Two competitions at the Oldenburg Filmfestival promote young German independent cinema During the festival the Otto-Sprenger-Award and the German Independence Award -- Best German Film will be handed out


The Oldenburg International Filmfestival is continuously striving to support young independent cinema from Germany. This year the established German Independence Award -- Best German Film will be complemented by the Otto-Sprenger-Award, another means of supporting young filmmakers.
Nominees for the Otto-Sprenger-Award automatically are included in the competition for the German Independence Award as well.

The German Independence Award -- Best German Film, made possible by Stadtmarketing Oldenburg, is worth 8.000 Euro. The winner also receives an Avid Editing System and English subtitles by Holland Subtitling BV.
An international jury honours the best German film from the festival's independent section. Key to winning are unusual narration and substantial stories. Nominated for the German Independence Award -- Best German Film are:

"Underdogs" by Jan Hinrik Drevs. Starring Thomas Sarbacher, Philipp Baltus.
This Wueste Filmproduktionen production is having its world premiere in Oldenburg. It is the story of a violent inmate who gets a last chance of rehabilitating himself. Oldenburg-born actress Clelia Sarto plays a leading role.

"Für den unbekannten Hund" by Ben and Dominik Reding. Starring Lukas Steltner, Sascha Reimann (Ferris MC).
The directors of the acclaimed "Oi! Warning" tell the tale of 20year old construction worker Bastian, who almost casually commits a murder. He joins a group of travelling artisans but doesn't manage to escape his past. The film will be released in German cinemas on November 8th.

"Die Unerzogenen" by Pia Marais. Starring Ceci Chuh, Birol Uenel.
The first feature of Pia Marais is an unusual coming of age story, concentrating on the search for orientation within a too liberal home instead of the usual critique of bourgeois society's norms. Pia Marais received the Tiger-Award at the International Rotterdam Filmfestival for "Die Unerzogenen".

"Autistic Disco" by Hans Steinbichler. Starring Markus Boeker, Anne Grabowski, Nina Mohr.
A group of adolescent criminals is taken to a remote location to learn about trust, community and social responsibility. But the pressure of self-hatred, greed and desire for respect and love puts a lot of strain on the project members. Cast in a remote mountain location director Hans Steinbichler ("Hierankl"; "Winterreise") creates a disturbing tale about identity and the struggles of growing up.

"Heile Welt" by Jakob M. Erwa. Starring Michael Sauseng, Simon Moestl, Angelika Schneider.
About to become grown-ups Jolly and Bolz have to face the harsh realities of live. Rejected by their families they hide their true feelings. Feeling angry and rejected their only outlets become bursts of violence and bouts of rebellion and drug-abuse. "Heile Welt" is a Novotny & Novotny Filmproduktion GmbH production.


In addition to the "German Indepence Award -- Best German Film" the "Otto-Sprenger-Award" will see its premiere at the Oldenburg Filmfestival. The Otto-Sprenger-Award is aimed at young directors whose films relate to Northern Germany, whose films combine innovative aesthetics with genuine curiosity for unusual topics. The award is donated by the Otto-Sprenger-Stiftung and worth 8.000 Euro. In addition the winner will receive English subtitles by Holland Subtitling BV, which enables the film to participate in international festival competitions. Ten films were proposed for the award, from which the following three have received a nomination for the Otto-Sprenger-Award:

"Die Unerzogenen" by Pia Marais, "Für den unbekannten Hund" by Ben and Dominik Reding, and "Underdogs" by Jan Hinrik Drevs.

The award is handed out by a jury of notable television- and media-professionals who are also members of the directorate of the Otto-Sprenger-Stiftung. The jury members are:

Juergen Meier-Beer
He studied law in Göttingen, Geneva, Kiel and London until 1973 and got involved with Germany's young filmmakers of that time. After working for law firms in Kiel, Oakland, Speyer and Hamburg he finished his doctoral degree about "The law in the age of cable television". Today he is head of NDR department for international projects and music.

Werner Schulz
He was born in 1936 in Berlin. After studying law he worked for banks and insurance companies. Until his retirement he was CEO of the Hamburg Landesbank. Since that time he got involved in a number of charitable organisations.

Jeanette Wuerl
She was born and raised in Northern Germany. After studying architecture she started working for the NDR television film department in several different functions. Since 1999 she is editor and dramatic advisor for cinema and television movies.

Otto Sprenger was the head of the NDR's television archives. For twelve years he was chairman of the artist's trade-union, he was on the DGB's executive board and founded the national artist's social security fund.
He died in February 2006 aged 89. The Otto-Sprenger-Stiftung was founded in 1985 from the private fortunes of Otto Sprenger. Since its founding it promotes young filmmakers.

The Oldenburg International Filmfestival takes place from September 12th to September 16th. We would appreciate it, if you could feature the nominees in your publications. If you need further information or additional material feel free to contact us using the details provided below.