On the occasion of the 18th edition of the independent Berlin film festival, the jury – producer Mariam Shatberashvili and director and screenwriter Süheyla Schwenk – awarded the BASIS BERLIN Postproduction Award for Best Direction to Baloji from Belgium for his autobiographical debut "Augure" on December 9, 2023, at the Kino in der Kulturbrauerei. The jury reviewed the entries from the “14 Films” section of the cinematic world tour. This year marks the third time the award, a voucher worth €5,000, has been sponsored by the postproduction house BASIS BERLIN. The film festival welcomed around 5,700 visitors this year.
The jury commented on their decision: “This film tells the compelling exploration of personal identity and the attempt at reconciliation in a postcolonial society marked by deep contradictions. The film’s outstanding achievement lies in its courage and creative storytelling, which draws the audience into the protagonist's inner journey. The powerful images convey the social pressures and challenges that can tear loved ones apart. The characters are portrayed in a nuanced yet compassionate manner, while simultaneously being trapped by societal norms and patriarchal structures. The film particularly highlights how external burdens are handled, depicting this as a powerful act with the potential to change lives. The film leaves a lasting impression through its profound exploration of relevant themes and its artistic expression. Remarkably, despite the seriousness of the subject, the director manages to maintain humor and lightness, enriched by the skillful use of music. This nuance gives the work a unique balance and deep emotional resonance.”
5,700 Visitors at 57 Screenings
Around 5,700 visitors attended the 57 screenings of the 18th edition of the festival (2022: 63 screenings, 5,000 visitors). AROUND THE WORLD IN 14 FILMS showcased 23 cinematic highlights of current world cinema from December 1 to 9 at Kino in der KulturBrauerei as well as delphi LUX, Neues Off, and Rollberg cinemas, with guests like Agnieszka Holland, Sina Ataeian Dena, Julia Fuhr Mann, and Ágnes Pàkozdi in attendance, and films presented by prominent patrons such as Maria Schrader, Nora Fingscheidt, Karim Aïnouz, and Sarah Blaßkiewitz, Asli Özge, Natalia Sinelnikova, Melanie Waelde, Michael Koch, Julian Radlmaier, Nicolas Wackerbarth, Banafshe Hourmazdi, and Saralisa Volm. For the fifth time, the festival also presented the "Berlinale Spotlight: World Cinema Fund" in collaboration with Berlinale, featuring outstanding films produced with the support of the Berlinale initiative. The main sponsors in 2023 were Audi City Berlin, ARTE, CineStar, and KWK / Karl-Wilhelm Kayser.
And it continues: Afterward, AROUND THE WORLD IN 14 FILMS will be hosted for the first time at Munich’s City Kinos from December 11 to 16, 2023, and with a pop-up version at Schloss Elmau, Bavaria, from January 17 to 21, 2024.
Photo Award Ceremony 2023: Image (from left to right): Susanne Bieger, Süheyla Schwenk (jury), Frieda Oberlin (BASIS BERLIN), Mariam Shatberashvili (jury), and Bernhard Karl © AtWi14F, Marina Zincovitch Botelho
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