Classics of the Silent Film Era

In the open air, in the heart of Berlin. Everything about the past edition of the UFA Film Nights here

This year's program

UFA FILM NIGHTS: Silent Movie Magic in the Heart of Berlin

A cherished fixture in Berlin’s cultural calendar, the UFA Film Nights entered their 14th edition this year. From August 21 to August 23, 2024, Bertelsmann and UFA presented open-air screenings of cinematic masterpieces from Weimar cinema on three evenings, against the spectacular backdrop of the museum buildings and accompanied by live music.

Since 2011, on three evenings in August, visitors have been surprised, delighted and enchanted by silent milestones from the early days of cinematography.

The interplay of music and film in what is perhaps the city’s most beautiful temporary open air cinema is a highlight of Berlin’s cultural summer every time.

Movies featured in 2024

SUZY SAXOPHONE

August 21, 2024
Film start: 9:00 pm

The first evening saw the premiere of the digitally restored version of Carl Lamač’s comedy SAXOPHON-SUSI – SUZY SAXOPHONE (1928), starring Anny Ondra and Mary Parker. It was restored by the Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum (DFF). The evening was musically accompanied by The Sprockets film orchestra playing a composition by their saxophonist Frido ter Beek. read more

THE CITY OF MILLIONS. A PORTRAIT OF BERLIN

August 22, 2024
Film start: 9:00 pm

The second evening featured the documentary DIE STADT DER MILLIONEN. EIN LEBENSBILD BERLINS – THE CITY OF MILLIONS. A PORTRAIT OF BERLIN from 1925, directed by Adolf Trotz. Produced by Ufa’s cultural film department, it is regarded as the first feature-length film portrait of Berlin, showing both the vibrant urban aspects of what was then a city of four million people, but also its historical and contemplative sides. DJ Raphaël Marionneau was at the turntables on location to provide the live soundtrack to the Potsdam Film Museum’s digitally restored version. read more

KOHLHIESEL'S DAUGHTERS / I DON'T WANT TO BE A MAN

August 23, 2024
Film start: 9:00 pm

The UFA Film Nights 2024 closed with a double feature of two early Ernst Lubitsch films: KOHLHIESELS TÖCHTER – KOHLHIESEL’S DAUGHTERS (1919/20), followed by: ICH MÖCHTE KEIN MANN SEIN – I DON’T WANT TO BE A MAN (1918) starring Ossi Oswalda. KOHLHIESELS TÖCHTER was accompanied by the Metropolis Orchester Berlin playing a new composition by Florian C. Reithner commissioned by UFA Film Nights. Afterwards, the second Lubitsch film of the evening featured the debut performance of the five-member Ensemble Narrativ under the direction of Maria Reich and Florian C. Reithner. read more

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