Instagram
Film und Medien Stiftung NRWNewsPressEuropean Film Awards: four nominations for „Berlin Alexanderplatz“ and „Undine“

European Film Awards: four nominations for „Berlin Alexanderplatz“ and „Undine“

  • Nomination for new interpretation of Döblin’s „Berlin Alexanderplatz“ by Burhan Qurbani as European Film 2020 and European Screenwriter 2020
  • Nomination for the drama „Undine“ by Christian Petzold as European Film 2020 and Paula Beer as European Actress 2020
  • Virtual awards ceremony live from Berlin on 12 December

As the European Film Academy (EFA) has just announced from the Seville European Film Festival, the two Filmstiftung-backed productions „Berlin Alexanderplatz“ by Burhan Qurbani and „Undine by Christian Petzold will now be in the running in the European Film 2020 category at the 33rd European Film Awards. In addition, Paula Beer has been nominated in the European Actress 2020 category for her acting performance in „Undine“, and Burhan Qurbani and Martin Behnke in the European Screenwriter 2020 category for „Berlin Alexanderplatz“. The awards ceremony will be broadcast live from Berlin on 12 December and will not be held in Reykjavik as originally planned.

„Congratulations to Christian Petzold, Paula Beer, Burhan Qurbani and Martin Behnke as well as the producers on their nominations for the European Film Awards. ‚Berlin Alexanderplatz‘ and ‚Undine‘ had already been firm favourites with critics and audiences at many festivals and picked up various awards. The nominations are a high point in their journey since the Berlinale“, says Petra Müller, CEO of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW.

A total of 38 feature films had been in the preselection for the prestigious award. More than 3,800 EFA members will now voting on the highlights of European cinema in a total of 23 categories, including European Film 2020, European Director 2020, European Actor 2020, European Actress 2020 and European Screenwriter 2020.

 

About the films

„Berlin Alexanderplatz“
The film’s record is already a very impressive one: „Berlin Alexanderplatz“ celebrated its world premiere in this year’s International Competition of the 70th Berlin International Film Festival. It also picked up five Lolas at the German Film Awards in April, including the Film Award in Silver as Best Feature Film. Director Burhan Qurbani co-wrote the screenplay for the new interpretation of Alfred Döblin’s world-famous novel with Martin Behnke. The production by Sommerhaus Filmproduktion as a co-production with Lemming Film (NL) and in association with the broadcasters ZDF and Arte was supported by the Filmstiftung with 250,000 Euros, with additional backing coming from MBB, MFG, FFA, BKM, DFFF, and Eurimages. The cast including Welket Bungué, Albrecht Schuch, Jella Haase, Joachim Król, Anabelle Mandeng and Richard Fouofié Djimeli had also come to NRW for part of the shoot. Entertainment One Germany released „Berlin Alexanderplatz“ in the German cinemas, and Beta Cinema has been handling international sales.

 

Undine
Christian Petzold directed „Undine“ from his own screenplay, with the majority of the film’s shoot in NRW and Berlin. The cast includes Paula Beer, Jacob Matschenz and Franz Rogowski. The co-production between Schramm Film Koerner & Weber and Les Films du Losagne was made in association with the broadcasters ZDF and Arte, with Piffl Medien serving as distributor. Backing for the film came from MBB, FFA, BKM and DFFF, with the Filmstiftung providing 180,000 Euros support. Paula Beer was awarded the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 70th Berlinale. „Undine“ was also presented with this year’s FIPRESCI Critics' Prize („International Competition“) in Berlin.

The European Film Awards have been presented by the European Film Academy since 1988. More information at europeanfilmawards.eu

For more information: Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, Tanja Güß, Tel.: 0211-93050-23, tanjaguess@filmstiftung.de