Language rights, democracy, human rights | Film screening: ‘650 Wörter/Kelime/Words’

Family reunification is currently suspended in the Federal Republic of Germany. Once it becomes possible again, passing the Goethe-Institut’s ‘Start Deutsch 1’ language test will be a prerequisite.  The exam requires proficiency in an active vocabulary of 300 words and a passive vocabulary of 650 words.

Through a series of interviews, filmmaker Martina Priessner’s film tells the story of eight people from different regions of Turkey – all of whom want nothing more than to live with their partners in Germany once again. As the interviewees talk about their lives – how they met their partners, and what dreams they have of living together with their families in Germany – they build utopian visions and share their losses; narratives emerge that also reflect the complex relationship between the two countries.

Followed by a discussion with Martina Priessner ( documentary filmmaker), Sabine Stallbaum (AWO Bielefeld District Association) and Alla Korol ( AWO Bielefeld District Association). 

Martina Priessner is a filmmaker and writer based in Berlin. Her documentaries explore migration policies, racism and the struggle against forgetting, and have premiered at events including the Berlinale and DOK Leipzig. For her work, she has received the Panorama Audience Award, the Amnesty Film Award, the Goethe-Institut Documentary Film Award and the Roman Brodmann Prize.

Sabine Stallbaum has been working for the AWO Bielefeld District Association e.V. for 30 years, supporting adult migrants with German language learning and integration. Her work focuses on vocational German/German in the workplace and integration management in businesses, organisations and companies. Since 2011, she has been working on projects within the ‘Integration through Qualification’ (IQ) funding programme. She currently heads the ‘Klartext im Betrieb’ project, which offers programmes centred on the themes of ‘Personal values and corporate values / dialogue on values’ and ‘Critical media literacy’.

Alla Korol has been working in the field of German language support for adult immigrants since 2008. After completing her degrees in Belarus and Germany in German Studies and German as a Foreign Language, she worked as a freelance lecturer and trainer in the areas of work-related language support, literacy and language awareness. She has been involved in the “Integration through Qualification” (IQ) support programme since 2013. She is currently working as a project officer on the ‘Klartext im Betrieb’ project at the AWO Kreisverband Bielefeld e.V. There, she is responsible for planning and implementing needs-based measures such as awareness-raising events and workshops on topics including dialogue on values and critical media literacy.

650 Words (film, 2015, 46 minutes)

Following the event, Café Historias invites you to continue the discussion in a cosy atmosphere.

The event is part of the series ‘Language Rights – Democracy – Human Rights’

Languages form the basis for understanding and participation. However, they can also be exploited for the opposite purpose: for exclusion and as an instrument of power. This series of events aims to raise awareness that human rights and democracy are also based on the acceptance and respect of all people, with all their languages. The following questions run as a common thread through the events:

• What role does the way we deal with languages play in the development of our democracy?
• What is the state of linguistic justice, particularly in the education system, and how should language rights be structured within it?
• How can we help shape our society to be multilingual?

The final event in the series will take place on 15 October 2026.

An event organised by the Fritz Bauer Forum