INTERFILM Award

The INTERFILM Jury at the Max Opuels Prize 2005 has awarded the film

ALLEIN (Alone) by Thomas Durchschlag, Germany 2004.

Focussed on a small number of characters and settings, the film tells about the life of a young woman between self destruction and the chance to find the security of friendship, the jury says.

Synopsis: Maria’s life is marked by her longing for closeness. Her greatest enemy is loneliness, which she tries to combat with numerous one-night stands, drugs and alcohol. One morning, Jan appears in her life, and as the two grow closer, Maria realizes that for the first time ever a close and honest relationship might be possible. She tries to break with her former life but, being afraid of failure, doesn’t know how to do it. She tries hard to hide her past from Jan but by doing so unwittingly heads toward catastrophe.

Lavinia Wilson as Maria was awarded Best Young Actress by the Festival Jury.

A commendation the INTERFILM Jury has given to

ADIL GEHT (Adil leaves) by Esther Gronenborn, Germany 2004

"Adil geht" tells the story of war fugitives from the Kosovo facing the uncertainties of an in-between state of a short residence permit and trying to make the best of it. The film supports the effort to cut back prejudices.

Members of the Jury: Anita Masshardt (Switzerland), Gertie Steiner  Germany/Austria), Peter F.Stucki (Switzerland), Marisa Villareale (Germany/Saarbruecken).

The Jury and INTERFILM President Hans Hodel (r.)