23/01/2006

The 27th Max Ophüls Preis Festival (23-29 Jan. 2006), a platform designed for young German-speaking directors which started with 700 spectators in 1980 (the year of its creation by Albrecht Stuby) to reach 23,000 admissions in 2004, is presenting 12 German films in competition plus a Swiss production and three co-productions (involving Austria, Spain, and Italy).

The 16 contestants in competition for the prestigious Max Ophüls Prize (and the 18,000 euros which go with it) are: Between the Lines by Thomas Wartmann, Falscher Bekenner by Christoph Hochhäusler, Futschicato by Olav F. Wehling, Gambit by Sabine Gisiger, Gisela by Isabelle Stever, Keller by Eva Urthaler, Ladybug by Sebastian Ko, Liebeskind by Jeanette Wagner, Mañana al mar by Ines Thomsen, Mondscheinkinder by Manuela Stacke, Prinzessin by Birgit Grosskopf, Schläfer by Benjamin Heisenberg, Swingerclub by Jan Schütte, Unter der Sonne by Baran bo Odar, Zeit ohne Eltern by Celia Rothmund and Zur falschen Zeit am falschen Ort by Tamara Milosevic. Five of these films (all screening at the Saarbrücken Film House and the Cinestar) are also running for the new Documentary Prize (€7,500).
The jury includes the director Hermine Huntgeburth (The White Masai), the actress Christiane Paul, the journalist Knut Elstermann, the camera operator Peter Indergand, and Lars Jessen (winner of the Max Ophüls Prize 2005 with The Day Bobby Ewing died).

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This year, this festival which has always taken advantage of its location on the Saar river to build bridges between the German and the French film cultures (through the programmes 'Transit : France' and 'Short films by the French/German Masterclass', as well as the presence of a jury of French and German students) distinguished itself from other big festivals by accepting submissions in digital format, thus allowing contestants whose small budgets did not allow transfer into 35mm to apply. The theme Think digital! will also be dedicated a series of discussions and workshops.

(Translated from French)