The award-winners at the 40th FILMFEST MÜNCHEN

As the 40th FILMFEST MÜNCHEN concludes this Saturday (July 1, 2023), it’s able to look back on quite an accomplishment. Some 58,000 people attended the opening evening and the eight days of the festival, which saw approximately 500 film screenings and festival events. This is proof that people are once again enjoying going to the movies and talking about them. 

“What a splendid farewell with wonderful guests from all over the world!” is how outgoing festival director Diana Iljine summed it up. “In particular, the collaborations with numerous other cultural institutions such as Museum Brandhorst and the Literaturhaus are among the many keys to success.” 

Audiences greatly appreciated the selection of films and the many opportunities to talk to the filmmakers, whether in the movie theaters or at the numerous panel discussions and workshops held at the festival center. The industry had many opportunities to network, not least at the second CineCoPro conference, which is all about international co-production and which continues to be expanded. 

“All the new elements were wonderfully received by the audience and the industry: lots of cheers for world premieres that now include international films, networking at the Beergarden Convention, contemplation at the AI pavilion, and celebrations throughout Munich,” enthused Christoph Gröner, artistic director and designated director of the festival. “We’re really going back to our roots: a film festival that emphasizes both the film and the festival aspects, that is accessible, inspiring, and for everyone who loves film.” 

The highlight of the last day of the festival was the presentation of the awards in the four competitions (CineMasters, CineVision, CineRebels, and CineKindl), the FIPRESCI Prize, and the two Audience Awards. The German Cinema New Talent Awards were presented on Friday evening. All award-winning films will be screened again in the festival theaters on Saturday afternoon and evening along with other films. 

This summer, FILMFEST MÜNCHEN will be hosting further anniversary events involving outstanding films and distinguished guests which will be easy for the general public to attend, before returning in the fall with FILMSCHOOLFEST MUNICH and an industry conference. 

THE 2023 AWARD-WINNERS AT A GLANCE:  

ARRI Award for the best international film: “Four Daughters” by Kaouther Ben Hania 

CineVision Award for best international newcomer film: “The Buriti Flower” by João Salaviza and Renée Nader Messora    

CineRebels Award for “Omen” by Baloji  

FIPRESCI-Prize for “Fossil” by Hennning Backhoff 
 
CineKindl Award for “Nelly Rapp – The Dark Forest” by Johan Rosell   

Bayern 2 and SZ Audience Award for “Fallen Leaves” by Aki Kaurismäki  

KINDERFILMFEST Audience Award for “Pumuckl’s New Adventures” by Marcus H. Rosenmüller  

One Future Prize for “Dry” by Paolo Virzì 

Fritz Gerlich Prize for “Unruly” by Malou Reymann 

German Cinema New Talent Award for “More Than Strangers” by Sylvie Michel 

ARRI AWARD The film “Four Daughters” by Kaouther Ben Hania was honored with the ARRI Award for best international film. “The jury chose the film ‘Les filles d’Olfa’ (‘Four Daughters’) by Kaouther Ben Hania because this film stands out on many levels. It tells the moving story of Olfa, a single mother raising four daughters in Tunisia at the turn of the millennium. In the process, the women recall and recreate their narratives, opening up a panorama of a society in transition and only rarely have we seen such unsparing honesty in a film such as this one. It is the courage of the protagonists to confide in this filmmaker. And it is the courage of the filmmaker to tell this moving and complex story in her very own way. This is a film within a film that makes the horrors of the past bearable only through their abstraction. At the same time, however, through its form and commitment, ‘Four Daughters’ also radiates hope, warmth, and humanity. The jury unanimously chose this film.” the jury stated. 

This year, the jury for the ARRI Award was comprised of director Doris Dörrie, director İlker Çatak, and Sundance Film Festival program director Kim Yutani. The latest films by 12 renowned international directors competed for the ARRI Award for best international film in the CineMasters section. This 50,000-euro award is sponsored by ARRI, which is headquartered in Munich. 

CINEVISION AWARD 

The CineVision Award for best international newcomer film went to “The Buriti Flower” by João Salaviza and Renée Nader Messora. The jury explained its decision as follows: “We, the CineVision jury — which we’ve referred to internally as the jury for the best birth, because in nearly half of the films, we watched new life begin — would like to thank the festival and the curators for a selection that confronts the current state of the world and succeeds in familiarizing us with different societies and points of view through a variety of content and aesthetics. The films we had the privilege of watching made us angry and sad, they moved us, made us empathize and connected us with the stories that were told in different ways. The quality and complexity of the films selected mean that our decision is in no way a decision against any film, but rather for a film.” 

“The film ‘The Buriti Flower’ by João Salaviza and Renée Nader Messora shows us the paradise of a community in which nature and humans live in harmony. It opens up a space for fundamental questions of our time, which are portrayed in an aesthetically and politically visionary way. In choosing a fictional-documentary narrative style, the directors have succeeded in finding a respectful and poetic approach to depicting the everyday life, history, and present situation of the indigenous Krahô people. The continuous oppression and capitalism’s unyielding grip on resources and living space find expression here, as does the portrayal of the community’s coexistence. The directors’ intensive work with the Krahô, which extended over a long period of time, becomes evident in an aesthetically and emotionally moving way in the sensitive and close encounters with the people of the community and the history of the village. This is a sensual and physical cinematic experience that resonates for a long time.” 

The CineVision Award, worth 15,000 euros, is sponsored by MPLC Deutschland GmbH (Motion Picture Licensing Company). Competing in the CineVision section were 12 first and second films by talented international directors whose cinematic style is breaking new ground. 

The jurors presenting the 2023 award were actress Luisa-Céline Gaffron, director Andreas Kleinert, and Museum Brandhorst Head Curator Monika Bayer-Wermuth. 

CINEREBELS AWARD 

The CineRebels Award went to “Omen” by Baloji. This award honors particularly rebellious filmmaking — those works of international cinema that dare to break the mold. In the competition in the CineRebels series, ten films competed for the 10,000-euro prize sponsored by the festival’s main partner, AUDI. 

Regarding the competition and the winning film, the jury said: “‘Omen’ is the film that at some point each of us referred to as a masterpiece. As a first-time director, Baloji blew us away with his originality, his endless inventiveness, his life-affirming humor, and the lyrical power of his imagery. Barraging us with one astonishing scene after another, he has created a vivid experience that is both a portrait of a highly dysfunctional family, torn between traditional religious values and the modern world, and a declaration of love to his native Congo. The subject matter may be tough and challenging, but he manages to deliver it all as a superb piece of entertainment that surprises us at every turn. The stunning locations and the flawless art direction and costumes (the latter designed by the director himself), as well as an intermittent explosion of queer aesthetics, all contribute to the telling of a story that can be universally appreciated.” 

This year’s jury was comprised of actress Anne Ratte-Polle, director Axel Ranisch, and artist and director Bruce LaBruce.   

FIPRESCI PRIZE 

The FIPRESCI critics’ jury awarded the prize to “Fossil”, directed by Henning Beckhoff, “for his remarkable ability to mix social incisiveness — connecting the issues of working-class labor, generational family conflicts and environmental activism — with wry situational and visual humor and a satirical yet empathetic perspective. This film depicts a prickly and at times unlikeable protagonist with great tenderness and surprising intimacy. The director’s use of the post-industrial landscape of the mining region is unique yet universal.” 

CINEKINDL AWARD 

“Nelly Rapp – The Dark Forest” by Johan Rosell received the CineKindl Award for best film at KINDERFILMFEST MÜNCHEN 2023. This award comes with €2,500 in prize money and is sponsored by megaherz, a production company for children’s films and programs for nearly 40 years, whose mission is to captivate, inform, and educate adolescent viewers. 

“This film delighted the children as well as us adults on many levels. It relates the grand adventure of monster agent Nelly Rapp in a very exciting, funny, and touching way. In doing so, it portrays all of its characters entertainingly and at all times authentically. This film appreciates that children are a sophisticated audience, and as a side effect of this, it appeals to all ages. The terrific interaction between Johan Rosell’s directing and all the other crafts of filmmaking immerses the audience in Nelly’s world and gives us an inspiring cinematic experience,” said the jury. 

Axel Danielson and Maximilien Van Aertryck‘s documentary “And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine” received an honorable mention: “It is very important to us to highlight this film. Instead of grasping the subject only on a theoretical level, it allows us to experience the power of images firsthand.” 

The CineKindl jury was comprised of director Joya Thome, cinematographer Philip Henze, and producer Maite Woköck. 

AUDIENCE AWARDS The final day of the festival saw the presentation of the audience awards. The Bayern 2 and SZ Audience Award went to the film “Fallen Leaves” by Aki Kaurismäki. The Kinderfilmfest Audience Award went to “Pumuckl’s New Adventures“ by Marcus H. Rosenmüller.  

ONE FUTURE PRIZE 

The One Future Prize, awarded by the Interfilm Academy, went this year to the Italian film “Dry” by Paolo Virzi. Honorable mention was given to “Black Box” by Aslı Özge and to “War and Justice” by Marcus Vetter and Michele Gentile. The 2023 One Future Honorary Award was presented to Michael Verhoeven for his lifetime achievement and his tireless commitment to social issues. 

FRITZ GERLICH PRIZE 

This year’s Fritz Gerlich Prize was awarded to “Unruly” by Malou Reymann. You’ll find the jury’s statement here. 

GERMAN CINEMA NEW TALENT AWARD 

On Friday, talented German newcomers were honored with the coveted German Cinema New Talent Award. The jury — consisting of actress Friedrich Mücke, director and actress Sheri Hagen, and director Sophie Linnenbaum — honored Sylvie Michel as best director for her film “More Than Strangers”. Uschi Feldges grabbed the award in the category of best producer for her drama “Empty Nets”. Merle Grimme earned the award in the category of best screenplay for “Clashing Differences” as well as participation in the Bavaria Fiction mentoring program, which is now in its second round. Dor Aloni was presented the award for best acting performance for his role in the film “Salty Water”. 

PHOTOS OF THE AWARD CEREMONY WILL BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY.