The selection of the national submissions for the competition for the OSCAR^® in the category International Feature Film are in most cases organized by the respective national film institutions. In Germany, German Films is responsible for the preparation, organization and implementation of the selection procedures. In this function, German Films' responsibilities are strictly of organizational nature. German Films itself is not represented in the selection committee.

The following thirteen movies were submitted for 2024 to German Films by German producers in the 96th OSCAR^® category BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM: 

• ANSELM – DAS RAUSCHEN DER ZEIT (ANSELM) by Wim Wenders (Road Movies)
• DAS LEHRERZIMMER (THE TEACHERS‘ LOUNGE) by Ilker Çatak (if... Productions Film)
• DIE THEORIE VON ALLEM (THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING) by Timm Kröger (ma.ja.de Fiction
• EIN GANZES LEBEN (A WHOLE LIFE) by Hans Steinbichler (Tobis Filmproduktion München)
• EINE FRAU (A WOMAN) by Jeanine Meerapfel (Malena Filmproduktion)
• ELAHA by Milena Aboyan (Kinescope Film)
• INGEBORG BACHMANN – REISE IN DIE WÜSTE (INGEBORG BACHMANN – JOURNEY INTO THE DESERT) by Margarethe von Trotta (Heimatfilm)
• ORPHEA IN LOVE by Axel Ranisch (Sehr gute Filme)
• ROTER HIMMEL (AFIRE) by Christian Petzold (Schramm Film Koerner Weber Kaiser)
• SISI & ICH (SISI & I) by Frauke Finsterwalder (Walker + Worm)
• THE ORDINARIES by Sophie Linnenbaum (Bandenfilm Laura Klippel & Britta Strampe)
• WAS MAN VON HIER AUS SEHEN KANN (WHAT YOU CAN SEE FROM HERE) by Aron Lehmann (Claussen + Putz Filmproduktion)
• WOCHENENDREBELLEN (WEEKEND REBELS) by Marc Rothemund (Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion)

GERMAN JURY VERDICT: 

DAS LEHRERZIMMER (THE TEACHERS‘ LOUNGE) by Ilker Çatak is the German entry for the Oscars® 2024.

The jury with spokesperson Torsten Koch (Verband der Filmverleiher e.V.) gave the motivation for its choice as follows:

"By nominating THE TEACHERS' LOUNGE, the jury has chosen a highly topical, universal feature film that is impossible to resist. Student Academy Award® winner Ilker Çatak takes the microcosm of a school as the setting for social processes of erosion in the post-factual age. Çatak is masterful in the way he stages his precisely written story as a breakdown in understanding. Leonie Benesch delivers a breathtaking performance as an idealist who, in trying to do everything right, comes under increasing pressure - intensified by the clever decision to adopt the unusual 4:3 format. THE TEACHERS' LOUNGE is supported by the outstanding casting and superb performances of its diverse ensemble."