Strong line-up of the BIFF juries 2021
Braunschweig, 27 October 2021: Once again this year, the Braunschweig International Film Festival (BIFF) is presenting several awards to exciting cinematic actors. In order for the future winners to be chosen, top-class juries were again put together for the various film competitions. Karina Gauerhof, Head of Program Management, emphasizes: "In addition to the centerpiece, the audience award 'Der Heinrich', jury prizes are very important for our festival, as juries form an independent authority and look at the film works with a professional eye. For the filmmakers, jury prizes represent the direct feedback of colleagues from the industry." She outlines: "Jury awards also create new synergies, as the jurors network with each other but also with the nominated filmmakers and, for example, exchange contacts for new film projects."
Award-winning: Volkswagen Financial Services Award
In addition to the audience award "Der Heinrich", the festival has also been awarding one of the debut or second films the "Volkswagen Financial Services Award" since 2018. The prize money of 10,000 euros will be provided by the main sponsor Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS). This year's jury constellation will be represented by Uwe Tschischak, Head of Corporate Communications of the main sponsor. Ewa Szablowska, art historian and curator of moving images, is also part of the jury. Since 2009, she has been responsible for two series for the New Horizons International Film Festival: "The Visual Front" – a showcase for experimental cinema and cinematic works from the visual arts – and "The Third Eye" – a program that explores film and feminism intersectionally. "I am very pleased to be part of the VWFS Award jury. Above all, I am happy about the opportunity to view the large selection of films from all over Europe and to exchange ideas with others. That's what makes a film festival for me. The competitions are an essential support for the visibility of all young filmmakers, not only for the winnings." Daniel Kothenschulte, responsible for the film section in the frankfurter Rundschau's feuilleton and one of Germany's best-known film critics, is also an important part of this jury. He is also a book author, curator, university lecturer and silent film pianist.
Regional: Heimspiel Prize and Braunschweiger Film Prize
The "Heimspiel Prize" for the best film with a regional reference, awarded with 1,000 euros in prize money, is also sponsored by Volkswagen Financial Services. This year's jury consists of Sabina Kaluza, Antimo Sorgente, composer and sound designer and Prof.'in Jutta Tränkle, independent cinematographer and filmmaker. The freelance conceptual artist Sabina Kaluza has a very personal connection to the Heimspiel series: "In 1987 I left my native Poland and fled to Germany with my husband. Here I gained a foothold and found a new home for myself and my family. From the very beginning, I have accompanied the Filmfest Braunschweig, where in 2014 my feature film debut DER ERSTE TAG was shown in the home game category. I am all the more pleased that this category has now been honoured with a prize and that I can be part of the jury for the 'Heimspielpreis'. For me, 'Heimspiel' also means having arrived here a bit." The "Braunschweiger Filmpreis", combined with prize money of 5,000 euros, has been awarded since 2018 by members of the Braunschweiger Filmfreunde for the best young actor. Klaus Buhlmann, a donor with a passion for theatre and film, worked for the Braunschweiger Zeitung and the Lower Saxony police, among others. The German actress and jazz singer Jasmin Tabatabai is also part of the jury. She can also be seen in one of the leading roles in MITRA this year. Another member of the jury is the actor, author and director Tucké Royale, who is already a prizewinner himself: "It is a great pleasure for me to be able to award him as a jury member this November in the year after I received the Braunschweig Film Prize. I am looking forward to true and shared cinema experiences and wish all participants an exciting festival and toi, toi, toi."
Sustainability is a top priority: Green Horizons Award
Since 2018, the "Green Horizons Award", donated by the Oeding Print Group, ALBA Braunschweig, AGIMUS and Hoffmann Filter, has been presented for the best film in the sustainability series of the same name. This year's jury consists of Nadja Varsani, who works in the editorial office of fechnerMEDIA and realizes image films and documentaries herself. Another member of the jury is Holger Herlitschke, the head of the environmental department of the city of Braunschweig. Hauke Wendler, journalist, documentary filmmaker, producer and also part of the jury, illustrates the relevance of the award: "Awarding a prize like the Green Horizons Award is not only beautiful, it is also important. Because with prizes and awards you can push films into the focus of the public, which would otherwise have a hard time next to cinema blockbusters. That's why it's always exciting for me to be able to participate in a jury." For the cinema documentary MONOBLOC, which will also be shown at this year's BIFF, he was responsible for the areas of writing, directing and production.
Focus on women's power: TILDA
For two years now, there has been another prize that always remains up-to-date and relevant: "Die TILDA", the women's film prize endowed with 5,000 euros, which 60 donors donate to the festival. Their concern: to make filmmakers visible in all their diversity. And it is about diversity in every respect – both in terms of the genre, the way of telling and the stories told, as well as the directors themselves, because the internationally advertised directing prize is aimed at women of all origins, sexual orientation, skin color. Another important goal of the Women for Women Film Award is to encourage female directors who are at the beginning of their careers and whose works do not receive the attention they deserve. Jury member Jakobine Motz has much more in common with the award: "Tolerance, intelligence, love, assertiveness and rebellion. That's what TILDA stands for for me. An honorable and challenging task to award this prize to a colleague!". This year, she is also joined by founder Prof. Dr. Heike Klippel (HBK Braunschweig), founder Prof. Dr. Sabine Brombach (Ostfalia) and Anna Wollner, who has been working as a film and series critic for public broadcasting for over 15 years.
Young and international
Supported by jury chairman and screenwriter Gordian Maugg, six students from France and Germany will once again select the best film for the german-French youth prize "KINEMA". Above all, this is intended to promote dialogue, interest in the respective film culture and young directors from both countries. The competition is supported by the State of Lower Saxony, the German-French Youth Office, Antenne Métropole, the Normandy Region, the Pôle Image Haute-Normandie Film Foundation and the Académie de Rouen. The award ceremony of the 35th Braunschweig International Film Festival will take place this year on 6 November at 7 pm in the Great House of the Braunschweig State Theatre. Further information on the events surrounding the 35th Braunschweig International Film Festival can be found at www.filmfest-braunschweig.de. In addition, the Filmfest Braunschweig can also be found on social media: www.facebook.de/filmfestivalbraunschweig and www.instagram.com/filmfestivalbraunschweig.