“Who among you still remembers the Boathouse?” With this question, HoF IFF friend Gerhard Lindner opened his presentation at the meeting of the Berliners’ Association. He gave a compact overview, starting with the early days of the festival at the Boathouse in 1967—which some members still remember firsthand — and moving on to today’s digital projection.

The focus was on the unique aspects of the Hof International Film Festival — and, above all, on the people who shape it. The audience also shared their own, very diverse experiences of the festival. The discussion also touched on the provocative question posed by the BdB chairman: “Is the Berlinale overshadowed by the Hof International Film Festival?”

In closing, Gerhard Lindner invited those in attendance to join in celebrating the festival’s 60th anniversary this year: “Come visit the Bürgergesellschaft under the motto ‘FESTIVAL INSIDE.’” The talk ended with a loud, now-legendary chant: “Three cheers for HoF-HoF-HoF!”