Experience the transcendent power of improvised music for a special VIFF Live concert and film screening. Renowned Vancouver pianist Chris Gestrin performs a solo set of Keith Jarrett–inspired music to accompany this special event screening of Köln 75 — a film that captures the compelling, entertaining, and, until now, unknown back story of jazz pianist Keith Jarrett’s one-hour, entirely improvised concert, which became the best-selling solo album in jazz history.
Chris Gestrin is a stalwart of Vancouver’s jazz scene — a renowned pianist, multi-keyboardist, composer, engineer, and producer who has worked on over 500 albums covering a wide range of musical styles. From avant garde electronic improvisations to greasy soul organ music, introspective piano jazz to top-of-the-charts pop, rock, and hip-hop, Gestrin is in high demand for his eclectic talents and ability to bring a high level of musical inspiration to any situation.
Keith Jarrett’s legendary performance in January 1975 nearly didn’t happen. Based on a true story, Köln 75 explores how the concert was conceived and orchestrated by the efforts of an up-and-coming teenage concert promoter, Vera Brandes (played by Mala Emde). Vera’s enthusiasm led her to multitasking — from organizing the Cologne Opera House as the concert venue, to promoting the event, selling the tickets, and convincing Jarrett to perform when he almost dropped after the Bösendorfer Imperial Grand piano he was promised was nowhere to be found. John Magaro plays Jarrett with his own intensity, a sublime counterpoint to Emde’s joyful portrayal of the enthusiastic and unstoppable Vera. Köln 75 captures the compelling, entertaining, and, until now, unknown back story of Jarrett’s one-hour, entirely improvised concert, which became the best-selling solo album in jazz history.
Missed it at VIFF? Catch it at the VIFF Centre after the festival.
Co-Presented by
Media Partner
Community Partner
Ido Fluk
Chris Gestrin
Mala Emde, John Magaro, Michael Chernus, Alexander Scheer, Ulrich Tukur
Germany/Belgium/Poland
2025
In German and English with English subtitles
Coarse language, drug use, violence
Open to youth!
Book Tickets
Guest
Chris Gestrin
Since graduating with a film scoring degree from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in 1995, Vancouver native Chris Gestrin has become an integral part of the Canadian music scene. As a versatile pianist and multi-keyboardist, composer, engineer, and producer he has worked on over 500 albums, covering a wide range of musical styles. From avant garde electronic improvisations to greasy soul organ music, introspective piano jazz to top-of-the-charts pop, rock, and hip-hop, Gestrin is in high demand for his eclectic talents and ability to bring a high level of musical inspiration to any situation.
As a jazz artist, Gestrin has performed on and off the stage not only with his great Canadian colleagues, but with a who’s who of the jazz world: Gary Peacock, David ’Fat Head’ Newman, Kenny Wheeler, Jerry Granelli, Duke Robillard, to name a few. In the more mainstream music world, Chris has had the pleasure of working with a large number of prominent artists including Randy Bachman, Bryan Adams, D.O.A., Bob Rock, Paul Rodgers, Colin James, Jann Arden, Motley Crue, K-OS, Swollen Members, Jim Byrnes, Steve Dawson, Nickelback, Loudon Wainwright III, Long John Baldry, and Jeff Healey.
Credits
Executive Producer
Oren Moverman, Lillian Lasalle, Zelene Fowler, Michael Fowler, Annegret Weitkämper Krug, Paul Hudson, Talaat Captan, Rain Sharing, Tõnu Hiielaid, Barbaros Özbugutu, Julianne Hausler, Jennifer Fox, Christoph Lange
Producer
Sol Bondy, Fred Burle
Screenwriter
Ido Fluk
Cinematography
Jens Harant
Editor
Anja Siemens
Production Design
Jutta Freyer
Original Music
Hubert Walkowski, Martin Hossbach
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
How Dare You?
A bug-loving boy, a passionate classmate, and a troublemaker launch playful eco-protests against their town’s careless habits. As their missions escalate, they face real consequences in Director O’s witty, bittersweet Grand Jury Prize winner from the Toronto Japanese Film Festival.
A Sad and Beautiful World
This Lebanese love story chronicles the romance between a level-headed businesswoman and a romantic restauranteur across several decades in wartorn Beirut. It's funny, charming, melancholy and you'll feel it all.
One Last Love Letter
In 2024, Nazuna writes to the young man she secretly loved as a teenager. Her letter reaches his grieving father, revealing memories of Shinsuke, an aspiring boxer killed in the 2000 Naka-Meguro train disaster, and opening a tender exchange.
American Doctor
One of the most powerful documentaries of the year, this puts us smack in the open wound that is Gaza, filtered through the eyes of three American surgeons (of Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian backgrounds) compelled to do their utmost to alleviate harm.
Samurai Vengeance
In Edo-era Japan, a young kabuki actor’s celebrated revenge becomes legend. When a provincial samurai investigates the truth behind the vendetta, conflicting testimonies expose hidden motives and buried secrets in this atmospheric jidaigeki mystery about rumor, performance, and myth.