When does the event take place?

The event takes place on Friday, November 13, 2026, at 7:30 PM.

Where will The Wall - Concrete and Barbed Wire be shown?

The screening will take place at Central-Kino Hof in Altstadt 8, 95028 Hof.

How long is the documentary film?

The documentary film from 1999 lasts 45 minutes.

Who is guest at the opening?

Guests include Rainer Eppelmann and eyewitness Dr. Horst Böttge. The evening will be moderated by Sven Böttger.

What is the admission fee?

Admission to the event is free.

What is the film about?

The film addresses the construction of the Berlin Wall on August 13, 1961, the sealing off of East Berlin, and the first weeks with barbed wire and concrete constructions.

When Barbed Wire Makes History: A Moving Cinema Evening in Hof

Name: The Wall - Concrete and Barbed Wire
Start: 2026-11-13T19:30:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-13T20:15:00+01:00
Location: Central-Kino Hof

The Wall - Concrete and Barbed Wire: A history that becomes palpable in the cinema

On Friday, November 13, 2026, the documentary The Wall - Concrete and Barbed Wire will open the 16th German-German Film Days at Central-Kino Hof. The 45-minute film by Jens Nicolai, produced by NDR and Spiegel TV, takes viewers back to the dramatic hours of August 13, 1961, with powerful original footage.

Original footage from the beginning of the German division

The documentary recounts how units of the NVA and the People's Police sealed the borders to West Berlin on the night of August 13, 1961. Torn-up roads, first barbed wire barricades, and hastily erected barriers mark the beginning of a border that separated families, friendships, and life paths for decades.

A film about shock, escape, and memory

The perspective on the population of East Berlin is particularly striking. People were suddenly separated from each other while others tried to flee to the West through windows or over canal bridges at the last moment. The historical film footage combines political analysis with personal fates, making the German division a tangible experience.

Kickoff of the 16th German-German Film Days

The film screening marks the start of an established memorial format of the partner cities Hof and Plauen. The German-German Film Days combine documentaries, eyewitness discussions, and open debates about the Peaceful Revolution, the fall of the Wall, and German unity. In recent years, the series has evolved into an important space for memory culture and political education in the region.

Discussion with eyewitnesses and experts

As part of the opening, Rainer Eppelmann and Dr. Horst Böttge will be guests. Eppelmann was a GDR civil rights activist, former member of the Bundestag, and Minister for Disarmament and Defense in the Lothar de Maizière government. Dr. Horst Böttge will share personal experiences as an eyewitness. The evening will be hosted by Sven Böttger, moderator and studio manager of the MDR studio in Chemnitz for South and Central Saxony.

A cinema visit with social significance

The atmosphere in Central-Kino that evening is not about festival camping or open-air music, but about collective remembrance in the cinema. Historical images, expert contextualization, and encounters with eyewitnesses create an intense multi-day experience within the Film Days and provide space for questions, discussions, and personal reflections.

Conclusion

The Wall - Concrete and Barbed Wire opens the 16th German-German Film Days with a moving look at the construction of the Wall and its immediate consequences. Those who want to experience German contemporary history through authentic images and in dialogue with witnesses will find an impressive evening of memory culture at Central-Kino Hof on November 13, 2026.