Oldenburg International Filmfestival awards the drama „About a girl“ and the media-satire „Pretty Persuasion“ with the German Independence Award

On Sunday evening the 12th Oldenburg International Filmfestival came to a close with the International Premiere of “The Wendell Baker Story” at the Cinemaxx cinema. The directors Luke and Andrew Wilson attended the screening, which started the festival’s Closing Night Gala. Luke Wilson is also starring as the leading character, Wendell Baker. The film is the directing debut of the Wilson brothers. It tells the story of a petty criminal who is released from prison and ends up working in a nursing-home, where he discovers financial fraud of the directors.

During the Closing Night Gala the two awards of the festival were given to the winning films. Catharina Deus was presented with the “German Independence Award - Bester Deutscher Film” by the international jury. Her film “About a girl” tells the story of a young girl (Katharina Wackernagel) in a Mecklenburg small-town, who tries to make a career in professional boxing. Director Catharina Deus received the price from jury-president Harry Kümel. The award is worth 5000 Euro and includes an invitation for “About a Girl” to the prestigious spanish Festival Internacional de Cine de Gijon.

The jury selected the film because of its production value and praised the high standards for a debut film. Catharina Deus worked extremely well with her ensemble and brought out a magnificent performance from Katharina Wackernagel, who gives “an unforgettable performance” as the jury made sure to point out.

The jury made a special mention of Till Franzen’s “A Quiet Love”. They recommended this film for its visual qualities and its intriguing narrative structure.

The audience award “German Independence Award” went to the American media-satire “Pretty Persuasion” by Marcos Siega. “Pretty Persuasion” portrays life in an American small-town, where the intrigues and manipulations of a high-school girl turn the moral order upside down. Festival director Torsten Neumann presented Marcos Siega with the 2000 Euro price. Both winners will receive the DV-editing system Avid Xpress 4.6., provided by AVID TECHNOLOGY.