16/09/2008

An independent expert jury appointed by German Films to select the local entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category of the Academy Awards has has under the chairmanship of Alfred Huermer chosen Uli Edel’s The Baader Meinhof Complex [+see also:
trailer
film profile], starring Bruno Ganz and Alexandra Maria Lara.

The jury issued this statement about its decision: "The brilliant performance by the entire cast and the extraordinary adaptation of the story gives a view of the early 70s in the Federal Republic of Germany without glorifying the perpetrators."

Produced by the Bernd Eichinger for the Munich-based Constantin Film, Nouvelles Editions de Films (Paris) and G.T. Film Production (Prague), the film based on the book by Stefan Aust will be released domestically by Constantin Film Verleih on September 25.

International sales are being handled by US company Summit Entertainment and The Baader Meinhof Complex has already sold to the many of the more important international territories.

The film was also chosen in the official selection of the upcoming Rome International Film Festival (October 22-31), where it will screen in the Premiere section.

Said Eichinger about the jury's decision: "Uli Edel and I are extremely pleased. We invested a lot of energy into this film and are proud to represent German cinema in the race for the Academy Award."

The Baader Meinhof Complex was supported by FilmFernsehFonds Bayern, Bayerischen Bankenfonds, the German Federal Film Board (FFA), the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF), and Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg. Broadcasters NDR, BR, WDR and Degeto were also involved in the project.

On January 22 2009, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) will announce the shortlist of nominees in the category. Films from some 100 countries are being submitted for this year's coveted trophy.

The official awards ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on 22 February, 2009.