Nine German films set sights on Oscar nominations

by Bénédicte Prot

13/09/2010 - German Films has received nine possible contenders to be the country’s representative in the Oscar nomination race.

Independent Artists Filmproduktion has put forward Feo Aladag’s superb When We Leave [trailer, film focus], which is one of the three LUX Prize finalists and was one of Cineuropa’s favourites at this year’s Berlinale, where it won an award.

Claussen + Woebke + Putz Filmproduktion has submitted another Berlin title, Matti Geschonneck’s distinctly German Boxhagener Platz [trailer], starring Jürgen Vogel (see review); as has Ziegler Film, with Jo Baier’s big European co-production Henry of Navarre [trailer].

More surprising is Munich-based Clasart Filmproduktion’s decision to present Oskar Roehler’s Austrian co-production Jew Suss – Rise and Fall [trailer] , which caused an outcry from the German press at its screening in competition at Berlin.

The other contenders are Detlev Buck’s Same Same But Different [trailer] (Boje Buck Produktion); Juraj Herz’s Habermann [trailer] (Art Oko Film); Lars Kraume’s Days to Come [trailer] (Badlands Film); Percy Adlon and Felix Adlon’s Austrian co-production Mahler on the Couch [trailer] (pelemele Film & Stage); and Ludi Boeken’s Among Peasants [trailer] (3 L Film).

This week, a jury of nine industry experts will view the nine films in Munich to decide which will be Germany’s candidate. Once the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar contenders have been presented by their respective countries, Hollywood’s Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will unveil its shortlist of nine titles on January 18 and the final five nominees on January 25. The 83rd Oscars ceremony will be held on February 27, 2011.

(Translated from French)