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Transit

Competition 2018
© Schramm Film / Marco Krüger
The German troops are just outside Paris. Georg escapes to Marseille at the last moment. His luggage contains the legacy of a writer named Weidel, who took his own life out of fear of persecution. This legacy comprises a manuscript, some letters and the Mexican Embassy’s assurance of a visa. Only those who can prove that they will leave are allowed in this port town, and this means you need an entry permit from a potential host country. Assuming the identity of Weidel, Georg tries to obtain one of the few scarce passages on a ship. Talks between refugees take place in the corridors of his small hotel, the waiting rooms of consulates, and the cafés and bars down at the harbour. Georg befriends Driss, the son of his late comrade Heinz, who died whilst trying to flee. But when he meets the mysterious Marie, his plans change. Transit is based on Anna Seghers’ eponymous novel which she wrote in exile. The film is set in contemporary Marseille where these characters from the past move around. And so, refugees from back then meet refugees from today, history meets the present, and all of their stories combine to create one eternal transit space.
by Christian Petzold (Written and Directed by)
with Franz Rogowski, Paula Beer, Godehard Giese, Lilien Batman, Maryam Zaree, Barbara Auer, Matthias Brandt, Sebastian Hülk, Emilie de Preissac, Antoine Oppenheim Germany / France 2018 German, French 101' Colour World premiere

With

  • Franz Rogowski (Georg )
  • Paula Beer (Marie)
  • Godehard Giese (Richard)
  • Lilien Batman (Driss)
  • Maryam Zaree
  • Barbara Auer
  • Matthias Brandt
  • Sebastian Hülk
  • Emilie de Preissac
  • Antoine Oppenheim

Crew

Written and Directed by Christian Petzold
Cinematography Hans Fromm
Editing Bettina Böhler
Music Stefan Will
Sound Design Dominik Schleier, Martin Steyer
Sound Andreas Mücke-Niesytka
Production Design Kade Gruber
Costumes Katharina Ost
Make-Up Kitty Kratschke, Sonia Salazar Delgado
Assistant Directors Ires Jung, Andreas Meszaros
Casting Simone Bär, Joanna Delon
Production Managers Dorissa Berninger, Juliette Lambours
Producers Florian Koerner von Gustorf, Michael Weber
Commissioning Editors Caroline von Senden, Andreas Schreitmüller
Co-Producer Antonin Dedet
Co-Production neon productions Marseille
ZDF Mainz
Arte Straßburg

World Sales

The Match Factory

Produced by

Schramm Film Koerner & Weber

Photos

Press Conference

Red Carpet

Christian Petzold

© Christian Schulz Schramm Film

Born in Hilden, Germany in 1960, he studied German and drama at Freie Universität Berlin and then, from 1988 to 1994, directing at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin (DFFB). His films have already been selected six times for the Berlinale Competition. He was awarded the Silver Bear for Best Director for Barbara in 2012 while Afire won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize in 2023.

Filmography

1995 Pilotinnen 1996 Cuba Libre 1998 Die Beischlafdiebin 2000 Die innere Sicherheit (The State I Am In) 2001 Toter Mann (Something to Remind Me) 2003 Wolfsburg 2005 Gespenster (Ghosts) 2007 Yella 2008 Jerichow 2011 Dreileben – Etwas Besseres als den Tod (Dreileben – Beats Being Dead) 2012 Barbara 2014 Phoenix 2018 Transit 2020 Undine 2023 Roter Himmel (Afire)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2025