The Baumi Script Development Award is entering its eighth round

• Development grant for outstanding international stories for the cinema.
• Applications until 15 October online at www.baumi-award.com
• This year’s guest juror is director Andreas Dresen

15 September, 2022 will see the launch of the open call for the Baumi Script Development Award for the development of outstanding stories for the cinema, endowed with a grant  of 20,000 Euros. Starting today, German and international authors can submit applications for the script award at www.baumi-award.com.

Initiated in 2015 by Martina and Sandra Baumgartner, Pandora Film and the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, the award aims to facilitate free and independent script development and, at the same time, honour the memory of the film producer and distributor Karl "Baumi" Baumgartner.

The prerequisite for an application is at least one filmed screenplay and submission together with a production company. An English-language synopsis (3 to max. 5 pages) must be submitted. The award consists of a prize sculpture and prize money. The prize money is earmarked for a specific purpose. The award is planned to be presented during the Berlinale 2023.

A jury consisting of the three ‚permanent‘ members of the award sponsors and an annually changing guest jury member will decide on the submissions.

This year’s guest juror is the German director Andreas Dresen, whose film „Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush“ won two Silver Bears for screenplay and leading role at the Berlinale this year. Andreas Dresen is one of the most successful German directors of recent times. His films have won numerous awards and strike a chord with cinema audiences. He did a traineeship at DEFA before 1989 and then studied directing at the Konrad Wolf Film Academy in Potsdam-Babelsberg. Since 1992 he has worked as an author and director for film, theatre and opera. In his films, Andreas Dresen skilfully combines the social and political themes of the time and the everyday reality of people. His films have received numerous national and international awards and include cinema productions such as „Halbe Treppe/ Grill Point“ (2002, Silver Bear Berlinale), „Sommer vorm Balkon/ Summer in Berlin“ (2005, San Sebastian Jury Award), „Wolke 9/ Cloud 9“ (Cannes Coup de Coeur Jury Award), „Halt auf freier Strecke/ Stopped on Track“ (2011, Cannes Un Certain Regard Award), „Gundermann“ (2018, six German Film Awards including Best Film).

Previous jury members were Ildikó Enyedi (2021), Maren Ade (2020), Małgorzata Szumowska (2019), Bent Hamer (2018), Martina Gedeck (2017) Fatih Akin (2015), Aki Kaurismäki (2016).

Syrian filmmaker Soudade Kaadan’s filming Baumi Award project „Nezouh“ from 2018 had its world premiere at this year’s Venice International Film Festival and won the Orizzonti Audience Award. Afghan filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat, who now lives in Hamburg, is also preparing her 2020 Baumi Award-winning project „Kabul Jan“ for filming.

Special thanks from the donors go to Friederike Zeit for designing and making the award sculpture, Katja Clos for creating the graphics and logo, and Fritz Erler for programming the website.

For further information:

Erna Kiefer / Katharina Müller
Pressereferentinnen
Film- und Medienstiftung NRW GmbH
Kaistr. 14
40221 Düsseldorf
0211 93050-22

www.filmstiftung.de