BERLIN, Feb 1 (ZIZ): The Berlinale, since its introduction of the GWFF Best First Feature Award in 2006, has remained steadfast in its commitment to nurturing emerging talents in the film industry. Generously endowed with 50,000 euros, courtesy of the GWFF (Gesellschaft zur Wahrnehmung von Film- und Fernsehrechten), a society dedicated to safeguarding film and television rights, the award is intended to be divided between the winning film’s producer and director. In addition to the monetary reward, the director will also receive a high-quality viewfinder, serving both as a practical tool and a memorable trophy.
For the 2024 edition, a total of 16 directorial debut feature films from the Competition, Encounters, Panorama, Forum, and Generation sections have earned nominations.
The esteemed jury for the GWFF Best First Feature Award 2024 comprises:
- Eliza Hittman (USA): A New York-born director, screenwriter, and producer, Eliza Hittman’s notable works include “It Felt Like Love” and “Beach Rats.” Her third feature film, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” earned her the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlinale in 2020.
- Andréa Picard (Canada): Serving as a Senior Film curator at the Toronto International Film Festival, Andréa Picard’s expertise extends to programming retrospectives and overseeing the Wavelengths section dedicated to artist film and video.
- Katrin Pors (Denmark): A Danish producer known for bridging Latin America with Northern Europe, Katrin Pors has been involved in numerous projects with esteemed directors in contemporary art house cinema.
The nominated feature films for the GWFF Best First Feature Award across various sections are as follows:
Competition:
- “Gloria!” by Margherita Vicario
- “Mé el Aïn (Who Do I Belong To)” by Meryam Joobeur
Encounters:
- “Khamyazeye bozorg (The Great Yawn)” by Aliyar Rasti
- “Kong fang jian li de nv ren (Some Rain Must Fall)” by Qiu Yang
Panorama:
- “Betânia” by Marcelo Botta
- “Cu Li Không Bao Giờ Khóc (Cu Li Never Cries)” by Phạm Ngọc Lân
- “Yo vi tres luces negras (I Saw Three Black Lights)” by Santiago Lozano Álvarez
Forum:
- “Chroniques fidèles survenues au siècle dernier à l’hôpital psychiatrique Blida-Joinville, au temps où le Docteur Frantz Fanon était chef de la cinquième division entre 1953 et 1956 (True Chronicles of the Blida Joinville Psychiatric Hospital in the Last Century, when Dr Frantz Fanon Was Head of the Fifth Ward Between 1953 and 1956)” by Abdenour Zahzah
- “The Human Hibernation” by Anna Cornudella Castro
- “La piel en primavera (Skin in Spring)” by Yennifer Uribe Alzate
- “Shahid” by Narges Kalhor
Generation:
- “Ellbogen (Elbow)” by Aslı Özarslan
- “Kai Shi De Qiang (She Sat There Like All Ordinary Ones)” by Qu Youjia
- “Last Swim” by Sasha Nathwani
- “Xiao Ban Jie (The Great Phuket)” by Liu Yaonan
- “Young Hearts (Junge Herzen)” by Anthony Schatteman
