Athens International Film Festival
aiff

SPACE DOGS

According to legend, Laica, the first living being man sent to space, returns to earth as a comet to continue roaming around the streets of Moscow. Today, that is where Elsa Kremser and Levin Peter seek the progeny of this famous dog. The film boasts a poetic mood and includes retro inserts of never-before-seen archival footage of the soviet space program. The outcome is a beautiful love letter to those creatures who, regardless of people’s intentions for them, seem destined to drift eternally. From earth all the way to space.

The film is also available for screening on festival's digital platform. For additional information please visit online.aiff.gr.


AUSTRIA, GERMANY | 2019 | COLOR & B&W | DCP | 91' | RUSSIAN

During the Space Race, especially before the first manned mission of 1961, the Soviets sent dogs to extraterrestrial orbit – Americans preferred monkeys. Laika, the first cosmonaut dog (and earth creature), died in flight.

‘Space Dogs’ is an exciting cinematic curiosity, ranging from a documentary about stray dogs in the streets of Moscow (from where they were taken to be sent to space) to animal body horror. Dressed as a nightmarish fairy-tale, it rises above a narration that touches metaphysical fantasy. ‘A dog’s life’ is not that easy (nor is a cat’s one, in an unforgettable scene), but what haunts the viewer for good is the human egomania, so unselfishly embraced by the reanimating endurance of the animal companion. I.D.

DIRECTORS: Elsa Kremser, Levin Peter
SCREENWRITERS: Elsa Kremser, Levin Peter
DoP: Yunus Roy Imer
MUSIC: Paradox Paradise
​EDITORS: Jan Soldat, Stephan Bechinger

ELSA KREMSER
Austrian producer and screenwriter, born in 1985. She studied Film at the University of Vienna. This is her debut film.

LEVIN PETER
German documentarist, born in 1985. She studied at the Film Academy of Ludwigsburg. Founder of Raumzeitfilm, with Elsa Kremser.

FILMOGRAPHY(SHARED)
2019 Space Dogs



        : International Documentaries Competition - Stranger Than Fiction

        SONGS OF REPRESSION

        SONGS OF REPRESSION

        24/9/2020, 19:30, AEGLI ZAPPIOU
        3/10/2020, 19:45, GREEK FILM ARCHIVE

        TRANSFER

        TRANSFER

        25/9/2020, 22:15, ANESIS
        1/10/2020, 19:45, RIVIERA

        IN A WHISPER / A MEDIA VOZ

        IN A WHISPER / A MEDIA VOZ

        26/9/2020, 19:30, ATHINAIA
        27/9/2020, 19:45, RIVIERA

        THE REASON I JUMP

        THE REASON I JUMP

        27/9/2020, 19:30, ATHINAIA
        29/9/2020, 19:45, RIVIERA

        THE FOUNDATION PIT / KOTLOVAN

        THE FOUNDATION PIT / KOTLOVAN

        27/9/2020, 22:00, STELLA
        29/9/2020, 19:45, GREEK FILM ARCHIVE

        IF IT WERE LOVE / SI C'ÉTAIT DE L'AMOUR

        IF IT WERE LOVE / SI C'ÉTAIT DE L'AMOUR

        30/9/2020, 22:30, ATHINAIA
        3/10/2020, 22:30, GREEK FILM ARCHIVE

        PETIT SAMEDI

        PETIT SAMEDI

        1/10/2020, 19;45, TRIANON