Bollwerk

In the organizer's words:

• DE 2025
• 62 min
• Director: Jakob Wehner
• FSK: from 6 years
• Documentary: Original version with German voiceover and subtitles where applicable

Screenings:

• Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 8:45 p.m.
• Fri., May 22, 2026 at 9:15 p.m.
• Sat., May 23, 2026 - Wed., May 27, 2026 at 8:45 p.m.
• Sun., May 31, 2026 - Wed., June 3, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

For one summer, "Bollwerk" accompanies three protagonists in their work in the small Saxon town of Wurzen and tells an up-close and authentic story about efforts to promote democracy, small East German towns and the relevance of civic engagement.

Right-wing and conservative movements are gaining strength throughout Europe. Germany is also confronted with the great success of a right-wing populist party, which is classified in several federal states as definitely right-wing extremist. While protests are forming in the left-leaning cities and many people are quickly coming together, democracy work in other regions is facing its own challenges. Particularly in the rural areas of eastern Germany, actors and activists who are committed to opposing right-wing extremism have to deal with constant headwinds in social networks and on the streets. This ranges from insults and hostility to physical attacks and death threats "It's easier to shout Nazis out where there are no Nazis", as the Chemnitz band Kraftklub once sang. But how easy is it to shout "Nazis out" where they actually appear?