| Mascha Schilinski’s feature film SOUND OF FALLING will represent Germany in the ‘Best International Feature Film’ category at the 98th Academy Awards®. This decision was made by an independent jury of experts appointed by German Films. A total of five films were submitted for consideration. After viewing all the submitted films in Munich on August 20 and 21, the nine-member jury selected the intergenerational drama SOUND OF FALLING, produced by Studio Zentral, as the German Oscar® candidate. The jury's motivation reads as follows: The jury's motivation:
"SOUND OF FALLING is formally uncompromising, emotionally existential, and artistically unique - without any parallel in German and international cinema. Spanning a century, the film interweaves the lives of four women who struggle against confinement, violence and social constraints. A work of rare urgency, masterfully directed, poetic, universal, courageous, SOUND OF FALLING is a physical experience that resonates and burns itself into the memory." Director Mascha Schilinski on the decision:
"On behalf of the whole team, I would like to express our gratitude that SOUND OF FALLING has been afforded the great honour of representing Germany at the Oscars®. The film's journey so far - from winning the Jury Prize at this year's Festival de Cannes and to the joy of also representing Germany at the Oscars® - shows us that it is worth believing in your artistic vision. And that you can remain true to yourself - if you find the right companions to join you along the way. We are very happy to see the recognition and encouragement we are currently getting for our film. We hope that this film's visibility will lead to filmmakers experiencing more openness and support when they make efforts to explore new narrative paths." Producers Maren Schmitt, Lukas Schmidt and Lasse Scharpen on the decision:
"It’s a great honour for us to have SOUND OF FALLING selected as the German Oscar® entry. In the Oscars®’ 98-year history, films directed by women have unfortunately still been disproportionately under-represented. Female directors have been nominated on only nine occasions for the award in the “Best Director” category. This makes us all prouder of being able, with SOUND OF FALLING to represent the high quality of the German film scene on an international level, and we hope that we can then build on the success Mascha Schilinski already had with her film in Cannes." The road to the Oscars®:
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will publish a list of all the titles submitted for the ‘Best International Feature Film’ category at the beginning of November. Last year, 85 countries submitted films. The shortlist of 15 titles for this category will be announced on December 16, 2025.
The five nominated films will be selected from this shortlist and announced on January 17, 2026.
The Oscar® ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026. | |
| In the most cases, the selection of the national submissions for the competition for the OSCAR® in the category International Feature Film 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 organizational in nature. German Films itself is not represented on the selection committee. German Films received five film submissions for the 98th Oscar® Competition in the category "Best International Feature Film". The following five German films were submitted to German Films by German producers and qualify for the final selection: AMRUM by Fatih Akin (Bombero International)
CRANKO (JOHN CRANKO) by Joachim A. Lang (Zeitsprung Pictures)
RIEFENSTAHL by Andres Veiel (Vincent Productions)
SOUND OF FALLING ( IN DIE SONNE SCHAUEN) by Mascha Schilinski (Studio Zentral)
THE TIGER (DER TIGER) by Dennis Gansel (Pantaleon Films) The German selection committee for the 98th OSCAR® selection consists of nine representatives of the following eight organizations and institutions: - PROG -Producers of Germany e.V.
- Produktionsallianz (Allianz Deutscher Produzentinnen und Produzenten – Film, Fernsehen und Audiovisuelle Medien e.V.)
- Verband Deutscher Filmexporteure e.V.
- AllScreens – Verband Filmverleih und Audiovisuelle Medien e.V.
- AG-Kino - Gilde deutscher Filmkunsttheater
- Verband der Deutschen Filmkritik e.V.
- Bundesverband Regie e.V.
- Deutsche Filmakademie e.V. (2x)
| |
| Locarno Film Festival is considered one of the most important European film festivals alongside Cannes, Berlin and Venice. This year, the Swiss film festival took place from August 6 - 16, 2025. Numerous German films were again represented in the line-up for the 78th edition, including some in the competition sections. A total of 22 German productions and co-productions were in the program. The Concorso Internazionale competition section opened with WITH HASAN IN GAZA by Kamal Aljafari. The documentary is based on three rediscovered mini-DV tapes from 2001 that show life in Gaza. Also screening in the competition was the German production PHANTOMS OF JULY, a comedy by Julian Radlmaier about an East German waitress with a broken heart and an Iranian Youtuber with a broken arm, who are both looking for a way out of their loneliness. The third major German film competing for the Golden Leopard was DRY LEAF by Alexandre Koberidze. The drama follows Lisa, a sports photographer who has disappeared. A lot of applause was received by the German-American production THE DEAD OF WINTER by Brian Kirk, shown in the Piazza Grande. This drama is about a widowed fisherwoman - played by Emma Thompson, who also received the Leopard Club Award in Locarno - who gets stuck in Minnesota during a snowstorm. Awards were given to WITH HASAN IN GAZA (Europa Cinemas Label as Best European film) und DRY LEAF (FIPRESCI Prize). German Films was also cooperating once again with Locarno Pro in the “Match Me!” program. On the first weekend of the festival, German Films and Film Fund North-Rhine Westphalia hosted the Locarno Pro Meet & Greet at the Campari Lounge. Among the 300 or so guests were the German film teams whose films could be seen in the Locarno program, as well as numerous industry professionals who met to exchange ideas and to network. | |
| The Festival de Cine Alemán invites you to Cinépolis Recoleta from September 18 to 24, 2025, to celebrate its 25th anniversary together. Once again, viewers can look forward to a diverse selection of 15 films covering the entire spectrum of German cinema. From historical dramas and romantic tales to comedies and documentaries, there is something for every cineaste. This year, special attention will be paid to the latest works by two acclaimed directors who have close ties to the festival: Andreas Dresen (FROM HILDE WITH LOVE) and Christian Petzold (MIRRORS NO. 3). Another highlight this year is a surprise film, which will be presented by one of the filmmakers in person. The festival will be opened by Alfredo Castro, the editor of RIEFENSTAHL, who will present the documentary. In addition, Alexander Mertens, the producer of CLOUDS ARE MADE OF RAIN will be present and available for a Q&A. Young talents will also be showing their films, including EDGE OF NIGHT by Türker Süer and SHAHID by Narges Kalhor. Another highlight is the screening of the restored silent film classic BUDDENBROOKS, accompanied by live music from the renowned duo Lerner Moguilevsky.
The program is rounded off by a selection of the most exciting short film productions from Germany as part of this year's NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER program. | |
| This month, FACE TO FACE ambassador and actor Thea Ehre travelled to South America to attend the Santiago Festival Internacional de Cine SANFIC on behalf of German Films. Thea was part of the National Talent Competition Jury, along with Chilean actor Clemente Rodriguez and Ecuadorian Chilean actor Mishell Guaña Montoya. This section is dedicated to fictional short films and national documentaries, which have a duration of up to 30 minutes, produced in the current year or the year before the festival is held. She attended the SANFIC Opening Ceremony and the Industry Opening, and on top of her week-long jury duty, her recent film THE LIGHT by director Tom Tykwer, which premiered at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival, was screened twice, each screening followed by a Q&A with Thea Ehre. | |
| The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has voted 14 students as winners of the 52nd Student Academy Awards® competition. This year, the Student Academy Awards competition received 3,127 entries from 988 colleges and universities worldwide. A SPARROW’S SONG by Tobias Eckerlin (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg) was selected as one of the winners in the Animation category. The short film is about the following: Inspired by a true story, a widowed air raid warden in the midst of World War II struggles to overcome grief and rediscover joy in her life—until she finds a dying sparrow she hopes to save. A SPARROW’S SONG is a 3D animated short film created as a graduation project at the Animationinstitut of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. The film has a runtime of nearly 10 minutes and was developed over the span of three years, two and a half of which were dedicated to full 3D production and post-production. The Student Academy Awards® is an international student film competition. Each year, college and university film students from all over the world compete for awards and cash grants, with films being judged in the following categories: Alternative/Experimental, Animation, Documentary and Narrative. Gold, silver and bronze placements in the four award categories will be announced at the ceremony. In addition, winners will have a robust weekend of education programming, networking opportunities and exclusive access to Academy members to support their career advancement.
All Student Academy Award-winning films will be eligible to compete for the 98th Oscars® in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film or Documentary Short Film category. The 52nd annual Student Academy Awards® will be held in New York during New York Film Festival at the Ziegfeld Ballroom on Monday, October 6, 2025. | |
| The focus of the next session for the English-language KINO! FILM SALON online film club on September 7 will be PHOENIX by Christian Petzold. Christian Petzold is one of the best renowned directors of contemporary German cinema. The film started its international festival career with a world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival in 2014, and the director returns to the festival with his most recent family drama MIROIRS NO. 3 in the prestigious CENTERPIECE section – a film starring Paula Beer. Our curator Jim Kolmar's comment on the movie: "With characteristic panache and slow burn intensity, Christian Petzold’s PHOENIX truly deserves its reputation as a simmering modern classic with an irresistibly Hitchcockian sensibility. Frequent collaborator Nina Hoss plays Nelly, a disfigured Auschwitz survivor navigating the wreckage of post-war Berlin while attempting to rebuild her life in an unforgiving environment. At once a thriller, and a melodrama of sorts, PHOENIX is a prismatic film that explores identity, trauma and alienation with the thematic confidence, intelligence and stunning sense of style that could only have come from Hoss and Petzold. PHOENIX lit up film critics on its release in 2014, and it continues to resonate today." RSVP here We will start our virtual session with a brief introduction by Christian Petzold (courtesy of Toronto International Film Festival) Date and time: Sunday, September 7 at 11:30am – 12:30pm PT, 2:30pm – 3:30pm ET, 8:30pm – 9:30pm CET.
Hosted by Jim Kolmar KINO! FILM SALON is a production by Telescope Film, in collaboration with the German Film Office Trailer here | |
| Episode 84 - September 11, 2025:
What did we talk about with composer Amaury Laurent Bernier? His obsession with great food, of course! As well as about his unusual life- and career story, DOCTOR WHO, and his very special connection to the series TATORTREINIGER. You can find all of the episodes on our website and wherever podcasts are available. SHORT TAKE on Instagram! | |
| Episode 1 - September 16, 2025:
"You discover a film while you’re making it" might be a new favorite quote about movies we learned from this talk. A big thank you to director of photography Markus Foerderer for talking to us about the making of dystopian scifi feature HELL, about what draws him to the genre and why throwing out the pre-planning is sometimes the boldest move you can make in film making. Episode 6 - September 30, 2025:
"What does it mean to be human?" For actor Maren Eggert this question is not only the focus of her film I´M YOUR MAN, but of acting in general. She shared with us her decision-making process for her projects, the joy of learning something new for a project, and the fact that she would love to be in an action or historical movie. You can find all of the episodes on our website and wherever podcasts are available. DEEP DIVE GENRE on Instagram! | |
| Job announcement: Managing Director European Film Promotion (EFP)
European Film Promotion (EFP) is looking for an experienced, strategically minded Managing Director with strong leadership and networking skills and a passion for European cinema. Based in Hamburg, you will lead EFP both operationally and strategically, in close collaboration with the EFP Board and 38 member organizations – supported by a committed team on site. Work location is Hamburg, starting in mid-June 2026. For more details about the position, please visit: https://efp-online.com/jobs. Ulrike Ottinger at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
From September 25 to October 4, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will present a film series focusing on the works of author and iconoclast Ulrike Ottinger. Ottinger whose daring films often transcend genre boundaries while addressing themes such as identity, gender, and cultural uprooting, will join the screenings for four programs this September to discuss her trajectory as an artist, her approach to crafting images, and her visionary eye for color and mise-en-scène. More info can be found here. Call for submissions - European Film Awards 2026: The European Film Academy is looking forward to film submissions for the third and final submission period. In accordance with the new submission structure, submission periods are determined by the date of the first official screening/world premiere of a film: For the third and final submission period of the 38th European Film Awards, films premiering in August and September can be submitted. The deadline is Monday, September 15, 2025, with an early bird fee in place until August 31, 2025. Regulations and submission details can be found here.
- Berlinale Co-Production Market: Call for entries for Feature Film & Drama Series Projects: The Official Selection will comprise around 20 international projects. Their producers will have tailor-made, pre-scheduled meetings with selected potential partners from a pool of 600 experienced producers, financiers, funds, sales, and distribution and TV partners. Deadline is September 17, 2025. Online submission and more details can be found here.
- CPH:DOX 2026: CPH:DOX, one of the world’s leading documentary film festivals, is now officially open for submissions for the 2026 edition. The deadlines for submitting a film are: September 1, 2025 (for films finished by that date). November 1, 2025 (for films finished after September 1). This year, CPH:LAB is again calling for creative and experimental projects that challenge the conventions of storytelling. The lab provides a unique platform for innovative voices to develop their ideas with the support of experienced mentors and a collaborative environment. CPH:DOX 2026 will take place from March 11-22, 2026. More info can be found here.
- Visions du Réel: The call for non-fiction films and projects for the 57th edition of Visions du Réel (April, 17–26, 2026) is now open. The festival is looking for films for the Official Selection and projects for VdR–Industry activities. The films in competition are screened as world, international or European premieres. Deadlines are October 17, 2025 (early deadline), December 15, 2025 (final deadline), November 6, 2025 (Deadline VdR–Development Lab). More information can be found here.
| |
| Awards for German productions and co-productions at Locarno. | |
| International releases of German films in September 2025 supported by the German Films Distribution Support program: GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE in Singapore (Distributor: Shaw Renters, World Sales: Europa - Park Freizeit und Familienpark Mack KG/Timeless Films, Theatrical Release: September 4, 2025)
GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE in Slovenia (Distributor: Blitz Film & Video Distribution, World Sales: Europa - Park Freizeit und Familienpark Mack KG/Timeless Films, Theatrical Release: September 4, 2025)
GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE in Serbia (Distributor: Blitz Film & Video Distribucija, World Sales: Europa - Park Freizeit und Familienpark Mack KG/Timeless Films, Theatrical Release: September 18, 2025)
ISLANDS in UK and Ireland (Distributor: British Film Institute, World Sales: Protagonist Pictures, Theatrical Release: September 12, 2025)
KÖLN 75 in Sweden (Distributor: AB Svensk Filmindustri, World Sales: Bankside Films, Theatrical Release: September 2025)
KÖLN 75 in Norway (Distributor: SF Studios/AB Svensk Filmindustri, World Sales: Bankside Films, Theatrical Release: 05 September 5, 2025)
KÖLN 75 in Finland (Distributor: SF Studios/AB Svensk Filmindustri, World Sales: Bankside Films, Theatrical Release: September 26, 2025)
LEONORA IN THE MORNING LIGHT in Mexico (Distributor: Piano Distribución de Obras Cinematográficas, World Sales: Indie Sales, Theatrical Release: September 4, 2025)
MIRRORS NO. 3 in Belgium (Imagine Film Distribution, World Sales: The Match Factory, Theatrical Release: September 3, 2025)
MÜNTER & KANDINSKY in Spain (Distributor: Surtsey Films, World Sales: The Playmaker Munich, Theatrical Release: September 26, 2025)
RIEFENSTAHL in USA and Canada (Distributor: Kino Lorber, World Sales: Beta Cinema, Theatrical Release: September 5, 2025)
SOUND OF FALLING in Austria (Distributor: Filmladen Filmverleih GmbH, World Sales: mk2 Films, Theatrical Release: September 12, 2025)
TAFITI - ACROSS THE DESERT in Switzerland (Distributor: Elite Film AG, World Sales: Sola Media, Theatrical Release: September 4, 2025)
TAFITI - ACROSS THE DESERT in Austria (Distributor: Luna Filmverleih, World Sales: Sola Media, Theatrical Release: September 4, 2025) Please note: Correct at time of going to press. Changes may occur at any time. | |
| Contact:
Angela Sonntag (Head of Press & Public Relations) | |
| German Films Service + Marketing GmbH
Herzog-Wilhelm-Straße 16
80331 München/Deutschland Tel +49-89-59 97 87-0
Fax +49-89-59 97 87-30 | |
| |
|
