The cinema trailer was presented, the nominees for the "German Independence Award - Best German Film" announced and infos about first film highlights were disclosed

Festival director Torsten Neumann presented the new festival trailer at the annual press conference at the CinemaxX film theatre in Oldenburg. The trailer can be seen nationwide in more than 40 cinemas starting Thursday August 20th. Directed by Thomas Stiller and starring Axel Prahl, Katy Karrenbauer and Jamie Zoe May the trailer can also be viewed on the festival's website.

The other big news was the announcement of the nominees for the "German Independence Award - Best German Film". The price money of the award will be split this year with part of the 8000 Euro going to the director and the other part going to a German distributor. The same price spilt will be applied to the winner of the "German Independence Award - Audience Award". The festival sponsor EWE doubled the winning money to 4000 Euro this year.

The nominees for the "German Independence Award - Best German Film" are:

Die Liebe der Kinder (The Love of the Children): Director Franz Müller casts a look into the everyday struggles of modern patchwork families. Single parents Maren and Robert find some intimacy but at the same time their kids discover first love.

Distanz (Distance): Thomas Sieben's oppressive psycho drama sees Ken Duken slip into the role of a thoroughly insecure person with a tendency for violent outbursts. Can he change through the unconditional love of a woman? Franziska Weisz plays Duken's counterpart. She is known from earlier works like "Hundstage" or "Hotel".

Liebeslied (Lovesong): Anne Høegh Krohn's family drama is a tragic affair which she presents as a contemporary musical. Powerful and breathtaking are Jan Plewka's and Nicolette Krebitz' sining parts, casting chills down the audience's spine as they put all of their sorrows into song.

21:37: Director Michal Ostatkiewicz graduated with this film and presents it as a world premier in Oldenburg. He sketches the portrait of a young woman who has to learn the hard way how to take responsibility for her own life. Shooting star Jana Klinge gives a convincing performance.

Must Love Death: Romantic Comedy meets torture horror: Oldenburg born director and writer Andreas Schaap uses the slightly off-kilter Norman to merge these two opposing genres.

More than 700 film entries in 2009 mark a new record interest for the Oldenburg festival. Torsten Neumann stressed that the quality of the films entered has risen dramatically over the years. He allowed a glimpse into the coming attractions of the 16th Filmfest Oldenburg: Katja Flint will attend the festival together with director Nina Grosse to present the film "Der Verlorene Sohn" (The lost son) in the JVA cinema. The film deals with the new German fear of Islamic terror and the limits of civil society in times of panic. Xavery Zulawsky comes to Oldenburg with the sparkling and powerful "Snow White and Russian Red". The film is based on the surprise bestselling novel by 18year old Polish wunderkind Dorota Masłowska. Johnnie To's revenge thriller "Vengeance" stars French star Johnny Hallyday and is a German premier, the same goes for Marina de Van's "Don't Look Back" with Sophie Marceau and Monica Bellucci. Belgian director Pieter van Hees returns to Oldenburg presenting an absurd comedy drama with "Dirty Mind". A bloody and overwhelming critique of civilization comes from Andrew van den Houten with "Offspring" tearing at the tender fabric of our gentle society and laying bare the underlying violence and hatred. The film is an adaptation of Jack Ketchum's novel and both director and author will attend the festival.