Köln 75

Opens Friday, October 17, 2025

Special Events

  • Fri Oct 17 : 

    Q&A with Vera Brandes, Mala Emde, Michael Chernus and dir. Ido Fluk after the screening at 6:45

    Buy Tickets
  • Sat Oct 18 : 

    Q&A with Vera Brandes, Mala Emde, and dir. Ido Fluk after the screening at 6:45

    Buy Tickets

SHOWTIMES AT IFC CENTER

Friday, October 17 at 6:45: Q&A with Vera Brandes, stars Mala Emde and Michael Chernus and director Ido Fluk

Saturday, October 18 at 6:45: Q&A with Vera Brandes, star Mala Emde and director Ido Fluk

Keith Jarrett’s legendary performance in January 1975 nearly didn’t happen. Based on a true story, KÖLN 75 follows how the concert was conceived and orchestrated by the efforts of a teenage up and coming concert promoter, Vera Brandes, (played by German actress Mala Emde). Her enthusiasm set her to multitasking – from organizing the concert venue (the Cologne Opera House), promoting the event, and selling the tickets, to convincing Jarrett to perform when he almost dropped out when 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 Mala Emde’s joyful portrayal of the enthusiastic and unstoppable Vera. KÖLN 75 captures the compelling, entertaining and, until now, unknown back story about Jarrett’s one-hour, entirely improvised concert, which became the best-selling solo album in jazz history.


In association with Kino Lorber.


Official selection: Berlin Film Festival

  • Country Germany, Poland, Belgium
  • Language English and German with Engish subtitles
  • Running Time 112 minutes
  • Format DCP
  • Distributor Zeitgeist Films
  • Director Ido Fluk
  • Cast Mala Emde, John Magaro, Michael Chernus
  • Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.