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Coming Out, dir, Heiner Carow, Germany 1989, 113 mins. German with English subtitles
Book tickets
In Heiner Carow’s Teddy Award-winning tale of an East German teacher, Philipp (Matthias Freihof) begins to question his sexuality after a reunion with a childhood friend, which brings back long-suppressed desires.
By day, a model citizen with a loving girlfriend (Dagmar Manzel), an encounter with a handsome young man (Dirk Kummer) draws Philipp further and further into Berlin’s queer subcultures.
Coming Out was the result of a decades-long fight by activists for the East German state to provide equality for queer people in all its activities, including through the DEFA, the state-run agency responsible for producing films. With its premiere taking place on the evening the Berlin Wall fell, the film is a unique window into gay life in East Berlin before it was transformed by reunification.
The screening on Sunday 26 January will be accompanied by an introduction from season co-curator Siavash Minoukadeh.
By day, a model citizen with a loving girlfriend (Dagmar Manzel), an encounter with a handsome young man (Dirk Kummer) draws Philipp further and further into Berlin’s queer subcultures.
Coming Out was the result of a decades-long fight by activists for the East German state to provide equality for queer people in all its activities, including through the DEFA, the state-run agency responsible for producing films. With its premiere taking place on the evening the Berlin Wall fell, the film is a unique window into gay life in East Berlin before it was transformed by reunification.
The screening on Sunday 26 January will be accompanied by an introduction from season co-curator Siavash Minoukadeh.
Screening as part of Cinema Rediscovered's touring programme Queer Cinema From the Eastern Bloc, curated by Siavash Minoukadeh and Fedor Tot.
Cinema Rediscovered on Tour is a Watershed project in collaboration with Park Circus and StudioCanal. With support from BFI awarding funds from The National Lottery.
Book tickets
07:10 pm
Sun, 26 Jan 2025
Cinema 2
06:50 pm
Tue, 28 Jan 2025
Cinema 2
07:00 pm
Thu, 30 Jan 2025
Cinema 2
Ticket information
- All tickets that do not require ID (full price, disabled, income support) can be printed at home or stored in email
- For aged-based concession tickets (under 25, student and pensioner) please bring relevant ID to collect at the front desk before the event.
Access information
Cinema 2
- Both our Cinemas have step free access from The Mall and are accessible by ramp
- All seats are hard back, have a crushed velvet feel and they do not recline
- These are our seat size dimensions: W 42 x D 45 x H 52
- Arm rest either side of the seat dimensions: L 27 x W 7 x H 20
for the following requirements:
- We have a removable seat to create a wheelchair allocated space, please contact to organise this prior to the date and time of the screening
- We have unassigned seating. If you require a specific seat, please reserve this in advance
- Free for visitors where ticket prices are a barrier, please email
All films are ad-free and 18+ unless otherwise stated, and start with a 10 min. curated selection of trailers.
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no. 236848.