General information
About Film Restored
“Action”
Under the motto “Action”, Film Restored 2025 throws a spotlight on agency and fast action in film and film history, and on the swift work of those who rescue film material. From 22 to 26 October, the film heritage festival is celebrating its tenth year. Attendees of the festival can look forward to digital restorations, workshops, talks and discussions. Films made in thirteen countries will be shown, from as early as the 1910s and up until 2000. The Prize of the Association of German Cinematheques will also be presented during the festival.
Stunts and high speed
– with a touch of cult and a pinch of subversion
When the word “action” is used in combination with film, it quickly brings to mind the genre of the action film. Film Restored will not be lacking in the fist and sword fights, spectacular stunts and lightning-speed scenes and editing that define this genre. But the films selected go far beyond the boundaries of the much-vaunted Hollywood action genre—such as the long-lost, recently restored ‘Adventure on the Night Express’ (D 1925), in which Harry Piel captivates the audience with his breakneck feats on a speeding train. Or the equally influential and cult films ‘A Touch of Zen’ (TWN 1970) and ‘Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountains’ (HK 1983), which feature thrilling, skillfully choreographed fights. In the Mexican film ‘La mujer murciélago’ (1968), the eponymous “Batwoman” wrestles and dives her way through a dangerous plot—a pulp highlight that is being shown as a special event in the Kinemathek’s Hall. Finally, the festival is rounded off with an iconic film from the Hollywood action genre, namely, Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘North by Northwest’ (USA 1959).
Activism in film ...
... and filmic calls to action
Action, however, is more than simply a genre. For this reason, the festival takes a further step and invites participants to rethink what action in film can mean. Take films like ‘Mein Feind’ (D 1993), which deals with violence against women and women’s violent fantasies, or ‘Lieber Herr Doktor’ (CH 1977), which deals with the subject of abortions. Then there is ‘The Heart of the Matter’ (USA 1994), which takes up the taboo of women and AIDS; and ‘Witches & Faggots, Dykes & Poofters’ (AUS 1980) that covers police attacks on attendees of Sydney’s first Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. These documentaries follow the work of activists or are themselves works of activism. They were made with the intention of stimulating discourse, action and change, and have succeeded in this, sometimes all the way to the level of political change.
The power to act ...
... and acts of resistance
The films cited so far already demonstrate that a struggle for agency is a common theme in this year’s festival. Time and again, film history has defined action as an act of resistance within a limited scope of possibilities. At the festival, this resistance is manifested at different extremes. At one end, in ‘Home Sweet Home’ (BEL/FRA 1973), elderly residents in a brutally managed retirement home stage an uprising. At the other end, the action taken by characters like the exiled teacher in the visually stunning ‘Hakkâri'de Bir Mevsim’ (TR 1982) or the prisoner believed to be dead in ‘Happy Day’ (GR 1976) is to persevere and refuse to give up. In other words, action in film can sometimes be very quiet.
Action and archives
– recovery and remembrance
Film preservation is not a passive task; it involves a great deal of activity. Collecting, examining, cataloging, preserving, repairing, restoring, and ensuring the continued accessibility of films is the preserve of archives. It is also a prerequisite for being able to show the films at this festival. Highlights include Anke Wilkening’s workshop report on the documentary film ‘Women in Berlin’ (GDR 1982), whose director, Chetna Vora, in an unprecedented rescue operation, smuggled her rough cut home and preserved a video copy. The latter has survived to this day. Chantal Partamian presents Katsakh, an archive of small-format documentaries. It aims not only to collect and preserve the suppressed history and cultural heritage in the Eastern Mediterranean but also to use these collaboratively with artists to create new perspectives on the past and the future. Memory as an active force!
Prize of the Association of German Cinematheques
This year, for the 26th time, repertory cinemas and film culture initiatives will be awarded the Prize of the Association of German Cinematheques. Repertory cinemas are experts in getting across the many facets of “action” in film – and are themselves important players in making film heritage visible. The supporting program for the association’s award inspires cinemas to screen new restorations linked to the theme of action. The Honorary Prize of the Association of German Cinematheques in 2025 will be awarded to the philosopher and film scholar Heide Schlüpmann.
Films
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Abenteuer im Nachtexpress
To the filmG 1925, Harry Piel, 86 min, OV (silent) with ENG subtitles
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A Touch of Zen
To the filmTWN 1970, King Hu, 180 min, OV with ENG subtitles
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Behind the Door
To the filmUSA 1919, Irvin Willat, 72 min, OV (silent, with live music)
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Dein unbekannter Bruder
To the filmGDR 1981, Ulrich Weiß, 110 min, GER OV
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Die Spur führt nach Berlin
To the filmFRG 1952, Franz Cap, 90 min, OV with ENG subtitles
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Dögkeselyű
To the filmHU 1982, Ferenc András, 108 min, OV with ENG subtitles
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Escalada à Torre dos Clérigos
To the filmPT 1917, Raúl de Caldevilla, 9 min, silent
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Hairstory
To the filmUSA 2000, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, 30 min, OV with ENG subtitles
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Hakkâri'de Bir Mevsim
To the filmTUR 1982, Erden Kiral, 110 min, OV with ENG subtitles
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Happy Day
To the filmGR 1976, Pantelis Voulgaris, 100 min, OV with ENG subtitles
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Home Sweet Home
To the filmBE/FR 1973, Benoît Lamy, 93 min, OV with ENG subtitles
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La mujer murciélago
To the filmMX 1968, René Cardona, 81 min, OV with ENG subtitles
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Lieber Herr Doktor
To the filmCH 1977, Filmgruppe Schwangerschaftsabbruch, 63 min, OV with ENG subtitles
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Mein Feind
To the filmG 1993, Bettina Flitner, 30 min, OV with ENG subtitles
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North by Northwest
To the filmUSA 1959, Alfred Hitchcock, 136 min, ENG OV
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Tanz der Farben
To the filmG 1939, R: Hans Fischinger, 8 min
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The Heart of the Matter
To the filmUSA 1994, Gini Reticker, Amber Hollibaugh, 60 min, ENG OV
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Verführung: Die grausame Frau
To the filmBRD 1985, Elfi Mikesch, Monika Treut, 84 min, OV with ENG subtitles
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Witches and Faggots, Dykes and Poofters
To the filmAUS 1980, Digby Duncan, 45 min, ENG OV
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Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain
To the filmHK 1983, Tsui Hark, 99 min, OV with ENG subtitles
Links in Spalten 1
Presentations, talks and more
Links in Spalten 2
Speakers and guests
Further information
Further information
Accreditation
You can register for free accreditation for the entire festival program here until 10 October.
The main venue of the festival is Sinema Transtopia. Two films will be shown in the Kinemathek. Film tickets are available directly from the two venues: Sinema Transtopia on-site or through the online ticket shop beginning 1 October, and from the Kinemathek Box Office.
→ Accreditation
Venues
Sinema Transtopia
Lindower Str. 20/22
13347 Berlin
Deutsche Kinemathek
Mauerstraße 79
10117 Berlin
Download
All the information at a glance: Download the 2025 festival program here in a practical PDF.
→ Film Restored program 2025
Streaming
From 16 October 25 to 31 January 26, more action-packed films are available online with “Selects,” the Kinemathek’s streaming service. Free of charge and no subscription or accreditation necessary!
All events
Public Funders and Partners

Funders
The Deutsche Kinemathek receives funding from
Funders
Credits
The Film Restored team
Published by
Stiftung Deutsche Kinemathek
Represented by
Heleen Gerritsen, Florian Bolenius
Concept and program selection
Anke Hahn, Elisa Jochum
Festival and prize coordination
Ricardo Brunn, Anke Hahn
Festival and prize assistance
Marlina Metz
Communications and marketing
Jonas Haaf, Jonas Scheler, Ronja Seifert
Press
Heidi Berit Zapke
Editing
Julian Born, Michaela Neukirch, Julia Pattis
Translation
Lucy Jones
Social media
Nyamjargal Ganbold
Central services
Sybille Büttner, Frank Köppke, Petra Lehmann, Nils Maushagen, Frank Namyslik, Roberti Siefert, Petra Treutler
Design
Fünfzehn
Web development
werk21