Antifa - Schulter an Schulter, wo der Staat versagte

In the organizer's words:

One-off special screening in cooperation with Leftvision

An exceptionally strong anti-fascist movement emerged in the 90s and 00s, partly as a consequence of the racist pogroms that swept reunified Germany after '89. Hardly any other political movement of modern times has worked as professionally in so many fields as Antifa - from militant actions to awareness campaigns and investigative research. Five activists talk about their activities in public for the first time and merge with numerous treasures from the archive to create an intense cinematic documentary. Instead of a simple historical retrospective, the film uncovers the layers that overlay the myth of Antifa. It gives us deep insights into a form of political work that led to violent overreactions from the state and the middle classes and yet was always necessary.

The documentary takes us on a historical journey through the highlights of the Antifa movement, which played an underestimated role in Germany in the 1990s and 2000s. The focus is not on individual events, but on the various practices and methods used by activists.

From street fights, investigative research and educational campaigns to the challenges of the province, which is characterized by self-defence and the protection of others, the film uses archive material, photos and scenic everyday images to document the history of a movement on a scale never shown before, bringing it to life. ANTIFA is not a mere retrospective, but an inspiring invitation to critical reflection on the power of resistance against the burgeoning neo-fascism.

The film takes a critical look at the movement, its continuing relevance and the enormous challenges of the present in 2024, when for the first time a far-right party has a chance of gaining government responsibility in Germany.

Germany 2024; Director: Marco Heinig, Steffen Maurer