The selection is complete: Having viewed more than 3,500 films and videos,
the selection committees of the Oberhausen Festival have determined the
competition films of the forthcoming festival. 141 works will compete in
four competitions for 16 awards worth a total of 75,000 DEM.
With 68 films and videos from 33 countries, the INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
is the largest section. The biggest GERMAN (Short Film) COMPETITION
features 28 films and videos, the International CHILDREN'S FILMS
COMPETITION presents 36 films from 16 countries. Eleven candidates will
compete for the MUVI-AWARD for the best German music video clip which was
introduced in 1999.
The USA and Great Britain are traditionally well represented in the
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, Australia and Russia are noticeably stronger
represented than usual. Peru and Zimbabwe are among the smaller film
nations represented with one production each. Among the directors of the
INTERNATIONAL and GERMAN COMPETITIONS are well-known names like Eija-Liisa
Ahtila (Finland), the Aleinikov Bros. (Russia), Emily Breer (USA), Isaac
Julien (UK), William Kentridge (South Africa), Mike Mills (USA) or Rosa von
Praunheim (Germany), and familiar faces in Oberhausen such as Philip Barker
(Canada), Matthias Müller (Germany), John Smith (UK) or Cate Shortland
(Australia).
In the CHILDREN'S FILMS COMPETION, the Scandinavian countries and Great
Britain are traditionally well represented. More unusual: Two children's
films from South Korea will compete, as well as a relatively high number of
three documentaries for children.
The selection for the MUVI-AWARD sees some familiar names, too: Last year's
winners Oliver Husain and Michel Klöfkorn are back with Funky People for
Blaze, and so is Svenja Rossa who was among the top ten in 1999 with Der
Mond for Rocko Schamoni. New names include Herwig Weiser and Rosa Barbara
who directed the clip Distroia for Mouse on Mars.
The MuVi-Award Ceremony will take place on 6 May at the International Short
Film Festival Oberhausen, the award ceremony for the other competitions
will be on 9 May.
Related Links: