"In few words, Atika Jumaih Bashiru's performance conveys a sincerity that has moved us. Her ability to express emotions and inner turmoil through her mere presence is impressive and proves that good acting doesn't always have to be loud and expressive."

"This film calmly depicts modern family structures and mental-health issues without being shocked by them. It is a focused look at the absurdities and vicissitudes of life, which can be harsh and abrasive, then simply unreal, and ultimately beautifully poetic. Fabian Stumm and his team have created a touching and entertaining film and given their fantastic ensemble the space to do their best. We wish the film a very successful theatrical release in September and look forward to many more works by Fabian Stumm!"

"The careful scripting and thorough preparation were worth the effort. Through a combination of observation and dramatization, Semih Korhan Güner and Justine Bauer have succeeded in creating a strong emotional connection to five women on their dairy farm in southern Germany."

"When the whole family unintentionally comes together at their vacation home on Lanzarote and no one is able to leave, everything is put on the table. The two authors succeed in getting the characters fully wound up, but always afford them the necessary respect."

"The film chosen by this jury masterfully paints a portrait of a divided society searching for a way forward. With naturalistic performances that draw the audience in and are enhanced by cinematography that invites direct engagement with the dilemmas faced by the characters, this film succeeds in depicting different political and generational positions. In an era of profound challenges to freedom of speech and discourse, we need art to engage with the complexities of contemporary life. In this spirit, the CineMasters jury presents its award to EXPLANATION FOR EVERYTHING by Gábor Reisz."

"Have you heard the old joke that if you're sad you should take a ride in an elevator, as you'll find it uplifting? Fabian Stumm's angst-ridden yet warm story involving broken relationships, struggles with mental illness, and challenges of dating while juggling parenthood, is one of those rare rides that are both uplifting and entertaining. SAD JOKES is moving without being maudlin, specific while also being universal, and skating a tonal knife's edge with dexterity. Well-rounded performances bring joy to this nuanced, quietly comical tale that we, the FIPRESCI jury, are proud to celebrate as the best of this year's selection."

This award goes to a film that deeply moved and captivated us. A portrait of young, stranded men in despair, who are forced to cross all boundaries to maintain their dream and perspective of a safe life in Europe. We are drawn into a world that is both tender and cruel, relentlessly raw and heartbreakingly human. We were captivated by the precision and warmth of the performances, the accurate narration of this gripping story, and the artistically outstanding achievements of all departments. We are very pleased to present the CineCoPro Award to the producers of TO A LAND UNKNOWN. Congratulations.

"Two intertwined bodies breathe heavily. Two young men caress each other. Both seem to be in free fall in the middle of space. But this vastness turns out to be the narrow tunnel of an underground coal mine that exploits both the land and those who work there. Love, trafficking, and the legacy of war are explored in this intimate yet epic drama set in Vietnam but banned in its homeland. Truong Minh Quy's third feature, VIÊT AND NAM, offers us a deeply cinematic panorama shot on 16mm. The jury found it to be a very carefully calibrated work and a visually beautiful and emotional exploration of being young, economically disadvantaged, and queer in postwar Vietnam. The title characters, Viêt (Duy Bao Dinh Dao) and Nam (Thanh Hai Pham), are young coal miners in love who dream of a different life and try to overcome the traumas of war within their families. This film follows a dreamlike logic and throws us into situations that we are always left to decipher, but never remains vague, instead delicately and intimately measuring a historical socioeconomic landscape in which two lovers must cling to each other in order not to be swept away by it. We congratulate Truong Minh Quy on this incredible and original work. We believe he and the film to be truly deserving recipients of this valuable prize."

"We wish to give special mention to a film that succeeds in conveying the impact of history on people's lives. FRAGMENTS OF ICE is composed exclusively of private video footage taken by the director's father - who travelled around the world during the Soviet era as a figure skater with the Ukrainian Ballet on Ice. The film ends with the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "The end of history never happened" is how filmmaker Maria Stoianova aptly sums it up: "It is frozen and only catches up with us years later." FRAGMENTS OF ICE does not seek simple answers, but gives us an understanding of the complex interdependencies of Ukrainian history. The film brings us closer to the people of Ukraine and challenges us to support them in their desire to develop freely."

"Many thanks to Tobi Krell and Tobi Obermeier for this wonderful invitation and the marvelous selection of films we had the privilege of seeing this week! The section started off with a documentary graduation film from Germany and then opened a window onto the world in the form of two animated films and five feature films. In total, four of these were directed by women and four by men, and almost all of them were debut films. The films' protagonists impressed us across the board. In particular, we wish to highlight the performances by the child actors in the fictional projects. We encountered a huge variety of narratives and new environments recommended for children aged five to 12, but we as adults thoroughly enjoyed this magnificent cinema as well. As a jury, we are especially eager to mention the intensity of coming-of-age films, which we unfortunately come across so rarely as a genre, but which have an immense capacity to leave a lasting impression on viewers of all ages. As a general request to all filmmakers here and elsewhere, without regard to our section: We want more of this! After all, what other genre has the power to get people of different generations talking to one another and perhaps also help them to understand each other better? And that brings us to our decision: Our world is complex and is often made even more complicated. Not all friendship is true friendship. The path of the many is not always the right one. Friendships can be put to the test, hold up under pressure, and not fall apart. And getting out of a maze of intrigue and prejudice unscathed is not so easy to pull off. Dramatized in a sophisticated way and presented to the audience at their level, the award-winning film allows us to accompany the protagonist on her emotional journey - in a process in which she learns to take a stand and, with the help of her friends, is able to admit her mistake. That is how this movie succeeds in being unbelievably important to all of us in the world we live in today. The 2024 CineKindl goes to LARS IS LOL by Eirik Sæter Stordahl."

"Out of these ten films, two made a distinct impression on us. Since we found both films outstanding, but only one can win, it was important to us to recognize one of them with a special mention. The Special Mention goes to: THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE. The film offers a sensitive insight into the life of a Somali patchwork family. With calm, compelling performances, this film touched and enlightened us in equal measure."

"We wish to honor "Sisterqueens" by giving it special recognition. This film follows three young girls on their journey to becoming rappers, but it is so much more. It addresses key issues of concern to our society and especially our youth, and presents them in an understandable and approachable way. We wish to thank the makers of this film for these impressive moments in the cinema and award the film an honorable mention."

"Never before have we found a movie so captivating and at the same time so disgusting that you could literally smell it all the way in the back of the theater. HOARD is a wild emotional rollercoaster - bizarre, repulsive, fascinating, and all the while unbelievably horny. Besides having an outstanding cast, the film boasts impressive set designs and a deeply moving mother-daughter relationship. The way in which HOARD approaches the subject of repressed childhood trauma is unique and is complemented by a macabre sort of humor that lends the film a certain lightness in spite of its serious theme. Luna Carmoon's daring debut film is a timeless work of art that inspires reflection and discussion."