MEINE MÜTTER - SPURENSUCHE IN RIGA - PERSONAL MEMORIAM

Rosa von Praunheim, born Holger Mischwitzky, explored queer realities in a body of work that included both experimental documentaries and feature films. He rose to fame with his 1971 documentary *It Is Not the Homosexual Who Is Perverse, But the Situation in Which He Lives*. With documentary works such as the AIDS trilogy (1989–1990), he was among the first to address the disease on film. Drawing from his own past—born in prison and subsequently adopted—Rosa von Praunheim created MEINE MÜTTER – SPURENSUCHE IN RIGA in 2007. He grew up with his parents in the GDR, later in Frankfurt am Main, until he finally settled in Berlin. In addition to numerous awards (Teddy Award, Max Ophüls Honorary Prize, etc.), Von Praunheim received the Federal Cross of Merit in recognition of his work for LGBTQ+ visibility.

In the Personal Memoriams section, each evening is dedicated to a deceased figure from the world of documentary film – curated and hosted by someone with close professional or personal ties to that person. This evening focuses on filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim, and his film MEINE MÜTTER will be screened. Julia von Heinz, a close friend of Praunheim’s, will host the evening. Her short film MEINE VÄTER will be shown, which explores this relationship that shaped her both personally and artistically.

Be sure to read the eulogy Julia von Heinz wrote to Rosa von Praunheim.