Co-presented with Telescope Film

KINO! Film Salon is a monthly online club to discuss films from Germany. How it works: Each month, we choose a German film currently available to stream on U.S. platforms, watch it independently, and come together for a hosted conversation with other fans of German cinema.

The first KINO! Film Salon pick of 2026 is Riefenstahl, Andres Veiel’s fascinating deep dive into the life and work of the Third Reich’s preeminent filmmaker.

Drawing on mountains of never-before-seen documents, photos, and footage from Leni Riefenstahl’s archive, Veiel explores the enduring questions of her role in the regime’s horrors and her unending fight to separate herself from them.​​​​​​​ “Leni Riefenstahl is unquestionably one of the most enigmatic, complex figures in film history,” notes KINO! Film Salon host Jim Kolmar. “While the film is rooted in history, it feels absolutely relevant to our current reality. Riefenstahl fearlessly examines the intersection of art, technical prowess, and how media informs our perception of the world. It's a troubling, provocative, and fascinating work.”

Riefenstahl world premiered at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival. It was nominated for Best Documentary at the 2025 German Film Awards and the 2026 European Film Awards.

Hosted by Jim Kolmar

Jim programs for SXSW and Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival and was a founding committee member of Festival Internacional de Cine Tulum (FICTU). He has participated in numerous international festival juries, panels, and committees.

KINO! Film Salon is a production of Telescope Film, in partnership with the German Film Office.

Riefenstahl
Dir. Andres Veiel
Germany, 2024
115 minutes