Fatih Akin's 'Ghost Song' Opens San Sebastián Fest
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- Fatih Akin's 'Ghost Song' is set as the opening night film at San Sebastián, world-premiering Sept. 18 and competing in the main competition, with Werner Herzog receiving a Donostia career achievement award at the same opening gala
- 'Ghost Song' is described by the festival as 'a poetic drama about loss and longing,' starring Eren M. Güvercin and Mariam Dawoud, with the plot centering on 20-year-old Farasha entering Faris' dreams after her death to spark a romance that blurs dreams and reality
- Beta Cinema is handling sales on the film, which Akin called 'a love story... a mix between the Patrick Swayze-Demi Moore film and Jean-Paul Sartre,' and is produced by Akin's Bombero International with Warner Bros. Film Productions Germany and Rialto Film as co-producer
- Akin's prize history includes the 2004 Berlin Golden Bear for 'Head-On,' Cannes best screenplay for 'The Edge of Heaven' (2007), and Cannes best actress plus a Golden Globe for 'In the Fade' (2017) starring Diane Kruger
- Akin's 2024 'Amrun', inherited from mentor Hark Bohm, became his biggest commercial hit in Germany and helped rescue his production company, according to the director
- The German presence at fall festivals is strong, with Germany scoring nine productions and co-productions at Locarno, 22 at Venice, and 18 at Toronto
Why it matters: Akin's San Sebastián berth extends a major-fest run for a director whose commercial standing had eroded after 'The Cut' but rebounded with 'In the Fade' and 'Amrun,' which he credits with saving his production company — making 'Ghost Song' a test of whether his pivot toward younger-skewing arthouse can sustain that recovery at the box office.
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