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The International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg will hold its 73rd edition from 7 to 17 November this year. For the first time, the IFFMH will present the Young Actors Award, a new €10,000 award for achievement in acting.

The International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg will hold its 73rd edition from 7 to 17 November this year. For the first time, the IFFMH will present the Young Actors Award, a new €10,000 award for achievement in acting. Films in all sections of the festival will be eligible, with the exception of those in the Retrospective. An international jury will honour what it considers an outstanding performance by one of three nominated young actors or actresses appearing in films screened at the festival. The prize will be conferred during the Award Ceremony on 14 November.

Festival director Sascha Keilholz says: “Our festival is about promoting emerging international filmmakers. Thus it’s only fitting that, alongside up-and-coming directors and screenwriters, we should honour performers with the new Young Actors Award starting this year. This award will give the IFFMH a further highlight, continuing the festival’s rich tradition while looking towards the future. We’re delighted to have found a strong partner from the region in cbs, the Heidelberg-based consultancy that is sponsoring the Young Actors Award. Their international outlook and commitment to quality are an excellent match for us.”

Holger Scheel, managing director of the Heidelberg consultancy sponsoring the award, says: “The IFFMH is a very distinctive film festival. It showcases the diversity of culture and cultures in an impressive way and delivers quality outside the mainstream. It focuses on originality, innovation and internationality as well as the promotion of young talent. This inspires us and aligns well with our company’s values. As a sponsor of the festival, we are delighted to have the privilege of sponsoring the first Young Actors Award and thus helping to promote emerging talent.”

Including the new Young Actors Award, the IFFMH is now presenting a total of eight awards whose overall value exceeds €70,000. The complete schedule of the 73rd IFFMH will be released on 17 October. The three nominees for the new award for acting will be announced at that time. Audiences in both Heidelberg and Mannheim can once again look forward to outstanding current motion pictures, a large number of international guests and a varied supporting programme with panel discussions, parties and performances.