Festival website

This year, Oberhausen celebrated its 60th anniversary. On this occasion, the Ecumenical Jury, on behalf of INTERFILM and SIGNIS, appreciated festival director Lars Henrik Gass by an Honorary Award. Jury member Théo Péporté highlighted his commitment to short films, the art of film in general, and his merits for the festival when presenting him with the honorary plaquette. In his answer, Gass gave his thanks to the church film organisation for their long-lasting collaboration with the festival. In his eyes the ecumenical jury once and again took "political and courageous" choices. 

The members of the jury with the festival director, from left: Matthias Kuhl, Eberhard Streier, Lars Henrik Gass, Sabine Schröder und Théo Péporté

The main award of the festival, the Grand Prix of the City of Oberhausen, went to "La Estancia" by Federico Adorno from Paraguay. The Ecumenical Jury awarded "Neeuklidine Geometrija" (Non-Euclidean Geometry) by Skirmanta Jakaite and Solveiga Masteikaite from Lithuania with its Prize, and in addition gave a Commendation to "Two Films About Loneliness" by Christopher Eales and Will Bishop-Stevens from Greast Britain.

AWARDS OF THE ECUMENICAL JURY

The Ecumenical Jury ath the 60th International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, appointed by INTERFILM and SIGNIS, awards its Prize to the film

Motivation: Love – Does it endure all things? Will it never fail? In sometimes irritating pictures the film at various levels tells a story of partnership, separation and love. In this way, it challenges us to deal with the question of the (in)finiteness of love, and to seek our own answers.

Trailer Non-Euclidian Geometry

In addition, the Jury awards a Commendation to the film

Motivation: The film tells the parallel stories of two characters who seek contact each in their own way by means of the Internet and surprisingly find one another. Per split screen and in stop-motion the two filmmakers succeed in an easily and humorously told story about the importance of relationships in a media-dominated society.

In an additional programme the Ecumenical Jury watches a choice of films from the International Children's and Youth Film Competition. They decide about a Certificate of Recommendation for the church film distributing agencies Matthias Film and Katholisches Filmwerk to buy one of the films for their catalogues. The jury recommends 

Statement: In the drab environment of a steel mill, Franka takes care of her father and their home. When she meets a young man, the 17-year-old begins to question this life. Vloeibaar Staal is a sensitive portrait of the depressing life and dependence of the young woman. The film also manages to communicate Franka's longing for freedom and a self-determined life in impressive images.

The members of the Jury:
Matthias Kuhl (Switzerland), Jury Secretary
Théo Péporté (Luxembourg)
Sabine Schröder (Germany)
Eberhard Streier (Germany), President