Berlinale awards ceremony: two Silver Bears for Filmstiftung-backed co-production „The Heiresses“ („Las herederas“) by Marcelo Martinessi
- Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize and Silver Bear for Ana Brun as Best Actress
- International Jury under the presidency of Tom Tykwer
- A further eight independent awards for „The Heiresses“, „Styx“ and „Retablo“
- „Drama Series Days“ with crime series "Perfume" and successful young web formats
Resounding success for the Filmstiftung-backed production „The Heiresses“ by Marcelo Martinessi: the film picked up two awards at the weekend’s awards ceremony in the Berlinale Palast. The jury under the presidency of Tom Tykwer presented the film with the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize for a feature film that opens new perspectives, and also recognised Ana Brun as Best Actress. The film had previously received the FIPRESCI Prize for the Best Film in Competition and the Teddy Mannschaft Reader’s Award.
The sensational film „Styx“ by Wolfgang Fischer with the feted lead actress Susanne Wolff also garnered four awards: the Europa Cinemas Label as Best European Film in the Panorama, the Heiner Carow Prize of the DEFA Foundation, the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and 2nd place in the Panorama Audience Award (Fiction Film). Screening in the Generation 14plus competition, „Retablo“ by Álvaro Delgado Aparicio not only won the Teddy Newcomer Award, but also received a Special Mention from the Youth Jury when it was handing out its Crystal Bears.
„What a lovely Berlinale finale for NRW! Two Silver Bears for the competition entry ,The Heiresses‘. Congratulations to the director Marcelo Martinessi, the wonderful Ana Brun and especially the producer Christoph Friedel of Cologne’s Pandora Film. And, of course, we are also happy for the cast and crews of ‚Styx' and 'Retablo' on their awards. An real vintage year for NRW at a strong Berlinale for which we extend our warmest thanks to Dieter Kosslick and his team“, says Petra Müller, CEO of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW.
The 68th Berlin International Film Festival came to a close at the weekend with the awards ceremony in the Berlinale Palast at Potsdamer Platz. The International Jury under the presidency of Tom Tykwer presented the awards for Competition films. The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW had 32 funded productions at the festival this year, including 15 films in the various sections, 17 in the Lola@Berlinale sidebar and as many as three in the Competition.
First footage of the Filmstiftung-backed, six-part series „Perfume“ (dir: Philipp Kadelbach, prod co: Constantin Film in co-production with ZDFneo) was presented during the fourth „Drama Series Days“. The producer Oliver Berben was accompanied to the screening by the author Eva Kranenburg and an all-star cast including August Diehl, Wotan Wilke Möhring, Ken Duken, Trystan Pütter, Christian Friedel, Marc Hosemann, Friederike Becht. The screenings, conferences and showcases, which were held under one roof in the Zoo Palast together with the Berlinale Series programme from 19 – 21 February, generated an enormous audience response. The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW served once again as the Official Main Partner for the European Film Market's (EFM) industry platform for high-end series during the Berlinale.
The NRW Reception of the federal state and Filmstiftung in NRW’s Representation, the presentation of the third Baumi Award, and the showcasing of NRW as a film hub at the Focus Germany stand rounded off this year’s presence at the most important German film festival.
Overview of the awards for Filmstiftung-backed productions:
„The Heiresses“ by Marcelo Martinessi:
– Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize for a feature film that opens new perspectives
– Silver Bear Best Actress for Ana Brun
– Prize of the FIPRESCI Jury
– Teddy Mannschaft Reader‘s Award
„Styx“ by Wolfgang Fischer:
– Europa Cinemas Label as Best European Film in the Panorama section
– Heiner Carow Prize of the DEFA Foundation
– Prize of the Ecumenical Jury
– 2nd place Panorama Audience Award (Fiction Film)
„Retablo“ by Alvaro Delgado Áparicio:
– Special Mention at the Crystal Bears of the Youth Jury Generation 14plus
– L’Oréal Teddy Newcomer Award
Five awards of the German Film Critics Association go to NRW films
Filmstiftung-backed productions received awards from the German Film Critics Association in five categories during the Berlinale. Martin Baltscheit’s „Nur ein Tag“ (prod co: Heimatfilm) was recognised as the Best Children’s Film, and Carolin Genreith’s „Happy“ as the Best Documentary. Angela Schanelec and Maja Tennstedt received an award for their editing of „The Dreamlike Path“ („Der traumhafte Weg“) while Reinhold Vorschneider was honoured for his camerawork on the minimalist drama. The award for Best Film Score went to Ricardo Villalobos, Sonja Moonear, ATA, Roman Flügel, David Moufang and Romuald Karmakar for „If I Think Of Germany At Night“ („Denk ich an Deutschland in der Nacht“).
German Screenplay Award goes to Visar Morina for „Exil“
The writer-director Visar Morina was presented with the 2018 German Screenplay Award for his screenplay „Exil“. The Filmstiftung NRW supported the preparation of the project. State Minister for Culture Monika Grütters had presented the Golden Lola during the reception of the Verband Deutscher Drehbuchautoren, which is held during the Berlinale each year. Sandra Hüller is to play the female lead in the film which will be produced by Komplizen Film („Toni Erdmann“) and shot predominantly in NRW. „Exil“ is Morina’s second feature film after his Filmstiftung-backed debut „Babai“.
Baumi Script Development Award goes to Syrian filmmaker Soudade Kaadan
Now in its third year, the Baumi Script Development Award went to a woman filmmaker for the first time. The French-born, Syrian writer-director Soudade Kaadan received the award for her treatment of „NEZOUH“ during the Filmstiftung NRW’s Berlinale Press Lunch. Endowed with 20,000 Euros, the Baumi Script Development Award is presented annually in memory of the producer Karl „Baumi“ Baumgartner. The jury consisting of the award’s founders Pandora Film, the Baumgartner family and the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW made its decision after considering 46 international submissions. This year’s guest juror, actress Martina Gedeck, presented the award
Details about the award-winning Filmstiftung-backed productions:
„The Heiresses“ by Marcelo Martinessi
Chela and Chiquita have been living together in Asunción, Paraguay, for more than 30 years. Both of them come from well-off families and have never had to work themselves. But the money has now all been used up and they are forced to sell parts of their inheritance. When Chiquita ends up in prison after being prosecuted for fraud, Chela also has to face the new reality. She climbs behind the wheel of their car for the first time in years and starts running an informal taxi service for rich elderly women from their neighbourhood. She meets the younger Angy on one of her trips. The two women connect in a relationship that is both invigorating and refreshing for Chela. In the end, Chela breaks out of her previously narrow world and sets off on her own little journey. „The Heiresses“ is a production of Babosa Cine (PRY), Mutante Cine (URY), Norsk Filmproduksjon (NOR) and Esquina Producoes (BRA) in co-production with Cologne-based Pandora Film with participation from ZDF/ARTE and the World Cinema Fund.
„Retablo“ by Alvaro Delgado Aparicio
„Retablo“ is the debut of the Peruvian director Alvaro Delgado Aparicio. It tells the story of the 14-year-old Segundo who lives with his parents in a village high up in the mountains of Peru. His father Noé is a respected artist and Segundo’s role model. He makes altar retables, lavishly decorated shrines for church and house altars, and introduces his son to this craft. But their close relationship starts showing cracks because Noé has a dark secret. The film looks with no mercy and in saturated colours behind the facade of seemingly intact village community where patriarchal rules and homophobic views are enforced with relentless force. The film presents a visually stunning panorama of a world where a young artist searches to find his place. The leads are taken by Magaly Solier and Amiel Cayo. „Retablo“ is a production of Dortmund-based Summerhill Lights (now Catch of the Day Films) in co-production with Siri Producciones (PER) and Dag Hoel Film (NOR). The Filmstiftung backed the postproduction with 24,500 Euros.
„Styx“ by Wolfgang Fischer
Rike, a 40-year-old doctor from Europe embodies a typical Western model of happiness and success. She is educated, confident, determined and committed. We see Rike’s everyday life as an emergency doctor in Cologne before she begins her holiday in Gibraltar. She sails out to sea alone in her sailing boat. Her goal: Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean. But her dream holiday is brought to an abrupt end when, after a storm, she finds herself on the high seas close to an overloaded stricken fishing boat. Around a hundred people are about to drown. Rike initially follows maritime law and radios for help. But when her calls for help remained unanswered, time starts running out, and rescue by third parties appears unlikely, she makes a momentous decision. Susanne Wolff and Gedion Wekesa Oduor play the leads. „Styx“ is a production by Schiwago Film in co-production with Vienna-based Amour Fou Filmproduktion and participation from the broadcasters WDR and Arte G.E.I.E.. Distribution will be handled by Zorro Film, and world sales by Beta Cinema. The Filmstiftung NRW backed the project with 500,000 Euros, with additional backing from Eurimages, the Austrian Film Institute (ÖFI), DFFF, BKM, MBB and FFA.