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Carly May Borgstrom’s debut film Spirit in the Blood is messy but likable. As a psychological horror thriller, Borgstrom tries to deliver something new. At first, it was not quite clear what she was aiming for—is the focus on the cult-like community or the impact of dysfunctional households on teens?—but gradually she found her voice and stuck to it. Summer H. Howell is brilliant as the timid teen, Emerson Grimm. Other than a few glitches, Spirit in the Blood is an enjoyable, visually alluring, feminist horror film.

The Grimm family moved to a suburban town in Canada. Julian had spent his childhood in the small town, and after years of living outside the community, he realized that he had to return home. The church community was tight-knit, and everyone respected and followed the guidance of Pastor Carl. Julian’s daughter, Emerson, was not impressed by the town and its people.

Hamburg-based production company Junafilm is marking its 15th anniversary this year with the world premiere of English-language thriller Spirit In The Blood on home turf at Filmfest Hamburg.

The Hamburg connection runs strong in Spirit In The Blood, which is directed by Canadian-born, Hamburg-based Carly May Borgstrom.

It was also backed by new Filmfest Hamburg director Malika Raballah in her previous job as head of funding at regional fund Moin.

“Malika had been a great supporter from the very beginning,” says Junafilm founder Verena Gräfe-Höft. “She saw the film in a very early phase at a test screening when she...

Filmfest Hamburg has unveiled the full programme for its 32nd edition, which is set to open with Louise Courvoisier’s Cannes prize-winner Holy Cow and close with Pedro Almodovar’s Golden Lion-winner The Room Next Door.

French filmmaker Courvoisier will be accompanied by lead actors Clément Faveau and Malwéne Barthelemy at the opening gala on September 26 for the German premiere of her debut feature, which premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes where it won the Youth Prize. The coming-of-age film will be released by Pandora Film in German cinemas on January 2.

The Filmfest’s new director Malika Rabahallah and...

The untitled project is written and directed by Hamburg-based Canadian newcomer Carly May Borgstrom.

An ambitious Canada-Germany co-production is underway that will pit a pack of teenage girls against a murderous monster.

The untitled psychological thriller will see the UK’s Protagonist Pictures unite with Germany’s JunaFilm and Canada’s Elevation Pictures on the project, which will begin shooting this autumn in Ontario.

Written and directed by Hamburg-based Canadian newcomer Carly May Borgstrom, the story begins when a young girl is found dead in a secluded mountain community. A group of teenage girls then decide to fight the monster...

The untitled project is written and directed by Hamburg-based Canadian newcomer Carly May Borgstrom.

An ambitious UK-Canada-Germany co-production is underway that will pit a pack of teenage girls against a murderous monster.

The untitled psychological thriller will see the UK’s Protagonist Pictures unite with Germany’s JunaFilm and Canada’s Elevation Pictures on the project, which will begin shooting this autumn in Ontario.

Written and directed by Hamburg-based Canadian newcomer Carly May Borgstrom, the story begins when a young girl is found dead in a secluded mountain community. A group of teenage girls then decide to fight the monster...