The Ecumenical Jury of the 51st International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg: Jörg Gehrle (Germany), Eva-Maria Lenz (Germany), Peter F.Stucki (Switzerland), Waltraud Verlaguet (France), Peter Willnauer (Austria)
 
The prize goes to the film:

Tussenland (Sleeping Rough)
by Eugenie Jansen, The Netherlands 2002

So many different paths that lead to loneliness. The Ecumenical Jury thanks Eugenie Jansen for the humour and the sensitivity with which she leaves open possibilities of human encounters, despite off all intrinsic resistance.
 

Special Mention for the film:

Glowing Growing
by Kei Horie, Japan 2001

For his radical analysis of the sensitive subject 'suicide of the young'. The uncompromising way the narration is offered encourages us to debate.