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‘Johnny & Me - A Journey Through Time with John Heartfield’ Heads to Annecy 2023

An official selection in the ‘Coutrechamp’ feature film category, Katrin Rothe’s film, mixing documentary and fictional elements, details how the father of political photomontage, protesting against German warmongering, became an enemy of the Nazi state; the festival runs June 11-17.

East German animator Katrin Rothe’s new feature film, Johnny & Me - A Journey Through Time with John Heartfield, has been selected to compete in the "Coutrechamp” feature film category at Annecy 2023. Mixing documentary and fictional elements through cut-out animation and live-action, her animated film details how the father of political photomontage, protesting against German warmongering, became an enemy of the Nazi state. A German theatrical release is planned for the end of 2023 / spring 2024.

The 47th edition of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival runs June 11-17.

In the movie, graphic designer Stefanie is in a creative crisis. Boring advertising assignments and a boss who does not value her work. On a visit to a museum, she is magically attracted by the satirical photomontages of the world-famous colleague and Nazi opponent John Heartfield. Then the miracle happens. She ends up in his studio, where she finally picks up scissors and paper again.

An adventurous journey through Heartfield's extraordinary life 100 years ago begins. Bertold Brecht called him one of the most important European artists. Rosa Luxemburg personally handed over the party book to the communist of the first hour in 1918. George Grosz and Kurt Tucholsky are among his closest friends and artistic companions. He gave himself an English name in protest against German warmongering. For the Nazis, however, the father of political photomontage quickly became one of the most dangerous enemies of the state. He spent years as a fugitive in Europe, and later found no safe home even in the socialist GDR.

Watch clips from Johnny & Me - A Journey Through Time with John Heartfield:

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Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.