THE WINNERS OF THE GERMAN CINEMA NEW TALENT AWARD

Today, on Friday, July 5 at FILMFEST MÜNCHEN, talented young filmmakers were honored with the coveted German Cinema New Talent Award. The panel of judges — comprised of Melika Foroutan, Claudia Steffen und Alfred Holighaus — honored Jan-Ole Gerster with the award for best director for his film "Lara". Martin Lischke ("Leif in Concert") received the award for best producer. Two awards went to people who worked on "I Was, I Am, I Will Be": Nils Mohl and Ilker Çatak were honored for best screenplay, while the award for best actor went to Oğulcan Arman Uslu.

The German Cinema New Talent Award is one of the most important and most generous awards for new talent in Germany. The award, worth a total of 70,000 euros, is sponsored by Bavaria Film, Bayerischer Rundfunk, and DZ Bank. All directors, screenplay authors, actors, actresses, and producers whose films are entered in the New German Cinema section of the festival are automatically nominated for the award, insofar as their entry is their first, second, or third full-length motion picture. For producers, up to their sixth film may be considered.

The award ceremony and the party that followed were held at the Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film (HFF) München.

The winners of the German Cinema New Talent Award and the jury statements:

German Cinema New Talent Award for BEST DIRECTOR (30,000 euros):

Jan-Ole Gerster for "Lara"

"For his second feature film, director Jan-Ole Gerster has dared to stray remarkably far from the world of his successful debut film 'Oh Boy' — quite literally, in fact. As is perfectly clear from the title, he tells the story of a woman who seems to stand in the way of her own success and who is thus an impediment to everyone around her. But with the help of his magnificent lead actress, Corinna Harfouch, Gerster manages to tell this story not as one of failure. Lara, you see, is not only very hard for those around her to deal with; she's also a challenge. (...) 'Lara' the film is directed with conspicuous but not intrusive attention to form; it finds powerful and original imagery, and all of its roles are well-cast. Jan-Ole Gerster needed time to make his second film. He's taken it, and this has benefited both the film and the filmmaker."

German Cinema New Talent Award for BEST ACTOR OR ACTRESS (10,000 euros):

Oğulcan Arman Uslu for "I Was, I Am, I Will Be"

"Oğulcan Arman Uslu is an actor who's truly been discovered — not because he apparently stood out at the last minute during casting, but because he's a human narrative. (...) He reveals a new physicality without intrusive machismo, his undeniable virility remains gentle, and he is believable and convincing in every phase of a story that describes genuine progress. The screenplay and directing allow this talented individual to portray a character who goes on a journey in more than one sense — climbing the ladder of success, as it were. Every stage of this journey brings Baran a step further. This is acted out very precisely — in his composed yet fascinating gestures and facial expressions as well as in his linguistic development, which is uniquely authentic. Oğulcan Arman Uslu is the future, and he has a future."

German Cinema New Talent Award for BEST SCREENPLAY (10,000 euros):

Nils Mohl and Ilker Çatak for "I Was, I Am, I Will Be"

"In this film, the spoken word has precedence, because it is chosen carefully and used precisely in the story of male protagonist Baran's linguistic progress, and because it allows the female protagonist, Marion, to assert and articulate herself clearly amid her complex emotional states and social attitudes. Following an extraordinarily clear exposition, the screenplay, sensibly divided by its dramaturgy and content into three acts, manages to avoid clichés, to surprise the viewer with clever twists, and to give every character — even those in the supporting roles — a recognizable and interesting story. (...) The screenplay is a remarkable mixture of talent and devotion, of dramaturgical sovereignty, wit, shrewdness, and diligence."

German Cinema New Talent Award for BEST PRODUCER (20,000 euros):

Martin Lischke for "Leif in Concert"

"A pub as a microcosm of a whole society is nothing new in cinema. A pub as a microcosm of a laid-back story of a multicultural society far from demagogically invoked dystopias is refreshing. By means of unusual financial support and equally unusual casting, producer Martin Lischke has given director Christian Klandt the opportunity to make this loving and impassioned nod to great human individuality and the little arts — quickly, but also convincingly and downright entertainingly. Here, every discipline seems to fit in perfectly. The camera is conspicuously inconspicuous, the editing is fantastic, the music is not only important, but rapturously good. Under what could not have been easy conditions, Martin Lischke created the framework for a genuine ensemble film — both in front of and behind the camera."