TAXIFILMFEST

Day 1 - Children, family, work, cold

Admin — 2025-02-14T09:19:24Z

13 February 2025
What an adventure. It was cold. This has to get better tomorrow, because the outside temperature is supposed to drop to minus 11 degrees Celsius.

Everyone enjoyed the performance despite the fact that the transmission of the first film over the internet kept breaking down until we switched to a better internet provider. As soon as we receive a screening copy of ‘Dad' we will show the film again, as it was very well received by our colleagues.

Lucia Chiarla, the director of ‘Es geht um Luis' paid us a visit and watched the supporting films. Then it apparently got too cold for her. Starting tomorrow, that won't happen anymore, I promise.

The Stop got some laughs. It's true, the film describes a situation that happens similarly to Berlin taxi drivers.

‘It's about Luis' was enjoyed by the spectators who withstood the cold. After all, there were teachers in the audience. The fact that they stayed until the end despite the biting cold is the best proof that they were able to relate to the story. We will discuss the film with them on another day in the warmth.

By eleven o'clock, everything had been dismantled and we were on our way home in the warm Ford electric bus. What an adventure.

Tomorrow we will provide a really powerful heating.

Uber is plundering social security funds to ruin the taxi industry.

Admin — 2025-02-13T09:11:08Z

The matter is basically quite simple. Take the poorest of the poor with a driving licence, promise them two or three thousand euros of fixed income per month and pay them only four to six euros per hour.

Where does the money come from?

The Job Centre pays the largest share. Uber partner companies issue ridiculously low pay slips and instruct their drivers to get the rest as a citizen's income from the Job Centre. All Uber partners act this way, with one known exception. The companies can't do otherwise, because they would be insolvent the moment they paid their drivers the full minimum wage for the first time.

Wage dumping enables dumping prices

The illegally low wages enable Uber partners to undercut the state-regulated taxi prices. In the end, not even the passengers benefit from this, because Uber raises the fares sharply when demand is high.

The plan

Uber and similar companies worldwide follow the same strategy. First, public services are attacked politically and with dumping prices and destroyed. Then the company presents itself as a saviour in the face of poor or non-existent public services. As a result, the prices of the previously low-cost services provided by the public sector are increased as far as the market will bear. Grandma can no longer find a taxi to take her to the doctor because the trip is not worthwhile for the Uber partners.

Follow the money

When you travel with Uber or Bolt, you pay the full fare to the corporstion. They then decide how to divide the ‘booty' among the parties involved. Our reliable sources tell us that Uber takes around 25 per cent as a commission. The Uber general contractor then receives a further five per cent, and the remaining 70 per cent goes to the contracting company that carries out the trip on behalf of Uber. The Uber company deducts 19 per cent VAT and shares the rest with the driver. In the best case, 29 euros of the driver's gross wage are earned from 100 euros of turnover. In view of the economic requirements, traffic conditions and the maximum permissible speed in cities, it is impossible to achieve the minimum wage with this distribution of turnover.

Most drivers live on state support, the amount of which is manipulated upwards as much as possible by means of very low fictitious wage statements. The support paid by the job centre is in fact a stolen wage subsidy that remains in the pockets of the corporation.

The scandal here is not the behaviour of the Uber drivers, who are literally poor, but the inaction of the regulatory authorities in the face of a perfectly designed system for diluting responsibility. The many small players can in principle be controlled, but not in official practice, while the organisers of the raid, shielded by an ocean of legal and other red tape, book the illegally acquired profits.

Defending the democratically decided rules

How can this be stopped so that public services and adequate wages are secured? This is also easy, but so far the responsible authorities and a large part of the political class have been reluctant to do what is necessary. The salary payments of all Uber-car companies must be compared with the working hours every month, and any shortfall in the minimum wage must be sanctioned immediately with the closure of the car transportation licence. The data required for this procedure is available and only needs to be requested by the authorities. The process can be automated to such an extent that, on balance, not a single cent more needs to be spent.

State of play

Over the last year, a lot has been done to check whether rental cars licensed in Berlin meet formal criteria. Correct wage payments were never an issue. The result is thousands of foreign cars from Uber and Bolt, which are on the road in Berlin as illegal taxis. A parliamentary initiative aimed at having the supervisory authorities check wage payments was buried in committees of the House of Representatives.

We defend the taxi culture

Today, the Taxi Film Festival begins, presenting and defending taxi culture so that the real value of our colleagues' work becomes known.

We demand the defence of licensed taxis because they are more than just a means of transport. Taxis are an endangered part of urban culture in Berlin and worldwide.

1st Taxifilmfest 2024 - A look back

Admin — 2025-02-03T17:44:09Z

The great success of the first Taxifilmfest has prompted us to present our view of the world in taxis in film again in February 2025.

What remains of the first Taxifilmfest? We fondly remember our guests, an appearance at the Berlin House of Representatives and the many conversations with friends, the press, radio and television.
Today, in February 2025, before the start of the second Taxi Film Festival, many things have ‘disappeared', and many publications from last year have already been replaced by new publications in the indexes of search engines.

What remains - memories of 2024

International

A Film Festival in the Back of a Taxi - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/21/movies/taxi-film-festival-berlinale.html

Suzanne's Mom's Blog quotes the New York Times
https://suzannesmomsblog.com/2024/04/24/berlins-taxi-filmfest/

The Turkish agency actualnewsagency.com openly imitates the blogger.
https://actualnewsagency.com/a-sinema-senlik-in-the-back-of-a-taxi/

And so have dozens of other sites. It's too easy, just copy the NYT link and your new ‘own' post is ready.

The World has published an interview with us as a sound file
https://theworld.org/segments/2024/04/04/taxifilmfest-shows-taxi-themed-movies-to-protest-ubers-sponsorship-of-berlins-film-festival

German film industry, taxi drivers protest on Berlinale's opening day
https://www.screendaily.com/news/german-film-industry-taxi-drivers-protest-on-berlinales-opening-day/5190563.article

Germany

Taxifilmfestval: Berlinale addition and anti-Berlinale in one
https://taxi-times.com/taxi-film-festival-berlinale-ergaenzung-und-anti-berlinale-in-einem/

Taxifilmfest – artistic protest against Uber as main sponsor of the Berlinale

Taxifilmfest – der künstlerische Protest gegen Uber als Hauptsponsor der Berlinale
by Taxi Times

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoQ...

Taxi Times has also made a video.

taxi heute has also reported.
TaxiFilmFest as a counterpoint to Uber's sponsorship of the Berlinale
https://www.taxi-heute.de/de/news/unternehmens-wirtschaft-und-branchen-nachrichten-sonst-bvtm-bundesverband-taxi-und-mietwagen-e-v_taxifilmfest-als-gegenpol-zum-uber-sponsoring-der-berlinale-25805.html

The SPD faction in the Berlin House of Representatives likes us.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/7471250549593170
Facebook
The most beautiful cinema at the @berlinale? Of course, the Großraumtaxi, where the #taxifilmfest is currently taking place!

RBB: Film festival in a large taxi - ‘Taxifilmfest' protests against Berlinale sponsor Uber
https://www.rbb24.de/kultur/berlinale/beitraege/2024/taxifilmfest-protest-gegen-berlinale-sponsor-uber.html
And they have a funny photo with lots of participants.
<https://www.rbb24.de/content/dam/rb...>

The Taxifilmfest is also and first and foremost a demonstration in defence of the taxi as part of public transport. That is why the event appears in the unofficial directory of demonstrations demonstrations.org
https://demonstrations.org/events/17024--das-taxi-als-teil-des--ffentlichen-nahverkehrs---pnv--und-der-stadtkultur-ist-bedroht--die-leitung-d

The paywalls of many newspapers are partly to blame for the disappearance of the entries.

Berlin: Taxi drivers organise anti-Berlinale protest against Uber with their own film festival
https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/politik-gesellschaft/berlin-taxifahrer-veranstalten-anti-berlinale-protest-gegen-uber-mit-eigenem-filmfestival-li.2187765

Taxi drivers demonstrate against Berlinale sponsor Uber
https://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article241696598/Taxifahrer-demonstrieren-gegen-Berlinale-Sponsor-Uber.html

Conclusion

We learn that even a tiny team like the one from the taxi film festival has to archive material immediately for later evaluation. The internet is simply too forgetful.

Good taste? Who cares!

Admin — 2025-02-01T11:56:57Z

The large number of registrations quickly shrinks as soon as we ask whether a film is suitable for a screening at the Taxifilmfest.

We want to give our colleagues and the public an impression of what the term and the service ‘taxi' mean in the world. We want to show the reality of working behind the wheel and the importance of taxis for the lives of the inhabitants of a city or region. Last but not least, we are looking for the myths surrounding taxis. We try to develop an interesting and moving film programme from the proposed films. It should be just as interesting for our colleagues as for our passengers. We address all Berliners, their guests and everyone who is out and about in Berlin. We are convinced that our programme concerns everyone.

At the Taxi Film Festival, we don't select films based on our own tastes, but rather on relevance and theme.

In order for us to consider them, films must be submitted. Our selection is therefore limited to stories that filmmakers from around the world suggest to us. They are our filter.

We could have actively searched for movies, for example by asking taxi unions and professional associations for their recommendations. We couldn't do that because we earn our living driving and managing taxis. So we collect taxi images from around the world and ask ourselves how the world sees us and our colleagues. That's more than enough work and very interesting.

This is an ever developing project so maybe next year we'll choose a different method for finding the best taxi films. In 2025, we are delighted with the huge interest and the range of taxi stories that have been suggested to us.

The selected films should, but don't have to, be ‘good films' in the usual sense. They should contribute to answering our questions or confront us with new ones. This year, we'll take ‘whatever comes in,' because the first step is to discover what ‘taxi' means in today's world. Don't worry, we'll sort out the real junk.

We will evaluate the films at a later date. For example, we have only received a few documentaries. We will find out whether this insight helps answer the question of what a ‘taxi' really is today or whether the stories are pure fiction.

Realistic depictions are important because we can only act on the basis of facts in our union and industry policy. Myths and fantasies may repeatedly influence people's lives, but they are like Santa Claus. After 6 January, even the most devout child is no longer interested.

Selection Committee

Admin — 2025-01-31T15:35:33Z

We are a handmade festival. Nothing against film scholars and professional film critics. At the big festivals, they may call the shots.

We are male and female taxi drivers. This is no empty phrase, because we have a more balanced gender ratio than some parliaments and many political parties. Besides, women and men have just as much say in our festival, no matter how many there are. How does it work? It's quite simple: we follow the ‘central committee' principle. Each and every one of us makes and decides as autonomously as the central committee. If one of the central committees decides that something won't happen, then it won't. At the Taxi Film Festival, it doesn't matter whether you're a dog, a man or a woman. What you say counts.

Yesterday we held a selection committee. It consisted only of taxi drivers. We unserstood a bit more why the taxi film festival is a different one. Where intellectual film festivals today only work in English, German must always be spoken at our festival as well. Many taxi drivers speak English, but some only speak German and Arabic, German and Turkish or another combination with German.

That is why there will be an introduction in German at every screening. We will provide as many German subtitles as possible and, if possible, translate them ourselves. Just because a colleague understands little English does not mean they should be excluded.

Films must speak through their visual language. We don't want any talking heads or any works that resemble paint on a wall that you watch dry.

There are still 14 days to go before the festival begins. There is still a lot to do.

Before your Eyes

Admin — 2025-01-27T20:20:47Z

Dear readers,

we are not yet revealing which films the Taxi Film Festival will show, but we can already say that this year we are taking the step from a Berlin protest event to an international festival. It works. With current films and surprising views on our profession, we show new ideas and ways forward.

The Taxi Film Festival is a courageous event

The Taxi Film Festival is a wager on the creativity of global taxi culture and the importance of taxis for people on all continents. It could have gone wrong, but we were not disappointed. The bet was won. We can select the films from a large number of entries, with which we will provide insights into our profession and suggestions for its future. We are really happy because there is a lot of humanity, humour and fun.

A few numbers

1241 registered films today on 27.2.2025

Countries, sorted by number of submissions

143 India
132 Iran, Islamic Republic of
94 Brazil
67 France
61 Italy
58 China
55 Turkey
44 United States
37 Spain
35 Germany
33 Egypt
25 Argentina
15 United Kingdom
14 Bulgaria
14 Indonesia
13 Canada
13 Russian Federation
12 Austria
12 Bangladesh
11 Portugal
10 Greece
10 Mexico
10 Morocco
10 Ukraine
9 Republic of Korea
9 Poland
8 Pakistan
8 Taiwan
8 Uganda
7 Japan
7 Tunisia
6 Belgium
6 Nigeria
5 Lebanon
5 Malaysia
5 Romania
5 Sweden
5 United Arab Emirates
4 Algeria
4 Chile
4 Denmark
4 Georgia
4 Ireland
4 Israel
4 Netherlands
4 Serbia
4 South Africa
4 Sri Lanka
4 Thailand
3 Australia
3 Croatia
3 Hungary
3 Iraq
3 Jordan
3 Kazakhstan
3 Nepal
3 Puerto Rico
3 Syrian Arab Republic
3 Togo
2 Afghanistan
2 Bahrain
2 Belarus
2 Benin
2 Colombia
2 Cuba
2 Cyprus
2 Ecuador
2 Estonia
2 North Macedonia
2 Peru
2 Philippines
2 Saudi Arabia
2 Senegal
2 Slovenia
1 Armenia
1 Azerbaijan
1 Costa Rica
1 Côte d'Ivoire
1 Finland
1 Guinea
1 Hong Kong
1 Cambodia
1 Cameroon
1 Kenya
1 Kosovo
1 Kyrgyzstan
1 Latvia
1 Luxembourg
1 Madagascar
1 Mali
1 Norway
1 Palestine, State of
1 Rwanda
1 Uzbekistan
1 Venezuela
1 Zimbabwe

(The total of this table is smaller than the total number of entries because some entries do not include information about the country of origin.)

The selection committee reviews and comments on over 70 films. In the end, only 9 main films and fewer than 20 supporting films are allowed to remain. We will present the other great submissions on our website. Of course, we are happy to support all selected projects in getting into cinemas and into the programmes of television stations and streaming services.

Our open selection committee

The next and probably last open meeting of our selection committee for friends and taxi drivers will take place this Thursday, 30 January, starting at 3:00 pm.

Location: Ver.di union office
Otawistraße 15
13351 Berlin
near the Rehberge underground station.

If you would like to attend, please register by phone so that we can make sure we have enough coffee.
Telephone: +49 176 58 87 37 70

So much for today's report, Monday 27 February 2025.

Why have a taxi film festival

Admin — 2025-01-20T12:23:50Z

A large part of the preparation is done. In the light of the registered films, the purpose of the Taxifilmfest is clear.

Film and theatre festivals are places to meet people, to encounter the new and the extraordinary, art and markets.

The Taxi Film Festival is different. It can be anything other festivals are, but first and foremost it is a manifesto for the human side of the taxi business, for its contribution to culture in Berlin and the world.

The Taxi Film Festival is aimed at

– filmmakers, whose works we present,
– critics and audiences, to whom we present films,
– distributors and film sales companies, to whom we present products.

We have political and social goals.

– We introduce other taxi worlds to our colleagues behind the wheel of taxis and rental cars.
– We show the public the great and special contribution of taxi companies and drivers to a life worth living. In film and in reality, taxis are scenes of life from birth to death.
The Taxi Film Festival is a platform for exchanging ideas about culture and work. We will organise workshops and discussions for this purpose.
Culture is more than just a pure service. Taxi culture takes place when people not only drive from A to B, but also tell stories, sing, solve problems and a ride really helps those involved to move forward.

The taxi film festival also has opponents. These are all those who want to threaten and destroy taxi culture. [1]

The Taxi Film Festival therefore advocates for good jobs, regular incomes, safe and pleasant working conditions.

Experienced taxi drivers are the best connoisseurs of their city. They are seismographs of social developments and confessors of the suffering. A street name stands for them as a symbol of a way of life. The films at the Taxi Film Festival also tell stories about this. Names are more than just sound and smoke or product marketing. [2]

[1] Like all culture, taxi culture needs space, time and freedom. If you have to fight for survival and only think about money, there is no room for life and culture. The optimisation of profitability and communication without regard for laws to protect people, when ratings and apps replace encounters and intensive discussions, be it about the exact location of a destination, culture does not take place.

[2] The Taxi Film Festival opposes the transfer of the right to name cities, places and institutions to those who would use it to strengthen their power interests at the expense of democratic authorities. Publicly used streets and squares or places of assembly should be named according to the will of the democratic public. Nothing against nicknames like ‘Pregnant Oyster', ‘Telespargel' or ‘Langer Lulatsch', the taxi geography needs precise definitions, which may only be determined by official, i.e. democratically verified dedication.

Information overdose

Admin — 2025-01-16T09:56:09Z

That wasn't planned. To date, we have received and viewed over 800 entries, both short and long films. 60 have made it onto the shortlist. Among them are some real gems.

All the work has paid off, because now the Taxifilmfest selection committee can put together an interesting programme for 10 days. It will be a journey around the world.

Taxis can be found all over the world. We have put together the programme for the Taxi Film Festival from productions in the following countries:
Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Latvia, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Spain, Togo, Tunisia, United Kingdom, USA and Uzbekistan.

We look forward to meeting taxi drivers and taxi customers from all over the world.

Preparations have started

Admin — 2024-12-21T15:56:57Z

Dear friends of the Taxifilmfest,

We are delighted to announce the second edition of the Taxi Film Festival for the period from 13 February 2025 to 23 February 2025.

The availability of our Taxifilmfesttaxi is confirmed, we are ready to go. Now all we have to do is select films and we're off. Everything else is ‘nice to have' but not essential:

– proper cinemas,
– great workshops,
– panel discussions,
– sponsor platform,
– advertising and marketing.

What works works. What doesn't work doesn't work because it wasn't thought through carefully enough. Then we don't need it. We are proud to successfully realise an (almost) zero-budget festival. However, tangible and financial support is still welcome, because every cooperation, every additional ‘hand' and every cent enables us to improve and offer our taxi colleagues, filmmakers and audience a better Taxifilmfest.

To date, 170 films and videos have been submitted for the 2025 Taxi Film Festival via the filmfreeway.com platform. We are starting to sift through them. With a bit of luck, they will include rare gems that we won't find through our own contacts.

We also receive support from other festivals that screen films and videos on similar topics. All in all, it looks as if the 2025 Taxi Film Festival will not only show the favourite films of Berlin taxi drivers, but will also be able to present new perspectives and developments from the entire taxi world to our audience.

We are currently putting together a selection committee and jury of taxi colleagues and experts from international festivals and film production. If you would like to get involved, please write to submit@taxifilmfest.de.

Wish us luck, the end of the road will not be until 23 February 2025.