“Union: The Best of All Days:” A Screening with Annekatrin Hendel

Deutsches Haus at NYU presents a film screening of Annekatrin Hendel’s  acclaimed documentary “Union: The Best of All Days,” followed by a  conversation with the Berlin filmmaker and Max Kade Foundation writer-in-residence at Deutsches Haus at NYU, which will be moderated by Juliane Camfield, the Director of Deutsches Haus at NYU.

In 2019, a tongue-in-cheek banner reading “Shit, we’re moving up!” hung in the Alten Försterei stadium, home to the second division soccer  club 1. FC Union Berlin. Four German national league-years later, the East German soccer club qualified for the Champions League, achieving something that only few had believed possible. Despite  strong feelings of euphoria at the recent success, there also came increasing pressure for the soccer club to continue to  perform well, both in athletic and economic terms, and a fear that the tension  between tradition and change could lead to a burgeoning identity crisis. The fact that the underdog soccer  club from the Berlin district of Köpenick is able to maintain  its magic, is based  in large part on the tireless efforts of the people behind the scenes who  keep the place running with great enthusiasm. Also central to these efforts is a loyal following of fans who are willing to actively shape the path of their club .

But “Union: The Best of All Days” is more than a film about soccer. The Berlin director Annekatrin Hendel manages a deep dive into the “engine room”  of the 1. FC Union Berlin. She l accompanied the club over two years, culminating in its  entry into the Champions League, and provides a unique , very personal, and authentic look at the club’s inner workings. Her documentary  is a moving and sympathetic portrait about the best of all days in the history of this resolute soccer club . 

About the speaker:

, born in East Berlin, is a renowned German writer, director, and film producer who focuses primarily on documentaries. Before she began working on her own writing and film projects, she studied design and initially worked as a costume and set designer. In 2004, she founded her own production company, IT WORKS! Medien, for which she still works as managing director. At IT WORKS! Medien, she has also produced and provided dramaturgical supervision for award-winning films and documentaries. In 2011, her first full-length cinematic documentary, Vaterlandsverräter (Enemy of the State), which she not only wrote but also directed, was released. The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and marked the beginning of her “Treason Trilogy.” Further awards followed, including the Friedensfilmpreis in 2011 and the Grimme Prize in 2013. Since then Annekatrin Hendel has directed, written, and/or produced over 30 films, including her last film, “Union–die besten aller Tage” (“Union–the Best of All Days”), which was released in 2024 to amazing critical acclaim and also great success at the German box office. Annekatrin Hendel currently is the Max Kade Foundation writer-in-residence at Deutsches Haus at NYU.

Host or Publisher Deutsches Haus at NYU