Director and screenwriter Behrooz Karamizade can look forward to another award. For the German-Iranian production EMPTY NETS (Basis Berlin Filmproduktion) he was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. With his drama about love, hope and dreams of young people in Iran facing a tightly-knit web of tradition, corruption and social hierarchy, he participated in the Crystal Globe Competition, the main competition of the festival. The Special Jury Prize in this section is worth $15,000. For Behrooz Karamizade it is already another important award after the German Screenplay Award 2021 for EMPTY NETS.

DANCING ON THE EDGE OF A VOLCANO (Reynard Films) by Cyril Aris, which also screened in the Crystal Globe Competition received the Special Jury Mention. The German-Lebanese documentary is about a film team trying to continue their already started project after the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut.

 The German co-production BLAGA'S LESSONS (42film) won the main prize, the Crystal Globe in the Crystal Globe Competition. Director Stephan Komandarev was presented with the $25,000 prize by actress Robin Wright and festival presidient Jiri Bartoska. The Bulgarian-German thriller is about a retired teacher who becomes the victim to a phone scam, loses her entire savings and then turns to the dark, criminal side herself. In addition, BLAGA'S LESSON was also awarded the Grand Prize oft he Ecumenical Jury, which stands for films with high artistic quality while questioning social, political, ethical and spiritual values. With the Best Actress Award for Eli Skorcheva for her role in BLAGA'S LESSON, the film was able to celebrate yet another award.

The 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival took place this year from June 30 to July 8. A total of 19 German productions and co-productions took part in the film festival in various sections.

 

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