FILMSCHOOLFEST MUNICH 39 ½ - HERE WE GO!

Wednesday, 11/11/2020

FILMSCHOOLFEST MUNICH 39 ½ will have its digital opening on Thursday, November 12 at 8:15 pm Central European Time. Starting at 8:30 pm, all films will be available for streaming worldwide. 50 students from film schools in 22 countries will show their works in the international, highly endowed competition. The Climate Clips Awards special competition and two HFF Specials are also part of the festival.

There’s lots to discover! It starts with the (free) Opening of FILMSCHOOLFEST MUNICH 39 ½, which will provide an initial look at the variety in this year’s program. From classic feature films to experimental ventures, from Belgium to Myanmar, from political insights to climate change, there is something for everyone. And having it as a digital edition makes it possible for anyone, worldwide, 24/7, to undertake this journey of discovery from November 12 to 22.

Diana Iljine, festival director: “This year, I would like once again to warmly welcome students from all over the world — not live here in Munich, unfortunately, but to our digital festival. I’m delighted that we’re able to offer a platform that can show the multifaceted work of these talented young people, not only locally, but also worldwide. Filmmakers, festival guests, and audiences from all over will be able to participate in the festival. My special thanks go to our shareholders, the film schools, our award sponsors and partners, who make this festival possible. Especially now, it is important to support the next generation of filmmakers!”

The awards and award sponsors of the 2020 international competition (35,000 euros in total) are:

Best Film: VFF YOUNG TALENT AWARD (sponsor: VFF Verwertungsgesellschaft der Film- und Fernsehproduzenten mbH), Best Documentary: ARRI AWARD (sponsor: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik), Best Screenplay: LUGGI WALDLEITNER AWARD (sponsor: the family of producer Luggi Waldleitner), Best Animation: zweiB AWARD (sponsor: zweiB GmbH), Best Production of a European Film: PANTHER PRIZE (sponsor: Panther GmbH). This year’s winners will be chosen by jury chair Julia von Heinz and four international jury members.

In other categories, the prizes are awarded by separate juries: ARTE SHORT FILM PRIZE (sponsor & jury: the television channel ARTE), PRIX INTERCULTUREL for meritorious service to intercultural dialogue (sponsor & jury: Interfilm Akademie), Most Original Film: WOLFGANG LÄNGSFELD AWARD (sponsor & jury: Freundeskreis Wolfgang Längsfeld e.V.), AUDIENCE AWARD (sponsor: Freundeskreis FILMFEST MÜNCHEN; jury: the audience).

The Award Ceremony will be streamed at www.filmschoolfest-muenchen.de on Saturday, November 21 at 8 pm CET.

The winners of the Climate Clips Award special competition will also be announced at the Award Ceremony. A special program presents the ten best clips from the submissions on the topic of climate change and renewable energy. The three best clips will be chosen by the jury of the Nagelschneider Foundation. In addition, an audience award will be presented.

HFF Specials - Outside of competition, FILMSCHOOLFEST MUNICH is presenting five selected productions from the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF SPECIAL) as well as six others in the special program HFF SPECIAL: CLOSE UP WASHINGTON. Although these short films were completed in early 2020, they could not be more topical.

Current information about FILMSCHOOLFEST MUNICH 39 ½ is always available on the social media channels (#fsfmuc): Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube.

Tickets - The films (in English or in their original language with English subtitles; age 18 and older) may be watched individually (0.99 euros) or in curated sets of five (3.99 euros). A festival pass (12.99 euros) may also be purchased for the entire program. Each film is followed by a Q&A with the director. All tickets are available from November 12. Streaming is possible worldwide from November 12 to 22, 2020. Information on purchasing tickets can be found here; more detailed information on streaming is available in the FAQ. The digital edition of FILMSCHOOLFEST MUNICH is possible thanks to cooperation with the streaming platform PANTAFLIX.