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Exclusive: The execs behind Prime Video Germany’s big-budget fantasy epic The Gryphon have opened up about forging what originals boss Philip Pratt has dubbed “the biggest [German fantasy] project since The NeverEnding Story.”

The Gryphon has been almost five years in the making, going back to the days when Head of German Originals Pratt was first heading up a small, local team. The show is being previewed at Series Mania this morning.

From Dark producer W&b TV and Dog Haus, The Gryphon is based on fantasy novelist Wolfgang Hohlbein’s book series that has sold more than 40M copies worldwide over four decades.

It follows three outsiders, Mark, Memo and Becky, who come into contact with a fantastic world called the Black Tower. There, the Griffin, a world-devouring monster, has been mercilessly plundering and subjugating all living creatures for centuries and the three friends, of all people, seem destined to end this reign of terror.

The 2020 Berlin Film Festival, the first edition under new artistic director Carlo Chatrian, has unveiled its first wave of titles.

Matteo Garrone’s Pinocchio, starring Roberto Benigni, will have its international premiere at the festival as a Berlinale Special Gala. The team have removed the ‘out of competition’ classification this year and those films will now play as Special Galas. Pinocchio is released theatrically in Italy this weekend and Berlin will mark its festival premiere.

“Garrone succeeds in re-telling the well-known story with his very own world of images. Although he is faithful to Carlo Collodi’s ideas, he has nevertheless created a very personal Pinocchio that is much more cheerful than we’ve experienced before,” commented Carlo Chatrian on the selection.

Also announced today were four films in the Perspektive Deutsches Kino program, which presents debut features. The section will open with Kids Run from Barbara Ott, whose graduation...

We don't know anybody who doesn't like free stuff, which is why we're passing on the news that the seven-minute short film Zombiefication is available for free download via iTunes.

Zombiefication, which also appears as an extra feature on the Rammbock: Berlin Undead DVD, is the ultimate manual when it comes to the proper handling of the living dead. The film features recommended behavioral patterns in case of imminent zombie epidemics, which are vividly executed and comprehensively explained.

Zombiefication is bloodthirsty horror fun for the entire family! Click here for downloading info.

Rammbock: Berlin Undead, which was released on DVD, Video on Demand, and iTunes on June 28th, has been called "a story of love set against a zombie apocalypse." Rammbock (iTunes download info here) follows heartbroken and clueless Michael (Michael Fuith) as he arrives in Berlin to win back the affections of his brooding ex-girlfriend Gabi (Anka Graczyk). But...

Zombies continue their dominance of the international horror film world (see France’s The Horde and Norway’s Dead Snow) with the release of the German zombie movie Rammbock: Berlin Undead on DVD from Vivendi on June 28 for a list price of $19.97.

Zombies invade Germany in Rammbock: Berlin Undead.

It’s the latest title in the Bloody Disgusting series of horror titles released through The Collective’s homevideo partnership with Vivendi Universal.

The movie zooms in on the heartbroken and clueless Michael (Michael Fuith), who arrives in Berlin to win back the heart of his ex-girlfriend Gabi (Anka Graczyk). But all doesn’t go exactly as planned as Gabi isn’t at home and Berlin is being rapidly overrun by bloodthirsty hordes of the undead. Michael quickly learns that his only friend is the teenager Harper (Theo Trebs, The White Ribbon), a plucky plumber’s apprentice in Gabi’s complex.

Fresh off of its theatrical run, the latest bit of German flavored zombie goodness, Rammbock: Berlin Undead, is now on its way to DVD and more! Read on for the info!

Look for flick on DVD on June 28, 2011. It will also be available to fans via Video on Demand (VOD), Netflix, etc. Released though The Collective’s home-video partnership with Vivendi Universal, Rammbock, along with the other titles in the Bloody Disgusting Selects series, will be stacked with bonus features and special packaging. Look for updates on what's to come soon.

Filmmakers Marvin Kren and Benjamin Hessler have given us Germany's first foray into the zombie genre. Rammbock (review here) is an unlikely tale of love, terror and survival set against the dystopic backdrop of a zombie-infested Berlin.

Synopsis

Heartbroken and clueless, Michael (Michael Fuith) arrives in Berlin to win back the affections of brooding ex-girlfriend Gabi (Anka Graczyk). But...

We’ve got 5 “admit two” passes to the showing of Rammbock: Berlin Undead at AMC Theaters “Bloody Disgusting Selects” film fest at AMC White Marsh. Every month there’ll be a new horror movie on offer each Wednesday and Friday night. First up? A zombie movie with a twist:

Breaking up can be a bitch, but trying to reconcile in a city full of walking dead can really add complications to an already difficult relationship. Filmmakers Marvin Kren and Benjamin Hessler have given us Germany’s first foray into the Zombie genre, Rammbock, an unlikely tale of love, terror and survival set against the dystopic backdrop of a zombie-infested Berlin.

Heartbroken and clueless, Michael (Michael Fuith) arrives in Berlin to win back the affections of brooding ex-girlfriend Gabi (Anka Graczyk). But he’s in for a little disappointment: she’s not home and the city is rapidly overrun by bloodthirsty hordes of zombiefied Berliners.

AMC will be showing a handful of limited engagements of a variety of horror films, and today we have the U.S. one-sheet for Rammbock: Berlin Undead (May 4th). Directed by Marvin Kren, the film follows a heartbroken and clueless Michael (Michael Fuith). He arrives in Berlin to win back the affections of brooding ex-girlfriend Gabi (Anka Graczyk). But he’s in for a little disappointment: she’s not home and the city is rapidly overrun by bloodthirsty hordes of zombiefied Berliners. His only companion? The plucky Harper (Theo Trebs), a teenage plumber’s apprentice at work in the apartment complex. From their overnight redoubt in Gabi’s bedroom, the unlikely duo must escape the infested building, outwit the undead and find her…before it’s too late. Rammbock is hide and seek…with zombies!

Here’s the trailer:

Source: Bloody-Disgusting...

In anticipation of its limited theatrical run, we have received the U.S. one-sheet for Rammbock: Berlin Undead . Select AMC Theaters across the country will host the film on May 4. Heartbroken and clueless, Michael (Michael Fuith) arrives in Berlin to win back the affections of brooding ex-girlfriend Gabi (Anka Graczyk). But he's in for a little disappointment: she's not home and the city is rapidly overrun by bloodthirsty hordes of zombiefied Berliners. His only companion? The plucky Harper (Theo Trebs), a teenage plumber's apprentice at work in the apartment complex. From their overnight redoubt in Gabi's bedroom, the unlikely duo must escape the infested building, outwit the undead and find her...before it's too late. Rammbock is hide and seek...with zombies!

The announcement came a couple of days ago that The Collective and Bloody Disgusting would be distributing little seen horror flicks theatrically via AMC Theaters, and now one of them even has a release date ... the German zombie-fest known as Rammbock (review here).

Breaking up can be a bitch, but trying to reconcile in a city full of walking dead can really add complications to an already difficult relationship. Filmmakers Marvin Kren and Benjamin Hessler have given us Germany's first foray into the Zombie genre, Rammbock, an unlikely tale of love, terror, and survival set against the dystopic backdrop of a zombie-infested Berlin.

From the Press Release

The Collective, a full-service entertainment management and content company, along with AMC Theatres (AMC), a leading theatrical and exhibition company, and popular horror website BloodyDisgusting.com, recently announced a film distribution partnership dedicated to acquiring and marketing the best horror and thriller titles...

Germany's zombie offering, Rammbock , is slated to open on U.S. shores Wednesday, May 4. AMC Theaters is hosting the film under its agreement with The Collective and Bloody Disgusting Selects. Director Marvin Kren and writer Benjamin Hessler's Rammbock is an unlikely tale of love, terror and survival set against the dystopic backdrop of a zombie-infested Berlin. Heartbroken and clueless, Michael (Michael Fuith) arrives in Berlin to win back the affections of brooding ex-girlfriend Gabi (Anka Graczyk). But he's in for a little disappointment: she's not home and the city is rapidly overrun by bloodthirsty hordes of zombiefied Berliners. His only companion? The plucky Harper (Theo Trebs, "The White Ribbon"), a teenage plumber's apprentice at work in the apartment...

Siege of the Dead UK ArtThe German shot Rammbock now has a new name and a new trailer. The film is now known as Siege of the Dead and the synopsis of the film has been fleshed out a little, as tenants barricade themselves in an apartment building to protect themselves from "mindless homicidal maniacs" (Revolver). Revolver Entertainment Group will release this title on DVD in the United Kingdom October 25th; a North American release date has not been announced. Enjoy the one minute, action based clip inside.

The synopsis for Siege of the Dead:

"Barricade yourself in and prepare for the apocalypse - the Siege of the Dead is upon us...

When Michael arrives in the city to visit his girlfriend, he soon realises that a terrible virus has spread across the city, turning people into mindless homicidal maniacs. Trapped in his girlfriend's flat, he teams up with Harper,...

Let's face it: Zombie movies can be stumbling messes with running times that are so lengthy that many genre film festival programmers and fans want a break from the subgenre. It's not that I don't like zombies, but when it comes to celluloid it's zombie overkill. However, when a film as tight as writer Benjamin Hessler and director Marvin Kren's Rammbock comes along, I'll definitely make an exception. The film clocks in at 61 minutes due to pressure from the producer to keep the budget down and a format that would be conducive to television broadcast in Germany. Yet the story engages viewers so quickly and keeps a steady pace that my only complaint about the brevity of Rammbock is what happens in the next chapter of this story.

The central protagonist of Rammbock is Michi (Michael Fuith), who becomes a reluctant hero by being at the wrong place at the right time.

Here’s the new international trailer for the 2009 Cannes Film Festival Palme D’or winner, The White Ribbon.

The White Ribbon is directed by Michael Haneke’s and stars Susanne Lothar, Ulrich Tukur, Theo Trebs, Michael Schenk, Leonie Benesch, Josef Bierbichler, Rainer Bock, Christian Friedel, Burghart Klaussner, Steffi Kuhnert and Ursina Lardi.

Set in a village in northern Germany on the eve of World War I, this is the mysterious story of the children in a school choir and their families. Who is behind the series of strange accidents that befall them?

I’m expecting this movie to only be on in a few cinemas which always seems the same with foreign movies but I encourage your to seek it out. We can expect to see it 13th November.

Check out new international trailer for Michael Haneke’s Cannes-winning masterpiece, “The White Ribbon“

“The White Ribbon” focuses on a rural German school in 1913, which seems to be the sight of ritual punishment. The story of the children and teenagers of a choir run by the village schoolteacher, and their families: the baron, the steward, the pastor, the doctor, the midwife, the tenant farmers. Strange accidents occur and gradually take on the character of a punishment ritual. Does the ritual punishment have an affect on the school system and is this a precursor to the rise of fascism?

The movie stars Susanne Lothar, Ulrich Tukur, Theo Trebs, Michael Schenk, Leonie Benesch, Josef Bierbichler, Rainer Bock, Christian Friedel, Burghart Klaussner, Steffi Kuhnert and Ursina Lardi.

The White Ribbon Poster

“The White Ribbon” will be released in limited theaters onDecember 30, 2009.