SYNOPSIS

The new film by documentary filmmakers Palacios and Post, Franco on Trial, celebrated its German premiere on October 16, 2018 in Berlin. More than 300 guests filled the iconic and historic Berlin cinema Babylon. The Spanish Ambassador Ricardo Martínez and Wenke Christoph of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation held welcoming speeches, stressing that in times of new nationalist and racist movements, a film, such as Franco on Trial becomes a special importance.

After the screening of the film a panel discussion took place featuring the following speakers:

Carlos Castresana (Former State Prosecutor at the Spanish Supreme Court)
Fernando Martínez (Head of department of Historic Memory within the Ministry of Justice)
Stefanie Schüler-Springorum (Historian and author of the book The Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939)
Lucía Palacios und Dietmar Post (Filmmakers)
Moderator Dieter Ingenschay (Professor for Spanish Literature and Culture at Humboldt-University)

The many spectators awaited eagerly the contribution by Fernando Martínez who very recently had been appointed Head of the newly created office for Historic Memory by the Spanish Government under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. His statements gave victims of the Franco dictatorship some hope. He promised that the boycott by the previous conservative government under Mariano Rajoy towards the Argentinean intent to take to justice the last living presumed criminals of the dictatorship will be ended. The entire debate can be watched online for free by registering at the play loud! archive & store.

The film’s theatrical release is being sponsored by the Spanish Embassy in Germany, the Instituto Cervantes, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Fighters and Friends of the Spanish Republic and the German Association of Spanish Teachers.

"Every young person in Spain should see this film in order to know the country in which they live.
Not to go back to the past, but to understand the present and build the future."
Carlos Castresana