Ralf Huettner's romantic comedy Mondscheintarif will open this year's Oldenburg International Film Festival (September 5-9) which will also feature the world premieres of Salome Breziner's Fast Sofa, Richard Stanley's The Secret Glory, and Sheree Folkson's Gypsy Woman .

Oldenburg will also feature new films by German filmmakers Claus Strobel (Das Glueck Sitzt Auf Dem Dach), Isabel Kleefeld (Schluss Mit Lustig) and Andreas Samland (Der Neue Hit) as well as the first public presentation of the festival's new "99 Euro shorts" initiative.

Oldenburg has always given a warm welcome to US independents and 2001 is no exception, with international premieres of such films as Steve Carpenter's Soul Survivors, Lisa Kors' Dinner And A Movie, Cory McAbee's The American Astronaut, Dani Minnick's Falling Like This, Michael Polish's Jackpot, and Arthur Borman and Steve Danielson's Karaoke Fever, as well as German premieres of Gregg Araki's Splendor and Brian Koppelman and David Levien's Knockaround Guys, and John Carpenter's Ghosts Of Mars.

This year's retrospective is being dedicated to Jim McBride (Breathless) while special tributes are honouring the work of cult director Richard Stanley (Dust Devil) and veteran US actor Ben Gazzara (Killing Of A Chinese Bookie). With its focus on quality international independent cinema, Oldenburg's programme will also be screening Joe Tucker's Lava, Nick Hamm's The Hole, and Jehane Noujaim and Chris Hegedus's documentary startup.com as well as Oskar Roehler's Suck My Dick and Benjamin Quabeck's HypoVereinsbank Prize-winning No Regrets (Nichts Bereuen). The festival will close on September 5 with Rod Lurie's political drama The Contender starring Gary Oldman and Joan Allen.