CORRUPTION ON EARTH Wins GERMAN SHORT FILM COMPETITION \/\/ LOVE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT is Best International Short Film \/\/ LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT Wins the Main Award at exground youth days \/\/ Audience Award DAS BRETT in the MADE IN GERMANY Section Goes to LASVEGAS<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This past Sunday evening, in the scope of a festive awards ceremony, the winners of the competitions at exground filmfest 36 <\/strong>were announced. Following the final tallying of the audience voting, the awards ceremony kicked off at Caligari FilmB\u00fchne with film guests, jury members and awards presenters in attendance. In total, exground filmfest awarded cash and non-cash prizes valued at nearly 20,000 euros<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n German Short Film Competition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This year’s first prize in the German Short Film Competition, selected by the audience, went to CORRUPTION ON EARTH<\/strong> by Omid Mirnour, who also took home the jury prize of EUR 1,500 for “One day of colour grading for a short film project” from Magenta TV Fernsehproduktionsgesellschaft. The award is endowed with prize money in the amount of 3,000 euros, sponsored by the State Capital of Wiesbaden. Second place, endowed with 2,000 euros by by Magenta TV Fernsehproduktionsgesellschaft, went to FIFTEEN MINUTES<\/strong> by Sejad Ademaj, while third prize, also endowed with 1,000 euros in prize money by the State Capital of Wiesbaden, went to GRANICA <\/strong>by Joshua Neubert. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Omid Mirnour, director of CORRUPTION ON EARTH<\/p>\n\n\n\n Feature Film Competition for DAS BRETT in the MADE IN GERMANY Section<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the feature film competition MADE IN GERMANY, the audience selected LASVEGAS<\/strong> by Kolja Malik to receive DAS BRETT <\/strong>and 3,000 euros in prize money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n International Short Film Competition <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the International Short Film Competition, the International Jury selected LOVE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT<\/strong> by Yotam Knispel from Israel as the winning film. The prize money in the amount of 2,000 euros is sponsored by the exground Circle of Friends. Jury members Maria Weyer, Roberto Doveris and Martin Scheuring explained their choice with the following words:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The film manages beautifully to get the audience intrigued with the story so deeply through a very well-built script. As we get involved with the main character, we keep trying to figure out what is going on in this journey of moral tension between love and social responsibility. The film exhibits such a well-crafted mise-en-sc\u00e8ne, the ensemble cast ends up being very good, every level is convincing. We celebrate the many layers of meaning and options for reading the film, which leaves us with a film that is very open for discussion. It sticks with you a long time after watching it.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yotam Knispel, director of LOVE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT<\/p>\n\n\n\n The jury commented on their Special Mention for WHERE I LIVE <\/strong>by Susi Jirkuff from Austria with the following statement: “The Special Mention goes to WHERE I LIVE (WO ICH WOHNE) by Susi Jirkuff, a film that portrays a very relatable experience of fear, suddenly becoming real. It takes you on a very unconventional journey, through rough animation, that becomes stronger and stronger, and catches your attention with a very sober, kind of neutral and calm voice in the first-person. This surreal kind of fairy tale shows innovatively that there is no way out of the downward social spiral where there are no happy endings.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n exground youth days \u2013 International Youth Film Competition <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Youth Jury in the International Youth Film Competition<\/strong> gave this year’s Award for best Feature Film to LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT<\/strong> by Finnish director Inari Niemi:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The film manages to relate the typical themes of coming-of-age genres, like first true love, loss and problems within the family, in an original and innovative way. This is especially evident in the Chernobyl symbolism, the haunting soundtrack and the nostalgic flashbacks.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The use of lighting is also brilliant. Scenes where one would rather look away are illuminated in glistening bright light. The way the most emotional scenes unfold mesmerises the viewer visually. It is this masterful treatment of the themes of trauma and abuse as well as the magnificent actors that make this film an absolute ‘must-watch’ for us.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The winning film of this year’s short film competition in the scope of exground youth days is BEFORE MADRID<\/strong> by Il\u00e9n Juambeltz and Nicol\u00e1s Botana from Uruguay, in which a young couple prepares together for their first time. “Thanks to the realistic execution here, this subject is neither demonised nor glorified \u2013 as is so often the case \u2013 but is instead depicted as a natural step in the life paths of young individuals.<\/em> The film also managed to win the jury over with its excellent performances from the two protagonists, which portray insecurity and anticipation wonderfully.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In an age in which cinema and television frequently treat sex as taboo or matter-of fact, there is an urgent need \u2013 especially for young people \u2013 for films such as this one, which removes the pressure and provides a realistic representation.” <\/em>The award is endowed with 500 euros in prize money, sponsored by Wiesbadener Kinofestival e. V..<\/p>\n\n\n\n Juuli Niemi, scriptwriter of LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT<\/p>\n\n\n\n The jury also awarded a Special Mention to the animated short film IT\u2019S NICE IN HERE<\/strong> by Robert-Jonathan Koeyers from the Netherlands, for taking up the relevant topics of police violence and racism and portraying them in a multi-faceted manner through alternating animation styles that underscore the different perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Audience Award<\/strong> in the scope of exground youth days went, in a tie, to EDGE OF EVERYTHING<\/strong> by Sophia Sabella and Pablo Feldman from the USA and LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT<\/strong> by Inari Niemi from Finland. Both winning films will receive prize money in the amount of 500 euros, sponsored by the State Capital of Wiesbaden. In the Wiesbaden Youth Film Competition, <\/strong>Hendrik Sch\u00fccke<\/strong> came out on top with his short fiction-film EMILY<\/strong>. First place comes with 500 euros in prize money, sponsored by Wiesbadener Kinofestival e. V.. SNACKNAPPING<\/strong> by “Die Bananenbrote” took second place; the team took home a shopping voucher from the Apple Store ergo sum worth 150 euros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Klappe 7 \u2013 Children’s Film Festival<\/strong> Wiesbaden Special \u2013 Short Film Competition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the audience competition for best Wiesbaden short film, KT197 \u2013 EINE HEIMAT, EIN STADTTEIL, EIN KLARENTHAL<\/strong> by Lenard L\u00fcdemann came out on top. The prize money in the amount of 500 euros is sponsored by Wiesbadener Kinofestival e. V. A non-cash prize worth 1,000 euros from LiveFrame Rental, consisting of lighting and dolly equipment, went to Moritz G\u00f6bel for his short fiction-film KOPF IN DEN WOLKEN<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n exground Gong Show<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the scope of the cult-classic competition for trashy treasures and amateur works, suiraM and kirtaP were honoured for their film DIE DUNKELHEIT HINTER DEN PIXELN<\/strong> \u2013 the two took home the “Golden exground Cucumber” and the accompanying 50\u20ac cash prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n exground filmfest would like to thank all of its supporters and co-operation partners<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014\u2014\u2013 END OF PRESS RELEASE<\/p>\n\n\n\n \/\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n Press Release \u2013 23 November 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n Captivating film talks on works from all over the world, personal encounters between international filmmakers and the festival audience, the exground Gong Show, TALES FROM THE CRYPT: SALON EXOTIQUE<\/strong> and THE RETURN OF VIEWER\u2019S DIGEST<\/strong>, as well as a reading in co-operation with Amnesty International Wiesbaden inside the Marktkirche crypt: the first half of exground filmfest has already demonstrated very clearly just how important and beloved the festival is. The happenings on site at the festival’s various venues are characterised by inspiring moments in the cinema, experiencing film within a community and cultural exchange based on mutual interest and respect. In short: the best possible conditions for the slogan of this year’s festival trailer to take root and blossom: SEE AND LISTEN<\/strong> by Martin Gessner<\/strong> \u2013 beyond all national (or any other) boundaries. In general, once can observe that the trailer has resonated especially deeply and widely this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, after six successful festival days, exground filmfest is approaching the finish line \u00ad\u2013 and the second festival weekend<\/strong> has a host of special highlights and guests in store for the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Focus on Chile: Films and Panel Discussion<\/strong> The program for Saturday, November 25, features further highlights from the section: including OUTSIDER GIRLS <\/strong>by Alexandra Hyland<\/strong>, who will attend the screening along with producers Selva Gonzalez <\/strong>and Alberto Doveris<\/strong>. Weeks after a sweet night of partying, Rafaela realises that she is pregnant. Since a child is the last thing that she can imagine in her current life and abortion is still illegal under most circumstances in Chile, Rafaela and her BFF have to search around for pills on the black market. To be able to afford them, they take on countless odd jobs, as their friendship is put to the test. Film guests for the supporting film MANO SECA<\/strong> are also expected to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Saturday also features five challenging works that get under one’s skin in the short film program SHORTS FROM CHILE<\/strong>. Characterised by vibrant formal experimentation and great enthusiasm for visual poetry and the aesthetic potential of various materials (including VHS, Super 8 and 16 mm), these films devote themselves to complex subject matter, such as family memories, motherhood, gender attributions, violence and death. In the scope of the PANEL: CHILEAN CINEMA OF TODAY “Chile despert\u00f3! \u2013 Chile has awoken!”<\/strong>, Focus curator Amos Borchert<\/strong> will speak with guests about current issues and aesthetic choices \u2013 as well as the interplay between filmmaking and social changes in light of the contemporary challenges facing Chilean society. Participants include Roberto Doveris <\/strong>(producer and filmmaker), Alexandra Hyland<\/strong> (director of OUTSIDER GIRLS), Felipe Huenchu\u00f1ir<\/strong> (director of THE FALLEN) alongside other guests to be announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n International Short Film Competition \u2013 Part II, German Short Film Competition with Awards Ceremony and Concert<\/strong> For the 22nd <\/sup>time, exground filmfest is presenting the International Short Film Competition<\/strong>, for which many guests have again undertaken the journey to Wiesbaden this year. 16 films from 16 countries are vying here for the Jury Award, which is endowed with 2,000 euros in prize money, sponsored by the exground Circle of Friends. The second part will be presented in the evening on Friday, 24 November<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This year, exground filmfest has once again selected ten films for the German Short Film Competition<\/strong>. The section features a colourful mix of fiction films, documentaries and animated works. Here too the majority of the directors have shared their intention to attend, meaning the audience will have an opportunity to get to know the filmmakers during conversations after their respective films or over a drink following the awards ceremony. For the festive after-ceremony party, the Chilean band BADECIMA<\/strong> will be performing inside the movie theatre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MADE IN GERMANY with Feature-Film Debuts<\/strong> FOSSIL<\/strong>, directed by Henning Beckhoff<\/strong>, treats contemporary questions related to climate change and activism. Open-cast mine worker Michael stubbornly refuses to accept the pending phase-out of coal. He doesn’t want to see any change, no new flowering artificial lake-country landscapes. For Michael, work in the strip-mine is more than just a profession, which is why he tries to convince his colleagues to protest the rapid change, leading to a spiral of increasing isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The protagonist of Behrooz Karamizade’s <\/strong>first fiction feature EMPTY NETS<\/strong>, Amir, also falls victim to a sort of isolation. Amir loves Narges, and Narges loves him back. The two dream of building a life together \u2013 alas, when Amir loses his job, the possibility of marriage seems to recede into the distance, due to a high bride price. In the hopes of being able to transcend class differences through hard work, Amir hires on with a fishery on the raw coast of the Caspian Sea, where he quickly becomes entangled in criminal machinations related to illegal caviar poaching. Things start to spiral dangerously out of control for Amir, threatening to devour his dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n exground filmfest would like to thank all of its supporters and co-operation partners<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014\u2014\u2013 END OF PRESS RELEASE<\/p>\n\n\n\n \/\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n Press Release \u2013 20 November 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This past weekend, exground filmfest opened with festivities in Wiesbaden: with a slew of special local and international guests in attendance, the festival kicked off its 36th <\/sup>edition on 17 November with a screening of the Chilean film 1976 <\/strong>by Manuela Martelli<\/strong> to a sold-out crowd in Caligari FilmB\u00fchne, with the Consul General of the Republic of Chile, Francisco Mackenney Palamara, also in attendance. On behalf of the assembled filmmakers and artists, curatorial and organisational team member Andrea Wink<\/strong> welcomed the director of the opening film.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, in the scope of her opening speech Wink thanked all of the festival’s stakeholders for their support and expressed her relief at the fact that cuts to the city of Wiesbaden’s cultural budget have been postponed for the time being, emphasizing that the potential cuts represent an existential threat to the realisation of the next festival edition. Wink called on city council members to continue to preserve Wiesbaden’s diverse cultural scene, in regards to current budget consultations for 2025 as well. Hessian State Secretary for Higher Education, Research and the Arts Ayse Asar, representing the state government, also touched on the issue in her address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the introduction to her film, Manuela Martelli revealed to the audience the question that had already occupied her while writing the screenplay \u2013 namely, how one can continue to lead one’s normal life while horrific things are happening right before one’s own front door, in clear reference to the current state of the world. A subsequent talk moderated by Focus curator Amos Borchert examined the film’s many different facets. 1976<\/strong> left attendees with plenty to talk about following the official opening and the reception at City Hall with City Councillor for Cultural Affairs Dr. Hendrik Schmehl and Mayor Gert-Uwe Mende.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Karin Wolff, Managing Director of Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain, stated that she was particularly excited about the Country Focus on Chile due to the fact that works of cinema from the distant land hardly ever gain the attention of a broader audience otherwise and that exground filmfest this year also proves the vital importance of artistically examining the socio-political challenges of the present moment, 50 years after the end of military dictatorship in Chile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the opening, City Councillor for Cultural Affairs Dr. Hendrik Schmehl recommended the films of the exground youth days<\/strong>‘ program, which are still screening through Wednesday, 22 November, and which the Youth Jury will review critically over the coming days, before selecting a winning film from the entries to the International Youth Film Competition. The youth days <\/strong>celebrated their own opening this past Saturday, together with a very animated and enthusiastic young audience from Wiesbaden and the surrounding area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First Winners Announced in Wiesbaden Competitions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While the Youth Jury is still busy with their discussions and consultations, the first winners at exground filmfest have already been honoured. The youth days<\/strong> opening was also accompanied by the Wiesbaden Youth Film Competition screening: Hendrik Sch\u00fccke<\/strong> won the main award (featuring a cash prize of 500\u20ac sponsored by Wiesbadener Kinofestival e. V.) for his short fiction-feature EMILY<\/strong>. The members of the group “Die Bananenbrote” took second place with their film SNACKNAPPING, for which they received a 150\u20ac voucher from the Apple Store ergo sum. Moritz G\u00f6bel <\/strong>was also honoured with an award on the opening weekend, for his film KOPF IN DEN WOLKEN<\/strong> \u2013 G\u00f6bel took home a prize package for lighting and dolly equipment valued at 1,000\u20ac, sponsored by the Wiesbaden-based company LiveFrame Rental, in the scope of the Wiesbaden Special \u2013 Short Film Competition. The audience award, endowed with 500 euros in prize money by Wiesbadener Kinofestival e. V., went to KT197 \u2013 EINE HEIMAT, EIN STADTEIL, EIN KLARENTHAL <\/strong>by Lennard L\u00fcdemann<\/strong> \u2013 and that, as Andrea Wink put it at the awards presentation, “in the hood” with a movie theatre full of Klarenthalers, no less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wiesbaden Welcomes a Range of Filmmakers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After director Kolja Malik<\/strong> already presented his film LASVEGAS<\/strong> personally to the Wiesbaden cinema audience in the MADE IN GERMANY<\/strong> section on Saturday, the coming days offer festival attendees a number of other special German-language film highlights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Wednesday, 22 November, director Aylin Tezel<\/strong> will be in Wiesbaden for a screening of her debut film FALLING INTO PLACE<\/strong>. In her address on Friday, Anna Schoeppe, Managing Director of Hessen Film und Medien GmbH, emphasised the section in particular, including the international-award-winning drama EMPTY NETS<\/strong>, directed by Behrooz Karamizade, who is expected to be on hand to present his film personally on Saturday, 25 November. Director Janin Halisch<\/strong> will also attend the screening of her film TALK TO ME<\/strong> on Tuesday, 21 November, and is looking forward to conversations with the exground audience. The exground audience can also look forward to the screening of TERRESTRIAL VERSES<\/strong> by renowned directorial duo Ali Asgari<\/strong> and Alireza Khatami<\/strong> in the WORLD CINEMA <\/strong>section on Tuesday, 21 November. In the youth days<\/strong> program, co-directors Sophia Sabella<\/strong> and Pablo Feldman<\/strong> are excited to field audience questions on their family drama EDGE OF EVERYTHING<\/strong> on Wednesday, 22 November. The highlights for Wednesday, 22 November, also include the German premiere of DRUGSTORE JUNE<\/strong> in the AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS <\/strong>section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/exground.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Fotowand_3-1-1024x681.jpg\")
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exground youth days \u2013 Wiesbaden Youth Film Competition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the scope of exground filmfest 36, Klappe 7 \u2013 Children’s Film Festival<\/strong> also took place once again. The short fiction-film MKW \u2013 DIE MUTIGSTEN KINDER DER WELT<\/strong> by the BGS Ursula-W\u00f6lfel-Schule emerged as the winner here. GIRLS & BOYS by the BGS Gustav-Stresemann-Schule won the Audience Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Press contact:
Wiesbadener Kinofestival e. V.
exground filmfest
Marta Moneva-Enchev
presse@exground.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Second Festival Weekend is Upon Us! Featuring the Country Focus on Chile, Highlights from the World of German Cinema, the International Short Film Competition and Numerous Special Guest Appearances in Wiesbaden<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several of the films from the Country Focus on Chile have already been screened in the presence of numerous film guests, such as MEETING POINT<\/strong> by Roberto Baeza<\/strong>, whose producer and cast member Alfredo Garc\u00eda<\/strong> spoke about the very moving making of the film in the scope of a film talk. The film’s producers share a unique bond through the fates of their fathers, who met inside the torture centre Villa Grimaldi following their imprisonment under the military dictatorship \u2013 one survived while the other “disappeared”. This significant and weighty work of collective remembrance was shown on screen in the Marktkirche crypt to an appreciative audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/exground.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/OUTSIDER_GIRLS_2_fokus.jpg\")
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In addition, two short film sections will be featured on Friday, 24 November,<\/strong> and Sunday, 26 November: <\/strong>the International Short Film Competition \u2013 Part II<\/strong> and the German Short Film Competition<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/exground.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/VOICE_ACTIVATED.jpg\")
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In the MADE IN GERMANY<\/strong> section, on Saturday, 25 November<\/strong>, directors Henning Beckhoff (<\/strong>with FOSSIL<\/strong>, 2023) and Behrooz Karamizade (<\/strong>with EMPTY NETS<\/strong>, 2023) will be making guest appearances in Wiesbaden. Although both are debut films, the two works have already created quite a stir at various large international festivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/exground.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/FOSSIL_1_made_in_germany.jpg\")
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Press contact:
Wiesbadener Kinofestival e. V.
exground filmfest
Marta Moneva-Enchev
presse@exground.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n
36th<\/sup> Edition of exground filmfest Opens with Numerous International Guests<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/exground.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Exground-36-Freitag-17.11.2023-129-1-1024x683.jpg\")
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