And the Winners Are…
by Becky Tan

On Saturday, October 8, Alfred Wiederspiel, the director of the Filmfest Hamburg, took the stage to commend a successful year. He said there were 116 films from 58 countries. Fifty percent of the producers were women. Throughout the 10 days over 41,500 guests enjoyed watching movies, or just 7.8% fewer than in the pre-COVID-19 year 2019. Siri Keil excellently moderated the award presentations, with the help of various film representatives. The winners shared over 110,000 euros in prize money. Normally winners would also receive a bouquet of flowers, but this year, the money was donated to Ukraine.

Award Winners

NDR-Nachwuchspreis (NDR Young Talent Award): DALVA, Emmanuelle Nicot

Politische Film der Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung (The Political Film of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung): HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE, Daniel Goldhaber

Arthouse Cinema Award: CLOSE, Luca Dhont

Preis der Filmkritik (Critics’ Choice Award): R.M.N., Christian Munglu

Filmfest Hamburg Publikumspreis (FILMFEST HAMBURG Audience Award): AMERIKATSI, Michael Goorjian

The following awards had been presented the previous evening:

MICHEL Filmpreis (MICHEL Award): GEHEIMNISVOLLE SOMMER, Christophe Barratier

Hamburger Produzentenpreis für Internationale Kino-Koproduktionen (The Hamburg Producers Award for International Cinema Co-Productions): VICTIM, Michael Reuter, Saar Yogev, Naomi Levari (Electric Sheep), director Michal Blaško

Hamburger Produzentenpreis für Deutsche Kinoproduktionen (The Hamburg Producers Award for German Cinema Productions): AUS MEINER HAUT (SKIN DEEP), Tobias Walker, Philipp Worm (Walker + Worm Film), director Alex Schaad

Hamburger Produzentenpreis für Deutsche Fernsehproduktionen (The Hamburg Producers Award for German TV Production): DAS WUNDER VON KAPSTADT (THE CAPE TOWN MIRACLE), Christian Popp,(director Volker Einrauch

Hamburger Produzentenpreis für deutsche Fernsehproduktionen 2022/serielle Formate (The Hamburg Producers Award for Serial Formats): REEPERBAHN SPECIAL UNIT 65, Christian Beetz

The Filmfest Hamburg hosted the Molodist Kyiv International Film Festival this year since it could not show in its home country Ukraine because of the war. The awards are in US dollars.

The Scythian Deer Awards went to:

Best Short Film: LEOPOLIS NIGHT, Nikon Romanchenko

Best Feature Film (also featured at the MICHEL Children’s & Youth Film Festival): STOP-ZEMILA, Kateryna Gornostai