Yesterday night the Kassel Documentary Film and Video Festival celebrated the opening of its 28th edition with 400 guests in the sold out Gloria Kino.

After introductory words by the festival directors as well as Ernst Wegener (Deputy Head of the Department of Culture of the The Hessian Ministry for Science and the Arts) and a speech by Bertram Hilgen (Mayor and Head of the Culture Department of the City of Kassel) the festival began on screen with Work in Progress: Virtuos Virtuell by Maja Oschmann and Thomas Stellmach. Afterwards, the opening film Versicherungsvertreter - Die erstaunliche Karriere des Mehmet Göker by Klaus Stern both entertained the audience and provoked animated discussions.

During his welcoming speech, Ernst Wegener pointed to the special relevance of the Kassel Dokfest for Hesse as film region, particularly with regard to the advancement of young aspiring filmmakers.

Betram Hilgen commended the high quality as well as the continuity of the festival and confirmed the good cooperation between the city of Kassel and the Hessian State in supporting the festival.

Impressions of the evening as well as daily updates and program recommendations can be found at www.facebook.com/kasselerdokfest.