The Winners of the 49th Oberhausen Festival

Kurzfilmtage niewalda at kurzfilmtage.de
Tue May 6 21:17:40 CEST 2003


AWARDS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION


Prizes awarded by the International Jury

Members of the International Jury:
Gulnara Abikeyeva (Kasakhstan)
Claudio Caldini (Argentina)
Connie Lam Suk Yee (People’s Republic of China)
Cecilia Lundquist (Sweden)


Grand Prize of the City of Oberhausen, amounting to Euro 7,500

PORTRET
Segej Loznitsa, Russia 2002
28 min, 35 mm, b/w

Statement:
”Portret” is a simple but powerful film which shows human dignity and 
gracefulness. This film has a timeless reading. It can be seen as 
portraiture of down-to-earth peasants as well as the modern photography 
which we can find in fashion magazines, Thank you for preserving these 
images of time for today’s urban society. In the century of new 
technologies and speedy rhythms, we need to see in the faces of simple 
people. In this film, not only we do look into their faces as spectators, 
but they are also looking at us. This work of art changes points of view. 
It is a return to the original function of the cinematic device to document 
human time and nature’s eternity



Two Principal Prizes, amounting to Euro 3,500 each

NO ME IMPORTA QUE SE MUERAN LAS JIRAFAS
Gustavo Sidlin, Argentina 2002
20 min, DV/PAL, colour

Statement:
”No me importa que se mueran las jirafas” is a passionate and authentic 
description of puberty love. Just like a first, it might not be perfect, 
but it is always enjoyable and memorable. It is a tender way of showing 
pure love just with little indications. It is also an affectionate story 
about the difficulty of growing up, which is told in a joyful and energetic 
atmosphere. The staging of young people’s emotions reaches a high level of 
expressiveness with a minimum of resources.


DANSA MED DVAERGAR
Emelie Carlsson Gras, Sweden 2002
13.30 min, DV/PAL, colour

Statement:
The film is a witty adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s short story. The 
director turns a male centred story into a female self-identity searching 
journey. It is an example of complex artistic search which brings together 
absurd poetry, fresh ideas and simple human feelings. ”Dansa med dvärgar” 
is a rich display of imagination in a dreamlike tale made of manifold 
visual techniques.



ARTE Prize for a European Short Film, amounting to Euro 2,500

VACANCES
Nicolas Dufranne, Belgien 2002
14 min, DV, colour

Statement:
Subtle and new, silent and expressive, this piece of work is an artistic 
approach to a modern drama about fatality. ”Vacances” is beautiful horror 
film which is narrated in an unconventional way without using special 
effects and sound design to manipulate the emotions of the audience: the 
interaction of static and moving images highlights the tensions of the 
film. It is an aesthetic attempt to create a new cinematic language based 
on the art of silence and contemporary design.


Special Mentions of the International Jury

CONVERSATION DE SALON
Danielle Arbid, France 2002
8 min, Beta SP/PAL, colour

Statement:
”Conversation de salon” shows us the world where people speak about the war 
in which any of us can be involved any time, like they would speak about 
ordinary events of life.


A MARGEM DA IMAGEM
Evaldo Mocarzel, Brazil 2002
15 min, Beta SP/PAL, colour

Statement:
”Ŕ margem da imagem” is an ethical documentary of unfulfilled basic needs 
for food, roof and work. This film honestly accepts the limitations of the 
filmmaker: A film can only bring out the social phenomenon, but it can’t 
improve situations.


TELEGA
Shery Shahvorostov/Andriy Gunishev/Dmytro Tyajlov, Ukraine 2001
15.30 min, 35 mm, b/w

Statement:
With its uniquely bizarre and unexpected twists, ”Telega” is taking charge 
of the viewer in a fantastic physical way.


Prize of the Jury of the North Rhine Westphalia Government Ministry of 
Urban Development and Housing, Culture and Sports, amounting to Euro 2,500

Members of the Jury:
Theda Kluth (Köln), Ronald Herzog (Bielefeld), Michael Kohler (Bochum), 
Susanne Reck (Berlin), Barbara Schweizerhof (Berlin)

LIFT
Marc Isaacs Great Britain 2001
24.30 min, Beta SP/PAL, colour

Statement:
The filmmaker enters the lift of a London tower block with his camera. His 
presence and clever questions turn this place of non-communication into 
stage on which people from very different ethnic and religious backgrounds 
cautiously  open themselves. With the simplest of means and subtle humour 
Marc Isaacs manages to show the interplay of latent conflicts and everyday 
tolerance. The film leaves the viewer with a sense of lightness.


Special Mention of the Jury of the North Rhine Westphalia Government 
Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, Culture and Sports

DANSA MED DVAERGAR
Emelie Carlsson Gras, Sweden 2002
13.30 min, DV/PAL, colour

Statement:
The film is an imaginative adaptation of a short story by Haruki Murakami. 
Using various techniques, the young Swedish filmmaker Emelie Carlsson Gras 
invites us to share the scurrilous everyday life of a housewife who frees 
herself from depression step by step.



Prize of the FIPRESCI (Jury of International Film Critics), amounting to 
Euro 1,500,
donated by the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen

Members of the Jury:
Bernard Bastide (Paris), Sibylle Dahrendorf (Berlin), Sasa Radojevic (Belgrade)

LIFT
Marc Isaacs Great Britain 2001
24.30 min, Beta SP/PAL, colour

Statement:
In his documentary the filmmaker is observing day per day, how life is 
going on inside a lift. He becomes the privileged witness of the small 
theatre of ordinary life: unemployment, loneliness, neighbourhood , what’s 
going right or wrong in their lives. Involved in this process, the 
spectator himself becomes more and more familiar with the characters, each 
of them an essence of humanity, abandoning them with regrets.




Prize of the Ecumenical Jury, amounting to € 1,500

Members of the Jury:
Manfred Burger (Germany), Markus Buss (Germany), Waltraud Verlaguet 
(France), Astrid Polz-Watzenig (Austria), Eberhard Streier (Germany)

KIS APOKRIF
Kornél Mundruczó, Hungary 2002
5 min, 35 mm, b/w

Statement:
The ecumenical jury awards its prize to ”Kis apokrif” by Kornel Mundruczo 
from Hungary. The film reflects the question of identity. As if in a 
kaleidoscope, single fragments of a boy’s personality are represented as 
duplicated and broken. This special aesthetic conveys a dynamic process of 
search for self which finally defies any clear solution.


Special Mentions of the Ecumenical Jury

A MARGEM DA IMAGEM
Evaldo Mocarzel, Brazil 2002
15 min, 35 mm, colour

Statement:
A special mention goes to ”Ŕ margem da imagem” by Evaldo Mocarzel from 
Brazil. Taking a documentary of homeless people as an example, the question 
about the opportunities  and limits of the ethics of committed art is raised.


INTEGRATION (German Competition)
Siegfried Koepf, Germany 2002
1.30 min, DV/PAL, colour

Statement:
The festival program was very varied and demanding, especially with its 
re<local>ization series. In order to pay tribute to this, we would like to 
give a further special mention to a film outside of the International 
Competition: Integration by Siegfried Koepf. Never has the German national 
hymn been played in such a spirit.


Prize of the Cinema Jury,
in connection with a buying option on the awarded work by the Short Film 
Agency Hamburg

Members of the Jury:
Hans-Jörg Blondiau (Germany), Patrick Gratian (France), Ute Mader (Germany)

EVIGHETENS CAMPINGPLASS
Rudnar Hodne, Norway 2001
9 min, 35 mm, colour

Statement:
The Norwegian short film “Evighetens Campingplass” by Runar Hodne excites 
by its bizarre sense of humour which is supported by the view of the camera 
which moves at the height of the table or looks through the sink like a 
voyeur. It opens a double perspective which is transported by a ball game 
and shows an erotic attraction between a woman and a man. Tone or music is 
hardly used, only to support the scenes.




Prize of the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, amounting to € 500

I AM A BOYBAND
Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay, Canada 2002
5.30 min, DV/PAL, colour

Statement:
The award of the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen goes to a 
video which distinguishes itself by its precise workmanship, its consistent 
realisation of an idea and its debate with the representation of manliness.




AWARDS OF THE GERMAN COMPETITION

Members of the German Jury:
Ralf Rückauer (ZDF/Das kleine Fernsehspiel), Nicolaus Schafhausen 
(Frankfurter Kunstverein), Stefanie Schulte-Strathaus (Freunde der 
Deutschen Kinemathek)


Prize for the best contribution to the German Competition, amounting to 
Euro 5,000 (ex aequo)

Striking in current German short film production is the heterogeneous 
representation above all of the private realm. The analysis of identity 
finding processes and confrontations with already existing cultural 
productions such as images from film and television, language, music, 
literature, theory and fine arts is present throughout.

In view of this observation the jury has decided to award the main prize of 
the German competition to two works

MANUAL
Christoph Girardet/Matthias Mueller, Germany/Great Britain 2002
10 min, Beta SP/PAL, colour

Statement:
We have chosen a video production which stands in the tradition of found 
footage. The debate between presence and absence of the body in the face of 
machines is felt in the rhythm of the work. An awareness of ones own 
physical presence in the cinema is subtly provoked.


AUTO CENTER DRIVE
Bjorn Melhus, Germany 2003
28 min, 16 mm, colour

Statement:
We likewise chose a film which places the multiple identities of the 
contemporary individual at its centre. Lovingly the author quotes 
personalities from pop-culture and dialogues from Hollywood cinema. His own 
self is caught up in a permanent change of identity. Its unconventional 
narrative allows for a cinematic dialogue with the public.



Special Mention of the German Jury

INTEGRATION
Siegfried Koepf, Germany 2002
1.30 min, DV/PAL, colour

Statement:
Beyond the cinematic debate with historically cultural phenomena, other 
films deal with socio-political issues.
For this reason a special mention goes to a film which in only one minute 
and 30 seconds metaphorically shows the complexity of national identity.


The 3sat-Promotional-Award, amounting to € 2,500
for a contribution with a particularly innovative approach. In addition the 
award includes a buying option on the awarded works to be broadcast on 3sat

DAS LEBEN EINER SCHILDKROETE IM NAHEN OSTEN
Felice Wonnenberg, Germany 2002
8.30 min, DV/PAL, colour and b/w

Statement:
The jury awards the 3sat promotional prize to a contribution which 
distinguishes itself by a new perspective.
One of the most existential threats faced by an individual is being a 
victim. At the most heightened moment of violent confrontation even pain is 
no longer felt. For her metaphorical expression of non-specific conflicts 
the filmmaker uses biographical and medial levels of reflection. The 
codified use of pictures, texts and collages of sound makes it possible for 
a personal address to the recipients.




AWARDS OF THE CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH FILM COMPETITION


Prize of the Children's Film Competition for the programmes of the 5 to 
12-year-olds,
  amounting to Euro 1,000, sponsored by Kinderkanal, the ARD/ZDF children’s 
channel

Members of the Jury:
Katharina Drescher (10), Junisa Hull (11), Nadine Jansen (10), Gerrit 
Placinski (10), Luca Zimmermann (9)

TORNEHEKKEN
Anita Killi, Norway 2002
13 min, 35 mm, colour

Statement:
 From the Children’s film competition we have selected Tormehekken as the 
best children’s film. And it clear that the film is especially topical 
right now. The film shows us how terrible war is. What we find especially 
interesting is the connection between rabbits and war. Whereas rabbits are 
usually seen as cute only, the father in this case has to go to war as a 
soldier. When he returns, he is not only outwardly injured, but also 
spiritually. It also becomes clear that war can last a long time. We like 
how the children defied the decision of the adults.


Special Mention of the Children’s Film Jury
A word of praise for the children’s competition. In the programme there was 
not one film which we did not like at all. More than a quarter of the films 
were on our shortlist.. The award winner beat some of the other films by no 
more than a hair’s breadth.



Prize of the Youth Film Competition for the programmes of the 12 to 
16-year-olds, amounting to € 1,000, sponsored by Kinderkanal, the ARD/ZDF 
children’s channel

Members of the Jury:
Lisa-Marie Becker (12), Malte Bloch (14), Jana Erlenkamp (13), Mona Gabler 
(14), Kai Lander (14)

FAR WEST
Pascal-Alex Vincent, France 2002
18 min, 35 mm, colour

Statement:
The Youth Film Jury has decided to award the film Far West by Pascal Alex 
Vincent its prize for the best film in this year’s Youth Film Competition. 
A serious topic is shown in a humorous way. The actors are very credible 
and the set-design well matched, making us laugh on the one hand and 
causing us to think on the other.

Special Mention of the Youth Film Jury

15
Royston Tan, Singapore 2002
25 mn., 35 mm, colour

Statement:
We would like to give a special mention to the filmmaker Royston Tan for 
his film 15. 15 is a philosophical film which gives insights into the lives 
of three boys in Singapore. The film shows us in an extraordinary way that 
the cool young gang members can also be vulnerable



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www.kurzfilmtage.de
International Short Film Festival Oberhausen





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