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STAKE LAND (Jim Mickle/USA)A Jim Mickle filmScreenplay: Nick Damici & Jim MickleCast: Danielle Harris, Kelly McGillis, Connor Paolo, Bonnie Dennison, Michael Cerveris, Sean Nelson, Chance Kelly, Adam Scarimbolo,Marianne Hagan, Nick Damici, Lou Sumrall, Stuart Rudin, Traci Hovel, Jean Brassard, Eilis Cahill, Brian SpearsRunning time: 98 min.After a virus has ravaged humanity, the world is forever changed. The night belongs tobloodsucking zombies. During the day, those few who have survived, hurry from onehiding place to the next. In this post-apocalyptic wasteland, young Martin is about to getbitten by the same monster that just slaughtered his family. A well placed stake by theenigmatic vampire hunter called Mister, saves his life. Mister takes Martin under hiswings and learns him how to survive. After they hear rumors about New Eden, a placewithout monsters, they start upon a long journey north. On the way, Martin and Mister arejoined by a pregnant young woman and another young man. They will discover thatvampires are not the only thing in this world to be afraid of.In 2007 young American genre talent Jim Mickle visited the BIFFF to introduce us to hisdirecting debut Mulberry Street, a finely crafted low budget horror trip with some memorable characters. Wehad to wait until now for his next feature, but our patience is amply rewarded, because Stake land is simplyone of the best vampire flicks youll see this year. The script of this existential horror western, written byMickle and lead actor Nick Damici (Mulberry Street), brings complex and intriguing characters to life in amoving and socially relevant story. This strong script is translated into sensational, adrenaline-raisingimages, full of risky shots and an eye for detail that firmly transcends the limited budget.TRANSFER (Damir Lukacevic/Germany)A Damir Lukacevic filmScreenplay: Gabi Blauert & Damir LukacevicB.J. Britt, Régine Nehy, Ingrid Andree, Hans-Michael Rehberg, Mehmet Kurtulus, Attila Borlan, Eric P. Caspar, Jeanette Hain, YemyoKlame, Michael Klammer, Stefan Lisewski, Zana Marjanovic, Viktor Pavel, Ulrich VossRunning time: 91 min.Do you feel as if the grim reaper might put its bony hand on your shoulder atany time ? Do you have a well-stuffed bank account and a tremendous will tolive? Welcome to Menzana, a corporation that has turned death into anillness and sells the remedy at a very high price. Like Hermann and Anna,you can opt for a cerebral transfer and keep on partying in a fresh new body!Supplies are inexhaustible; it just takes a few banknotes to recruitunfortunate souls from the Third World and to convince them to abandontheir mortal coil. Their bodies are in perfect condition. You’ll be able to havefun again between the sheets. Yes, of course, they are black. So what?Those racial divides are behind us, aren’t they? OK, your friends might sulk abit when they first see you but don’t be fooled. They’re just jealous about yourfine young body. And, anyway, at their age, the wheel might still be turningbut the hamster is most probably dead. So, enjoy your new life but; and thisis the most important part, never forget to take your pills to keep control ofyour mind. If not…Here we have a movie that asks poignant ethical questions about live extension, migration, exploitation, richand poor, selfish profit and self-sacrifice. Anyone who dares to say that genre cinema is socially irrelevant,should be forced to watch Transfer. And we’re not talking about punishment here, because DamirLukacevic’s second long feature is simply one of the strongest cinematic experiences you’ll be able toexperience at the Bifff this year.15