When does the event take place?

On May 17, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Obenkino Cottbus.

What can visitors expect?

A short film program featuring four DEFA documentaries, as well as an introduction and a discussion with Grit Lemke.

Where is Obenkino located?

At Straße der Jugend 16, 03046 Cottbus.

Is the event indoors?

Yes, the event takes place in the cinema and thus indoors.

Are there any details on tickets or prices?

No binding ticket price is mentioned in the provided material.

Where can I find more information?

On the event page of the city of Cottbus and at GLADHOUSE or Obenkino.

DEFA Films, Lusatian Landscape, and Discussion: A Special Cinema Evening in Cottbus

Name: 80 Years of DEFA: Short Film Program about the Lusatian Landscape at Obenkino
Start: 2026-05-17T20:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-05-17T22:00:00+02:00
Location: Obenkino

80 Years of DEFA at Obenkino: Rediscovering Lusatia as a Cinematic Landscape

This film and discussion format at Obenkino Cottbus focuses on Lusatia as an aesthetic and historical space on May 17, 2026. The program brings together four DEFA documentary films that open up a multifaceted artistic experience between industry, nature, everyday observation, and landscape imagery.

Film Images between Lignite, Spreewald, and Protection Area

With Kumpel und Giganten, Unter anderem Schwarze Pumpe, Leben am Fliess – w błotach, and Hochwaldmärchen, a panorama of East German film and contemporary history unfolds. The works depict Lusatia as a region of upheaval: shaped by open-pit mining, energy production, and industrial modernity, simultaneously featuring river landscapes, forests, and a fragile, precious nature. It is precisely this tension that makes the examination of the works so appealing.

DEFA as an Archive of Social Images

The program commemorates the artistic and cultural-historical significance of DEFA, whose digitized films are preserved and made accessible as part of the film heritage funding program. The curation connects film heritage, documentary film, and regional history into an ambitious form of cultural education. The event is accompanied by an introduction and a discussion with Grit Lemke, author and director, who sharpens the focus on visual language, memory, and landscape interpretation.

Exhibition Atmosphere in Cinematic Format

Even without a traditional exhibition hall, this evening has a strong museum quality: projection light, dark room, and communal viewing create a concentrated exhibition atmosphere. Anyone interested in film history, Lusatian identity, documentary aesthetics, and the visual storytelling power of historical images will experience an intense aesthetic experience here.

Conclusion

The short film program is a cleverly composed evening for all who want to not only see DEFA films but also contextualize them historically and culturally. Those who wish to experience the Lusatian landscape as an image space, memory space, and art theme should not miss this event at Obenkino.