This year the Ecumenical Jury decided to recognize the courage and the contribution to the development of a future path for the entire film industry. Our winner movie impressed all of the team members with a relevant topic, meta ironic approach, integrity and completeness of the theme revelation. In an experimental yet persuasive way, the filmmakers managed at the same time to create a statement and argue on it also establishing a vividly impressive visual style. We greatly appreciate the brave gesture and significant input into the discussion of modern technologies (AI) that influence our everyday life more and more, while occasionally leaving us with a feeling of powerlessness.
69th International Short Film Festival Oberhausen
26.04.2023 to 01.05.2023
Oberhausen
The members of the two Ecumenical Juries in Oberhausen 2023 in front of the festival cinema Lichtburg, from left: Christian Murer, Polina Kundirenko, Christian Gürtler, Anna Grebe, Suzana Kokalj, Maxime Pouyanne
At the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen 2023, an ecumenical jury was accredited for the first time in both the International Competition and the Children's and Youth Film Competition. "Let's be friends" by Arno Coenen and Rodger Werdhoven won the Jury Prize in the International Competition, "Le jour de gloire" that in the Children's and Youth Film Competition. The Ecumenical Jury of the International Competition also awarded a Commendation for "Every Sunday, GrandMa" by Laure Prouvost.
The Grand Prize of the City of Oberhausen was awarded to "Chornobyl 22" by Oleksiy Radynski from the Ukraine. The International Jury's Grand Prize went to "Camino de lava" by Gretel Marín Palacio from Cuba. The FIPRESCI jury awarded the International Film Critics Prize to "2720" by Basil da Cunha (Portugal; Switzerland 2023).
The 69th International Short Film Festival showed a total of over 500 films. One programme focus under the title "Against Gravity" was on the new genre machinima, films made with the help of computer games. The festival also dedicated a showcase to the artists Marcel Broodthaers (Belgium), Teboho Edkins (Germany/South Africa), Alexandra Gulea (Romania), Lynne Sachs (USA) and the Japanese Yamashiro Chikako. The "MuVi" competition for music videos, which the Frestival established 25 years ago, celebrated an anniversary.
Awards
Directed by:
2022
Directed by:
2022
We would like to award a Commnedation to a film which left an unforgettable impression on the whole female part of our jury and both Christians, too. The representation of a woman of age in such a delightful and playful way sets a new tone for the film industry. Previously unfairly forgotten and now rising again with all the power of beauty, the aging woman becomes a new trend for the youth-obsessed male-perspectived world of cinema. Thank you for your inspiring masterwork, dear Laure Prouvost. "Every Sunday, GrandMa" should feel same as the protagonist in the nearest bright future.
A Glorious Day
Directed by:
2022
20-year-old Kamel and his friends have a plan: They want to make their city a place worth living in for everybody. But they are faced with the harshness of an adult world where good ideas are not enough to succeed. When they are dismissed as unimportant, they do not lose hope and are determined to fight for a better tomorrow. “A Glorious Day” depicts impressively an overtly relevant matter for children and youth in times of multiple crises: How to participate in society while being marginalized due to their age, their social background, or their lack of political experience? We see how family can both be helpful and destructive at the same time for young people trying to establish themselves – and how solidarity outfights personal needs. The well-executed script, the outstanding acting, and the ability of telling a universal yet complex story through a seemingly small event convinced the jury of this film as much as young Kamel is convinced of community organizing as means towards self-efficacy.
