Newsletter for the Gegenüber Magazine

March-April 2026

Dear Reader,

A new issue has just arrived! Our latest deep dive, German Genre Films, explores the rich, surprising, and often genre‑defying world of German cinema, tracing how its shadows, visions, and anxieties continue to shape film culture today.

At the same time, we’re hitting the road: two writers from Germany are currently traveling across the United States, documenting encounters, impressions, and unexpected moments along the way. We’re following their journey with the "ON THE ROAD" project in real time — and you can, too.

And don’t forget to pop over to our SNIPPETS section. We update it regularly with short, timely, and relevant pieces from across North America, Germany, and beyond. Check back whenever you’re curious and discover something new.

Enjoy reading, watching, and reflecting.
Your GEGENÜBER Editorial Team

New Editions!

A Field Guide

German Genre Films

Many of Genre Cinema’s darkest shadows, boldest visions, and deepest anxieties were born in Germany. This survey traces the strange career of German Genre Film, from its foundational influence on Horror, Noir, and Sci-Fi to its uneasy status within a cinema that favors art over formula.

Among Friends

On the Road: California - Louisiana

German writers Louise Kenn and Mücahit Türk traveled across the United States in the spring of 2026, tracing moments of encounter, movement, and reflection. Emerging from a space between observation and introspection, their texts reveal how literature takes shape when we open ourselves to unfamiliar places, people, and perspectives.

New Articles from our "SNIPPETS" section

Photo (detail): © picture alliance/dpa | Hendrik Schmidt

Leipzig Book Fair Prize 2026

Stories that speak to the present

Katerina Poladjan has been awarded the Leipzig Book Fair Prize for her novel Goldstrand. The nonfiction award goes to Marie‑Janine Calic, while Manfred Gmeiner is honored for his translation work. A recap of the highlights and standout moments of the 2026 Leipzig Book Fair Prize.

An interview with the filmmaker Aysun Bademsoy

Soccer, Migration, and Identity in the German-Turkish context

For over thirty years, Aysun Bademsoy has portrayed German‑Turkish women whose lives intersect soccer, migration, and identity—from Berlin’s first girls’ team to the generational lens of Game Changers. An interview with the filmmaker.

Photo (detail): Johannes Simon; © picture alliance / SZ Photo

On the Passing of Jürgen Habermas

The Power of the Argument

He shaped Germany’s intellectual landscape and defined its modern culture of debate—now, the voice of Jürgen Habermas has fallen silent. The influential philosopher has died at the age of 96 in Starnberg and leaves behind an immense legacy. Few thinkers commanded equal respect as both rigorous theorists and public intellectuals, and Habermas was one of them. Our article looks back at his life, his ideas, and the global resonance of a mind that helped shape contemporary thought.

Free streaming!

Did you know that the Goethe-Institut presents a carefully curated collection of German films, available to stream for free? Discover award-winning festival hits, exciting new voices in German cinema and legendary film classics – and find your own personal favourites. Sit back, make yourself comfortable and… action!

Contact

gegenuber@goethe.de

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