w o l f: Cinema, Cafe-Bar, Workshops, Exhibitions, Production: A new film terrain wants to come to life in Neukölln, for a local and an international film gang. Support the project and make it happen by joining the WolfGang!

Join the Wolfgang!

In the heart of Berlin’s Neukölln, a new film space is spreading its wings and wants to be shared with you. Located in what was once a brothel, it is a place of wild ideas and primal courage. w o l f engages with cinema and aims to be a home and a learning ground for film in all its forms. It’s a social meeting point in a space of 360 square metres.

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Next to the generously sized café-bar – open from morning to late in the evening – two state-of-the art screening rooms (each with 50 seats) invite viewers to discover films. The programme strives to be innovative and integrative: new releases are shown shoulder to shoulder with films that are usually reserved for one-off film festival screenings, increasing the potential for films that would otherwise only sparkle for a single day, if at all.

Under the same roof in the annexe, a third flexible screening and exhibition space (40 seats) offers room for installations of the moving image, workshops, talks and events. w o l f also offers production facilities such as editing and colour grading suites to filmmakers and those who wish to learn more about the subject. Filmmaking and film programming is combined to break the invisible boundaries between them and increase the understanding of what it means to produce, shoot and show films.

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In its current pre-construction state, w o l f is already hosting temporary events such as screenings, roundtable discussions, installations, workshops and parties. Thanks to neighbourhood involvement and support from filmmakers and partners-in-crime from around the world, these events have experienced a motivating, welcoming reception: this encourages us to carry on and to know that we are on the right track. It is proof that w o l f will be joined by a larger pack of enthusiasts in need of a new home. It is made with you and for you: the wolfgang!

Wolf’s Vision

Digitalization and the availability of moving images everywhere have led to a radical change: viewers enjoy the newly found power of how, when and where to watch what. w o l f wants to celebrate the collective experience of watching films and to engage audiences with a fresh approach to cinema.

All over the world, there is a blossoming of small, intimate screening rooms that are creating space for engaging initiatives and innovative programmes. w o l f firmly believes in this movement and that audiences need to be included in the process of cinema- and film-making through a multidisciplinary approach. w o l f is not trying to dictate its programme through hierarchies but is searching for exchange on eye-level with all those involved, for example through filmmakers and neighbours in residence, joint meals, youth work, collaborative events, international networks and the embracing of online platforms. A major role in the successful implementation of these ideas is therefore to be played by the neighbourhood and by like-minded international fellows. w o l f’s doors are wide open.

The full circle, from idea to screening the finished film, is realised at w o l f: screenings, exhibitions, ad-hoc distribution and production, and educational activities that all take place in an environment with a café-bar for social meetings with or without a cinema visit, from morning till late at night.

We believe that through this circle, a new space can come to life where enjoyment of – and passion for film can be shared in a pack and will allow us to conquer new creative perspectives.

Watch the trailer we shot with a real wolf specially for the campaign

The Pack of Wolves

Verena von Stackelberg, founder and managing director of Wolf Kino UG, has been working in cinema exhibition, distribution and for international film festivals since 1998. Through her work she has established friendships and a support network that will enable w o l f to find and exchange the right films and programmes (some previous employers, old and new supporters & friends include Curzon Cinemas, Artificial Eye, Second Run DVD, Cambridge Film Festival UK, European Film Festival Palic Serbia, Europe Autour de L’Europe Festival Paris, Cimathque Cairo, Berlinale, Filmgalerie 451, Arsenal für Film und Videokunst, Achtung Berlin, Films Boutique, Kino Pavasaris Vilnius and filmmakers from around the world). Her dream is to create a place with an emphasis on innovation and exchange.

Markus Seitz is a filmmaker with experience in cinema management and construction. He has already founded and managed a cinema in Bavaria. He is responsible for the planning and execution of the construction process.

Henning Wiethaus is responsible for the architecture. Architect Arvid Wölfel is acting as construction engineer. henningwiethaus.de

In addition, a core pack of around 15 enthusiastic people from all corners of the film world are breathing life into w o l f and are united by the vision that cinemas and films should share a walk on unexplored roads. Their experiences from mostly film-related backgrounds offer a creative wheel that is not shy to present daring ideas. They do not think of themselves as a circle of insiders, but rather as a group of people who are longing for more freedom and to discover and share new territories. Further partners come from film production, distribution and world sales as well as other businesses.

WOLF Kino Gang