GOETHE FILMS: The French Dispatch

Presented by the Goethe-Institut, TIFF Cinematheque & Cinespace Studios x Studio Babelsberg

Hollywood, made in Germany: Discover how legendary Studio Babelsberg has been bringing Wes Anderson's meticulous vision to life. Through three of his most iconic films, the series reveals why the American cult director —with his fifth Babelsberg collaboration The Phoenician Scheme in cinemas— keeps returning to this centre of excellence just outside of Berlin to harness the highest production value to build his universe. This is also the success story of Cinespace Studios, just voted best global Studio of the Year, acquiring one of Europe's largest and oldest film production houses in 2022. “Wes Anderson, Made in Babelsberg” celebrates the master director as well as Studio Babelsberg’s unique art department with some of the world’s best trained craftspeople, creatives and innovators, now contributing to Cinespace’s international reputation.
 
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), Isle of Dogs (2018), and The French Dispatch (2021) showcase the marriage of Anderson's signature worlds with Babelsberg's century-old craftsmanship. Industry experts and Anderson collaborators illuminate the beloved auteur’s approach in a panel conversation and through recorded introductions. A German book club contextualizes Wes Anderson’s fascination with Stefan Zweig, the mid-century Austrian writer who influences his narrative structure and aesthetic sensibility, alongside a Wes Anderson and German film history reading room at the Goethe-Institut.

This special edition of GOETHE FILMS, the Goethe-Institut Toronto’s signature film program at the TIFF Lightbox, is a collaboration with Cinespace Studios x Studio Babelsberg and part of TIFF Cinematheque's winter program.

Oct 21, 2025, 6:30pm
"THE FRENCH DISPATCH" (Germany/USA 2021, 108min)

by Wes Anderson, starring Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Léa Seydoux, and others

With behind-the-scenes footage from Anderson’s latest Studio Babelsberg film, The Phoenician Scheme
 
This love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional 20th century French city features detailed miniatures and precisely crafted sets that contribute to the film’s distinct visual language. Many of these miniatures – including a scaled-down version of the fictional town of Ennui-sur-Blasé and other key elements, each with its own colour palette and architectural style – were designed and built by Berlin-based prop and model maker Simon Weisse and his miniature unit and filmed at Studio Babelsberg. The result is another example of how Anderson blends handcrafted artistry with European production expertise to build his signature worlds. The French Dispatch exemplifies Anderson’s collaborative partnership with Babelsberg, demonstrating why this historic studio remains his creative home in Europe. 

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Winner Best Art Direction/Production Design
BAFTA Film Award Nominee Best Production Design
London Critics Circle Film Awards Nominee Technical Achievement of the Year
Art Directors Guild Nominee Excellence in Production Design Award Period Film

"Perhaps Anderson's best film to date." – The New Yorker

“The French Dispatch is the film equivalent of a Wes Anderson amusement park, captivating audiences with color, chaos, and countless curious characters.” – Loud and Clear Reviews 


Oct 2, 2025, 6pm
Film: "THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL"

Oct 15, 2025, 6pm
Film: "ISLE OF DOGS"

Sep 25, 2025, 6pm
Book Club: "Die unsichtbare Sammlung"

Sep 22 - Oct 23, 2025, 10am
Reading Room: "Wes Anderson Salon"

Oct 2, 2025, 2025, 6pm
Panel: "Crafting Wes Anderson's World"