INDIA

Goal for Germany: Exhibition, Feature Films, and Short Films on Football - A Report
Press Conference on March 28, 2006
Event: 3 - 16 April 2006
Goethe Hall, Max Mueller Bhavan - Mumbai

<pictures> (coming soon)

Report by IndianFootball.Com Mumbai-based Editor
Sujay Sharma:

In anticipation of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, the Goethe Institut - Max Meuller Bhavan Mumbai is hosting a photo-exhibition and a film package depicting the love of the game from various cultures, backgrounds, and angles.
The Photo Exhibition, "Planet Football", puts into central focus the people, who regardless of age, origin, or social standing, have sensed the fascination of the game. It comprises of pictures from all over the world taken by leading photographers working for the Magnum Photo Agency.
The "International Football Film Package", consists of football films depicting the beauty of the sport, the competitive spirit as well as the normal, everyday life involved.
"Planet Football" will be open from April 3rd to 16th, 10 am to 6 pm.
One of the feature films from the "International Football Film Package" will be shown from April 3rd to 9th at 6:30 pm each day. On the 10th and 11th of April, 6:30 pm, there will be screenings of the short films from the Shoot Goals!
Shoot Movies! competition initiated by the Berlinale Talent Campus in 2004. 611 young directors from 75 countries entered their short films on football, of which 45 were chosen for the compilation. Among them, four films are from India.
At the Press Conference held today (March 28) at the Max Mueller Bhavan - Mumbai, a promotional presentation on the upcoming World Cup stressing on the official slogan - "A Time to Make Friends", was aired.
Following this, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Hans-Heinrich von Stackelberg gave a talk on the significance of the World Cup for Germany, and answered a few questions from the Media. "Football is to Germany what Cricket is to India, and Michael Ballack is our Sachin Tendulkar," pointed out Mr. von Stackelberg. "The Germans may not be regarded as very emotional people, but mind you, we are indeed very emotional when it comes to football. Football has always had a deep social and political importance for our country, as characterised by the 1954 World Cup triumph of West Germany, East Germany's victory over West Germany in 1974, and the 'derby' games involving the big industrial centres of the Ruhr valley. As in most parts of the world, football has also been a sport of the working class in Germany," he added. "I hope India too can improve at it, and the sport will probably get even more popular after the World Cup. Maybe We can bring the German national team to play football over here, and India can send its Cricket team to Germany, for that will even things" he said with a chuckle. On being questioned on some serious issues, for example the security issues, he mentioned that all possible preventative measures, including Grey and Black lists of hooligans being shared, were being used - but there's only as much as can be done. Also, he stressed that the fact that only one former East German city was hosting the World Cup is mainly down to the infrastructural requirements of hosting such a tournament.
Thereafter, Mr. von Stackelberg went on to list the usual suspects of Argentina, Brazil, France, and Italy as his favourites for the World Cup, though as a German he was hoping that the home-support would help them win.
Dr. Peter Schabert, Director of the institute, then highlighted the activities being staged - emphasizing the cultural inclination of the exhibition, and the Goethe Insitut's efforts to complement Germany's efforts to make the World Cup an international success. He then proceeded to introduce Sainath Choudhury, whose Short Film, Village Football, is one amongst the four in the Compilation Shoot Goals! Shoot Movies! Mr. Choudhury said that this was his first ever film, and he was delighted to have had the exposure upon being selected at the Berlinale Talent Campus. He added that thereafter he had been given the opportunity to direct more films with other international film-makers like him, and that therefore now he had got a start in film/commercial-making. Finally, he stressed for good measure that being a Bengali, it shouldn't be too much of a surprise at him directing a football movie as his first.
Finally, a teaser was shown of the critically acclaimed movie - The Miracle of Bern ("Das Wunder von Bern") - to highlight what the Film Package was going to be all about. Also on display in the Goethe Hall were poster size photos from "Planet Football".
Dr. Schabert also stressed that the exhibition is open to the General Public, free of charge.

Film Schedule:
April 03 18:30 h The Miracle of Bern
April 04 18:30 h One Day in Europe
April 05 18:30 h Fimpen, The Kid
April 06 18:30 h Boleiros
April 07 18:30 h Liberated Zone
April 08 18:30 h Depth of Field
April 09 18:30 h Bando and the Golden Football
April 10 18:30 h Shoot Goals! Shoot Movies!
April 11 18:30 h Shoot Goals! Shoot Movies!

for film synopses please go to www.goethe.de/mumbai .