Top 100 Most Anticipated Foreign Films of 2016: #14. Maren Ade’s Toni Erdmann

Toni Erdmann

Director: Maren Ade
Writer: Maren Ade

Though many be unfamiliar with her work, which is a pity since both her previous films are available in the US, director Maren Ade happens to be one of the most vibrant new voices in German cinema. Her 2003 debut The Forest For the Trees received a rather hushed festival debut in Germany before going to collect a Special Jury prize at Sundance. Her powerful and exquisite follow-up was 2009’s Everyone Else, which took home the Silver Berlin Bear at that year’s Berlin film festival. Generally taking a long time between projects, we’ve been patiently waiting for her third feature, Toni Erdmann, which was initially announced back in 2012. With filming at last completed, we’re hoping to finally catch a glimpse of the film which we know little about except that it’s about a father trying to connect with his adult daughter. Ade, married to director Ulrich Kohler (Bungalow; Sleeping Sickness) also produces a wide variety of notable titles, including Miguel Gomes’ Tabu and Benjamin Heisenberg’s Superegos. Peter Simonischek of Gotz Spielmann’s Oktober-November stars in the title role.

Cast: Peter Simonischek, Sandra Huller, Hadewych Minis

Producers: Janine Jackowski, Jonas Dornbach, Maren Ade, Bruno Wagner, Antonin Svoboda

U.S. Distributor: Rights Available. TBD (domestic/international).

Release Date: We would have bet Maren Ade would’ve popped up at either Cannes or Venice last year, but German auteurs seem to have a hard time finding a slot in the Cannes main competition. Considering how long the project’s apparently been in post, it should be a ripe target for Berlin 2016.