EUFF Canada: Beyond the Blue Border

Presented by the Goethe-Institut & Germany in Canada

GDR, August 1989: Hanna and Andreas became a target of the secret police and had to give up their plans for their future studies and desired professions. Instead, they face arbitrariness, mistrust and reprisals. Their only chance for a self-determined life lies in fleeing across the Baltic Sea. Fifty kilometers of water separate them from freedom – and only a thin connecting rope around their wrists saves them from absolute loneliness.

Beyond the Blue Border
Germany 2024, 102 min
Writer & Director: Sarah Neumann
starring Lena Urzendowsky (Cannes winner and Oscar submission "Sound of Falling"), Jannis Veihelmann,  Ronny Miersch, Willi Geitmann, Winnie Böwe, and others

Director Sarah Neumann was born in Görlitz in 1988. After studying film and theatre studies at the Free University of Berlin, she worked as a production coordinator at UFA Fiction in Potsdam. She has been studying directing at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg since 2015. Beyond the Blue Border is her feature film debut.


Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival
Audience Award Best Film
Best Young Actor for Willi Geitmann
Ecumenical Jury Prize


Canadian premiere!

Toronto 
20 Nov 2025, 8.30pm
Alliance Francaise

Vancouver
24 Nov 2025, 8.30pm
The Cinematheque

Ottawa
27 Nov 2025, 6.30pm
Alma Duncan Salon, 
Ottawa Art Gallery

EUFFTO 2025 takes place in person Nov 13-30 and online Canada-wide Dec 1-15.
The Toronto festival is free but you can book seat reservations and online tickets here: The European Film Festival – the best of European Cinema
or here: European Union Film Festival Online 2025