Heimspiel Preis (former: "Die Goldenen Vier Linden")
The Heimspiel Award at the 36th BIFF is sponsored for the first time by four Braunschweig-based communications agencies, which have joined forces to honor a film project from the region. The 2,500 Euro prize money is donated by Call The Dude GmbH, eventives GmbH, Kreativrausch GmbH and wehyve GmbH.
2022: THE ORDINARIES - Denise M'Baye
Germany 2022, 120 min, colour, Director: Sophie Linnenbaum
A fictional film world divided into main characters, supporting characters and outtakes: Here Paula has to prove that she has what it takes to be a main character. She wants a glamorous life with her own storyline - not like her mother, who works as a supporting character in the background. Along the way, Paula encounters contradictions and finds herself on the social fringe - and begins to doubt the story ... THE ORDINARIES is a film about being in the movies: Lavishly shot, narratively and visually bursting with ideas across film history: from special effects to the musical number choreography to the score, which was recorded by the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg. The film was shot in Hanover, among other places. One of the leading roles - Dr. Cooper - is played by Hanover-based actress Denise M'Baye.
JURY STATEMENT
In the jury we intensively discussed five highly diverse films - from documentary, feature film to youth film project. The task was to work out why a film should receive the Heimspiel Award - an award for its connection with the region, with Lower Saxony. We warmly congratulate all the nominees and we also congratulate Filmfest Braunschweig, which has staffed our jury exclusively with women - a strong sign!
As the jury, we would first like to give an honourable mention - to the young people of the Propsteijugend Bad Harzburg with Pastor Martin Widiger and Deacon Michael Marintschak for their involvement in the youth film project "Fisch im Fell". The young people have started a sympathetic film project. They succeeded in involving a whole region - from the fire brigade to the professional cameraman. This effort impressed us!
Winner: Denise M'Baye in THE ORDINARIES
The jury of the Home Game Award honours the Hanoverian actress and singer Denise M'Baye, who convinces in a leading role in Sophie Linnenbaum's artistically outstanding film "The Ordinaries". Denise M'Baye acts, sings, dances and inspires the audience with all her talents in one film. "The Ordinaries" is an extraordinary film that was partly shot in Hanover. But it is above all Denise M'Baye who stands for the bond with the region.
Franziska Stünkel
Internationally awarded film director, screenwriter and photographer. Her films have been screened at over 200 festivals. Her latest feature film NAHSCHUSS (with Lars Eidinger, among others) opened internationally in cinemas. Her photographs can be seen in museums and galleries.
Anna Deileke
Anna Deileke works full-time as an event planner at the Hallenbad cultural centre in Wolfsburg. Since 2016, the 39-year-old has been curating the stage programme as well as the film selection at the cinema in the Hallenbad. The small cinema is known for its diverse programme and family atmosphere. The trained photographer and communications graduate has lived and worked in Wolfsburg since 2009. The indoor swimming pool is her second home and the passionate cyclist appreciates the region's proximity to the Elm and the Harz mountains - her original home.
Cornelia Köhler
Author, moderator, networker. Active in the media industry since 2000. First as a producer, since 2007 as a freelance scriptwriter and dramaturg for cinema, TV formats and stage. Editor of the magazine "Rundbrief" (Film and Media Office Lower Saxony). Director and screenwriter for a series of documentaries on German literature. Cornelia Köhler is a board member of Women in Film and Television Germany.
2021: DAS MÄDCHEN MIT DEN GOLDENEN HÄNDEN
Gudrun wants to celebrate her 60th birthday in the place where she grew up in GDR times. All the residents are invited to the party in the former children's home of the provincial village. On the evening of the celebration, Gudrun learns that the mayor wants to sell the vacant manor house to investors in order to give the village a future. Economic perspective or selling out one's own history? The opinions of the residents differ on this question. For Gudrun, who still feels very attached to this place, this is a loss she does not want to accept. Her struggle for her own past and identity increasingly strains the already difficult relationship with her daughter, who has come from Berlin.
Biography Director: Katharina Marie Schubert, born 1977 in Gifhorn, theater actress at the Munich Kammerspiele and the Deutsches Theater Berlin. Award-winning film actress e.g. in SHOPPEN.
DAS MÄDCHEN MIT DEN GOLDENEN HÄNDEN is her directorial debut feature film.
JURY-STATEMENT
The film takes us to the near past without seducing us into nostalgia. The setting is a small provincial town in the east of the country in 1999, a time of upheaval that some survived more, others less well. With an excellent cast, the director has succeeded in telling the struggle for identity, loss and change over two generations in the post-reunification period. Her story is as poetic as the title. This quiet drama in desaturated images at the turn of the millennium in the former GDR is also convincing because of the clear no-frills image design, which gives the film its mood. The intensity with which the director lets her strong protagonists make their decisions, with all the consequences but without solving every mystery, deserves, in the opinion of the jury, the "Heimspiel Award" 2021.
Sabina Kaluza
Freelance conceptual artist. Born in Bytom, Poland. Studied free art at the HBK Braunschweig, then master student of John Armleder.
Antimo Sorgente
Composer and sound designer. He studied sound art at the HBK Braunschweig and works as a composer for film and theatre.
Dr. Jutta Tränkle
Has been working as a freelance cinematographer and filmmaker for national and international cinema, TV, interactive and art projects since 1999.
2020: RIVALE von Marcus Lenz
Jury Statement
It was not an easy decision but, in the end, the jury decided unanimously to award the prize to the film drama RIVAL. In particular, the almost magical authenticity of the actresses and actors, brought out by director Marcus Lenz, convinced the jury.
With great skill, the filmmaker explores pressing political themes via a family drama told from the – carefully crafted – perspective of a Ukrainian boy who follows his illegally working mother to Germany. The film captures the audience with its unorthodox, at times provocative imagery. In a unique way, the filmmaker succeeds to use the landscape of Lower Saxony as powerful setting for his film.
Special mention goes to 18-year old director Victor Gütay with his independent film IN MY SHADOW (MEIN SCHATTEN ÜBER MIR). Gütay is an astonishing all-round talent: His multi-facetted and insightful film in which he acted as director, producer, cinematographer, screenwriter, editor, and composer, is a truly remarkable debut. With their special mention, the jury members encourage Gütay to continue his path as filmmaker.