20/09/2010

An independent expert jury appointed by German Films has selected Feo Aladag’s When We Leave [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Feo Aladag
interview: Feo Aladag
film profile] (finalist of the LUX Prize of the European Parliament 2010) as the German entry to compete for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar nomination.

Aladag said of the jury decision: "It is an incredibly great honour that our film has been chosen by the German selection committee. My goal had always been to make a universal film that can reach people and touch them across ethnic, cultural and linguistic barriers. I now await the next round with great anticipation and very much hope that When We Leave will also convince the members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences."

The film was produced by Independent Artists Filmproduktion, in co-production with WDR, RBB and ARTE. Producers were Aladag and Züli Aladag and the film was released in German cinemas on March 15 by Delphi Filmverleih.

To date, When We Leave, which had its world premiere at this year's Berlinale, has been invited to 35 international film festivals and won the Best Feature Film as well as Best Actress (Sibel Kekilli) at the German Film Awards. It is also one of the three finalists for the European Parliament’s LUX Prize and has been pre-selected for the European Film Award.

Olive Films acquired US rights from Telepool at the film market in Toronto. The US theatrical release is planned for February 2011.