The idea for the "1st All-German Leipzig Festival of Cultural and Documentary Films " arose in the course of a discussion of the Club der Filmschaffenden der DDR, an East German filmmakers club: The West German journalist and film critic Ludwig Thomés proposed establishing Leipzig as a counterpart to Mannheim, in the process offering a platform to productions from the GDR.
Karl Gass, Günter Klein and Wolfgang Kernicke submitted a letter detailing the staging of a film week to the Kulturfonds cultural programme and agreement was reached on the following points: The Council of the City of Leipzig and the club itself are joint hosts and organisers, whereby the club has responsibility for the financing of the project.
Under the leadership of the Festival Director Wolfgang Kernicke the first independent film festival in the GDR is held from 11 to 17 September 1955. A clear concept is followed in this: the all-German character of the films is significant and the jury is assembled with equal representation.
Spectators flock to the showings, with 1,000 visitors attending the opening event at the Capitol cinema, with screenings including "Aladin mit der Wunderlampe" (GDR) and "Wunder der Bienenwelt" (FRG). 37 foreign guests are also present.
A regrettable incident: The Mayor of Leipzig invites press, functionaries and producers from West Germany, but forgets the East German journalists. [in: Christiane Mückenberger]
An opportunity for inter-German exchanges of information - the filmmakers' discussions continue until 7.30 the following morning in some cases (Filmspiegel, in: Heidi Martini, in: Schenk) - and the positive outcome raises hopes of a continuation amongst all those present.
Prizes
COUP D'EUROPE (FRG, Walter Knoop)
ZIMMERLEUTE DES WALDES (FRG, Heinz Sielmann)
TILL EULENSPIEGEL UND DER BÄCKER VON BRAUNSCHWEIG (Animated Film, GDR, Johannes Hempel)