on.

Original Title Auf Aughenhohe
Category Official Competition
Section Elements +10
Tipology Feature Film
Duration 98'
Production Year 2016
Nationality Germany
Directed by Evi Goldbrunner, Joachim Dollhopf
Screenplay Evi Goldbrunner, Joachim Dollhopf, Nicole Armbruster
Director of photography Jürgen Jürges
Editor Maja Stieghorst
Production Design Bettina Zirngibl
Sound Thorsten Bolzé
Music David Ossa
Main cast Luis Vorbach (Michi)
Jordan Prentice (Tom)
Ella Frey (Katja)
Marco Licht (Justin)
Mira Bartuschek (Astrid)
Anselm Haderer (Leon)
Production Martin Richter, Christian Becker
Trailer CHORcDsGChk

--- registi --- Joachim Dollhopf e Evi GoldbrunnerEvi Goldbrunner and Joachim Dollhopf
Evi Goldbrunner, was born in 1975 in Landshut and Joachim Dollhopf in 1971 in Munich. They graduated in screenwriting and directing at HFF (Film and Television School) "Konrad Wolf". Their student films have been selected in about 200 festivals (among which Berlin and Cannes), getting more than 20 awards. AT EYE LEVEL is their first feature film. They also work as writers and teachers. Since 2016 Evi teaches screenwriting at the Babelsberg Cinema University.

Director's statement
“How does a young boy cope with having a father of short stature all of a sudden? This premise activates empathy in children. Michi, the hero of our story, is within a phase of growing up in which manliness and strength play an important role. But his father Tom is the opposite of what Michi dreamt of how he would be... Our goal was to trust children by telling them a story “at eye level” that resonates with their problems but also with their joy of life. With our film we hope to motivate children to reflect on society and encourage them to incense. “At EyeLevel” touches on universal values such as friendship and family, otherness, dignity and being human. It is about longing for affiliation and about questions like: What is normal? What's the meaning of fatherhood? And what does family mean today?”

All films in competition are in the original language with Italian subtitles except for +3 and +6 sections that has a live over-sound). Entrance to Elements and Generator screenings is free (subject to available seats) priority will be given to jurors, press and accredited audience.
Masterclass
meeting at the Sala De Sica and Antica Ramiera are for Masterclass jurors and press only.
Entrance to Parental Control
and Gex Doc sections is free up to capacity, Elements +6 and +10, press and accreditation have priority.
Entrance to Wizard Nights
and Fright Nights films is free up to capacity.