KinoFest Prelude #3 at the Goethe-Institut Library

As part of KinoFest Prelude, Goethe-Institut invites its German language students and Library community to a special evening of film and conversation.

The programme features the German coming-of-age film Ach, diese Lücke, diese entsetzliche Lücke, based on Joachim Meyerhoff’s bestselling autobiographical novel. The film follows 20-year-old Joachim as he begins studying at the Munich Drama School and moves into his grandparents’ villa. Between demanding acting exercises, family rituals, and the eccentric world of his grandparents, Joachim searches for his own path in life.

The feature film will be paired with the Filipino short film lola.psd, which follows an unusual friendship between a 15-year-old graphic designer and his grandmother as they work together to digitally restore her old black-and-white photographs.
Together, the films explore questions of identity, belonging, grief, self-discovery, and navigating early adulthood.

A moderated post-screening discussion will give participants an opportunity to reflect on the films, share their perspectives, and connect the stories to their own experiences.

Registration is only open to currently enrolled German Language Students at the Goethe-Institut Philippinen and is not open to the general public.

Feature Film
Ach, diese Lücke, diese entsetzliche Lücke
Germany | 2025
Director: Simon Verhoeven
Genre: Coming of Age, Comedy, Drama
Language: German with English subtitles
Duration: 136 minutes

PLOT: At the age of 20, Joachim is accepted into the Munich Drama School and moves into his grandparents’ villa, a place shaped by strict rituals, alcohol, and eccentricity. Between acting exercises and family expectations, he tries to find his own way.

Short Film
lola.psd
Philippines | 2024
Director: Coby Mercado
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Short
Language: Tagalog, English with English subtitles
Duration: 20 minutes

PLOT: A 15-year-old graphic designer helps his stubborn grandmother digitally color her old black-and-white photographs. As they argue, connect, and share memories through each photo, they discover that memories are anything but black and white.