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The Long Road to the Director's Chair

Forum Special 2025
© bpk/Abisag Tüllmann
The “First International Women’s Film Seminar” organised by filmmakers Claudia von Alemann and Helke Sander in 1973 can be regarded as one of the very first feminist film festivals. Held in Berlin, it was hosted in the “old” Arsenal cinema in Welserstraße and the primary school opposite. Vibeke Løkkeberg, a 28-year-old filmmaker and former actress from Norway, was among the guests travelling to the event. She came to present her film Abort and to document the festival. Almost fifty years later, Løkkeberg found the raw footage – sound and images – once thought lost, and turned it into a film resembling a journey through time: interviews with the participants sharing experiences as equals, patient listening, the crowds in the foyer, the comings and goings outside the cinema, the gatherings at the seminar. The air was full of new beginnings and cigarette smoke, solidarity and openness, the determination and confidence of women who wanted fundamental change in film and television – against the dominance of men. Today, this retrospective confronts us with unfinished battles and possibly – lost hopes.
by Vibeke Løkkeberg (Director, Screenplay)
with Claudia von Alemann, Vibeke Løkkeberg, Helke Sander, Alice Schwarzer, Karin Howard, Nurith Aviv, Annabella Miscuglio, Ariel Dougherty, Angelika Wittlich, Christiane Schaefer Norway 2025 English, German, Norwegian 70' Black/White World premiere | Documentary form

With

  • Claudia von Alemann
  • Vibeke Løkkeberg
  • Helke Sander
  • Alice Schwarzer
  • Karin Howard
  • Nurith Aviv
  • Annabella Miscuglio
  • Ariel Dougherty
  • Angelika Wittlich
  • Christiane Schaefer

Crew

Director Vibeke Løkkeberg
Screenplay Vibeke Løkkeberg
Cinematography Georg Helgevold Sagen
Editing Mina Nybakke
Sound Design Bror Kristiansen
Producers Anders Tangen, Terje Kristiansen (1973)
Executive Producers Vibeke Løkkeberg, Anders Tangen, Knut-Jørgen Erichsen (1973)

Produced by

The Norway Film Development

Viafilm

World Sales

Viafilm

Vibeke Løkkeberg

© Frode Fjerdingstad-NRK

Vibeke Løkkeberg, born 1945 in Bergen, is one of Norway’s most prolific filmmakers and authors. Married to producer Terje Kristiansen and mother to two children, she created a unique concept of blending her personal life with her filmmaking, often working with her family. She began her career as an actress and has starred in most of her own films. Her works have been screened at festivals and venues worldwide. Løkkeberg is also a prolific novelist. In 2015, Løkkeberg was the recipient of the Honorary Amanda Award for her contribution to Norwegian cinema.

Filmography (selection)

1971 Abort (Abortion) 1974 Prostitusjon (Prostitution) 1975 Regn (Rain); short film 1977 Åpenbaringen (The Upbringing) 1981 Løperjenten (The Story of Camilla) 1986 Hud (Skin) 1991 Måker (Seagulls) 1993 Der gudene er døde (Where the Gods Are Dead) 2010 Gazas tårer (Tears of Gaza) 2025 The Long Road to the Director’s Chair

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2025