Archive notice: This article was originally published on July 23, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Ahead of UEFA Euro 2008, YouTube and director, actor and producer Detlev Buck (“Männerpension”, “Knallhart”) invited users of the video platform to upload self-shot films related to the tournament. From this material—a total of 82 hours—Buck and his team assembled “23 Days”, probably the world’s first feature film consisting exclusively of user-generated content. It combines video contributions from football fans across Europe and captures the atmosphere during the tournament, with an emphasis on Germany. Norbert Heitker directed.
“23 Days” opens on July 31 at CineStar cinemas in Berlin, Bremen, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Kassel, Leipzig and Mainz, as well as Munich’s Mathäser cinema. Admission is a symbolic €2.30, with total proceeds to be donated in equal halves to the association Laut gegen Nazis e.V. and the nonprofit initiative Streetfootballworld.
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At today’s press screening in Hamburg, Detlev Buck said he was impressed by the ingenuity of internet users. The director said he was overwhelmed by their creative energy. Philipp Schindler, Google’s Managing Director for Northern and Central Europe, described the project as a “complete success”. A total of 832 films and around 5,000 minutes of video material were submitted. German fans were the most active, contributing 382 videos.
According to Schindler, “23 Days” will first be shown in cinemas. Only afterward will the film also be made available on YouTube.
Further Links:
- Information about “23 Days” on YouTube
