29/03/2005

This Spring, not only is German cinema traveling around the world to New-York (Tribeca Film Festival and New Directors/New films), Mar del Plata, Porto, or Annecy, but it is also dedicated a festival in its own land. From March to June, the LOLA Festival organised by the Deutsche Filmakademie, gives the German public an opportunity to see and discuss the best features produced in 2004 in four cities : Berlin (Filmpalast), Hamburg (Abaton), Cologne (Odeon) and Munich (Forum am Deutschen Museum).

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The 42 films in competition were chosen in February by a jury of about fifty members of the Deutsche Filmakademie. A first round of nominations (and consistant prizes) is scheduled on the 9th of May. The final award ceremony will take place on the 8th of July at the Berlin Philarmonic in the presence of the Cultural affairs secretary, Christina Weiss. The main awards are Best Film (€250,000), Best Film for the Young Public (€125,000), and Best Documentary (100,000). The decision is made by a jury of famous filmmakers and members of the Filmakademie, but they will take into account the public’s reactions.

For that matter, Günter Rohrbach, president of the Deutschen Filmakademie, points out the fact that the festival aims mainly at renewing the image of German cinema in the public opinion and of giving a good overview on what contemporary film-makers are up to without neglecting small productions, playing in fact a crucial role in terms of new talents, while giving the public, journalists, and professionals a chance to meet. For film-makers and members of the jury attend the screenings together with the public to discuss the movies and hear their opinions — the website Kinomatch.de allows further interactivity. After the LOLA Festival, the films will be (re-)launched on the rest of the territory.

(Translated from French)