The AWCH Film Group attends the press showings of upcoming films upon invitation from the film distributors, with a corps of Hamburg journalists from newspapers, TV, etc. The films are usually shown 6-8 weeks before opening to Hamburg’s general public. We watch the film in whichever language - often in English, but not always - and write a review about it. The review appears in Currents and on this website. Some reviews also appear in Top Info (the English language publication of the Hamburg Guide). We are often invited to interview and photo shoots of stars and directors. We are accredited for the Hamburg Film Festival in September, as well as the Berlin film festival (Berlinale) in February.

This is a working group, although we have fun, too. However, it isn't a social group in the sense of going to a film and having lunch or dinner together before or afterwards to chat. Sometimes, you may be our only representative at any given film. The films are free. Occasionally we meet for lunch or coffee to socialize, discuss new ideas, watch Academy Award presentations, rehash film festivals or participate in a workshop.

We earn no money, but we do show a high degree of professionalism at the press conferences. If you are interested in the art of cinema, think that you could attend at least two films a month, wish to practice your writing skills, see your work appear in print, and write “international film critic” on your résumé, you are welcome to join.

We also receive invitations to the press conference of the openings of new exhibits at museums: Altona Museum, Museum of Ethnology (Völkerkunde) Museum for Arts and Crafts (Kunst und Gewerbe), Museum für Arbeit, and the art museum (Kunsthalle).

To read our reviews of films that have opened in Hamburg in 2003, click here.

  The Internet Movie Database

The original source for everything you want to know about your favorite films.

  Rotten Tomatoes

A site with a huge list of movie reviews.

  Filmfest Hamburg

Hamburg's huge yearly filmfest is held each September.

  Spielfilm Index

German language film information and reviews.

  Hamburger Morgenpost Online: Kinoprogramm

German language listings of what's playing where in Hamburg.

  Videoflicks

A great site for ordering and learning about all sorts of films, new and old, on video and DVD.