Leinwandheld:innen
On the occasion of 40 years of FILMFEST MUNICH, there is a very special highlight for all film and photography fans in June: The exhibition LEINWANDHELD:INNEN shows selected star portraits by photographer Mike Kraus. Since 2012, celebrity guests of FILMFEST MÜNCHEN have been visiting Kraus' studio during the festival period. During these encounters, impressive portraits are created, which can be admired free of charge in the FÜNF HÖFE from June 13 to July 6.
Mike Kraus describes the moment of photography as follows: "The guests of FILMFEST MÜNCHEN usually come to my studio shortly before a premiere or an award ceremony. Time is accordingly short, but the atmosphere is always full of different emotions that inspire me for my photography. In the context of this festive ambience, I want to give the people in front of my camera a gift by heroically putting them in the limelight. This doesn't require a lot of hoopla. It needs an inner attitude, an expression - in the right light. From the right angle. That's how portraits are created that embody the screen hero:ins of our film festival."
I met Mike Kraus and his special way of photographing years ago. His skill in heroically capturing the screen hero:ins of film, in brief and intimate moments in his studio, is magical and I am very happy that we can present these wonderful photographs to the public on the occasion of the exhibition in the FÜNF HÖFEN and the 40th anniversary of FILMFEST MÜNCHEN!
The exhibition takes place in the CityQuartier FÜNF HÖFE, the place for exclusive shopping in Munich, directly on Theatinerstraße between Marienplatz and Odeonsplatz. Complementary to this exhibition, an exhibition of current works by Mike Kraus can be seen at the same time in the Kunsthalle, open to the public in the foyer of the Kunsthalle, 1st floor.
The FÜNF HÖFE have been partners of the FILMFEST MÜNCHEN for five years. Now, on the occasion of the festival's 40th anniversary, they are giving visitors and the festival the gift of this exhibition of Mike Kraus' remarkable photographs.
Together with FÜNF HÖFEN, we are giving away guest list seats for the exhibition's vernissage. All information is available on our Instagram channel.
About the person:
Mike Kraus' artistic work is visually and auditorily diversified. Born in Vienna in 1973, Mike Kraus moved to Italy after graduating from high school in 1991. There he studied photography and film history at the Saci, School of Arts in Florence. He then continued his studies at Columbia College in Chicago, graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in directing and cinematography. His studies were followed by an internship in post-production at Arri in Munich. Since then, his vita did not follow a linear course - but his artistic, versatile creative work remained constant. He worked successfully as a documentary filmmaker, cameraman, musician, director and photographer. He played over 500 concerts throughout Germany with his compositions, realized over 100 TV commercials as an advertising director and numerous stars stood in front of his camera. So it is understandable that his photographic art is characterized by perfected aesthetics, which he learned from scratch and at the highest level in film and advertising. The turn to art photography and painting is driven by his desire to be able to express himself freely in the visual and thus create something new.