Perspektive Deutsches Kino: Der Lebensversicherer by Bülent Akinci wins „Dialogue en perspective“

Young German-French jury by TV5MONDE and German-French Youth Office (DFJW) awards the prize “Dialogue en perspective” for the third time

The young jury set up by TV5MONDE and the German-French Youth Office together with the Berlinale today awarded the independent jury prize to the film Der Lebensversicherer by Bülent Akinci. A young jury consisting of seven German and French film enthusiasts between 18 and 29 years old handed out the prize in the section Perspektive Deutsches Kino.

Together with jury president and French-German director Dominik Moll who enchanted French and German audiences alike with his film Harry meint es gut mit dir, the jury took an intercultural look at all films in the section Perspektive Deutsches Kino. The jury explains their choice as follows: „The prize ‘Dialogue en Perspective’ goes to Der Lebensversicherer by Bülent Akinci. A film, which through atmospheric density and visual power describes the life of marginal characters. An honorable mention goes to Wholetrain for its riveting and authentic portrait of the graffiti scene“.

For TV5MONDE and the German-French Youth Office the aim of the prize is to support the cultural and cinematic dialogue between young German and French youths and introduce them to young German cinema. “This year the Berlinale screened a large number of German films and thus highlighted the fact that the European film is gaining importance. Intercultural exchange beyond France’s borders is a main priority for TV5MONDE. This is something that we also underline with the increasing number of films with German subtitles shown on TV5MONDE”, says Fabrice Grandhomme, Marketing Europe of TV5MONDE. The secretary generals Max Claudet und Eva Sabine Kuntz of the German-French Youth Office noted that it was not easy for the jury to decide on a winner: “There were varying opinions, intense debates, passionate discussions – an intercultural dialogue between Germans and French just as we encourage it at the youth office”.

The winning film will be shown at the German Film Festival in Paris in autumn 2006. By winning the “Dialogue en perspective” the film was already able to prove its appeal to the French public.

On the film:
He knew it would take a long time – but this long? Insurance salesman Burkhard Wagner left his family promising them a better life on his return. All he has to do is sell enough policies. But time drags on and Burkhard turns into the Flying Dutchman of Germany’s motorways. His contact with his family now boils down to him leaving the odd report on the answering machine. Nevertheless, Burkhard sticks resolutely to his plan. But then, shortly before he has sold all his policies, he runs out of steam – mentally and spiritually.