LICHTER comes to a ceremonial close – “In Case We Never Meet Again” wins the main prize at the 19th LICHTER Filmfest in Frankfurt
On Sunday evening, the 19th LICHTER Filmfest Frankfurt International came to a ceremonial close. Over the past six festival days, more than 100 films were shown across ten screens – including contemporary world cinema exploring the annual theme of “Art,” highlights of German filmmaking, regional feature and short films, virtual-reality works and contemporary video art.
To mark the conclusion of the festival, this year’s LICHTER Bembel awards were presented at the festival centre MASSIF E. The festival’s main prize, the Regional Feature Film Award, went to Noaz Deshe for the documentary “In Case We Never Meet Again.”
The film tells the story of people in Ukraine whose lives were shaken from one day to the next by the war – and asks how love, family and relationships can continue to exist where war prevails. Through intimate, familial footage, the film creates a powerful portrait of everyday life, closeness and resilience.
Produced by Frankfurt-based production company Telos Pictures and funded by Hessen Film & Medien, the documentary celebrated its German premiere at LICHTER. Producer Andro Steinborn accepted the Regional Feature Film Award of the Dr. Marschner Foundation, which is endowed with 3,000 euros.
The jury – consisting of Anna Roller, director, Gina Henkel, actress, and Torsten Neumann, festival director – explained its decision as follows:
“‘In Case We Never Meet Again’ shows us that when the present seems surreal, dreams become all the more real. […] Through its hybrid approach, the painful closeness of the camera and its associative dramaturgy, the film creates a poetic and forceful portrait of war that resonates long after it ends.”
Regional Short Film Award for Silke Schönfeld
“Die Unvorzeigbarkeit dessen, was nie hätte geschehen sollen” by Silke Schönfeld was named Best Regional Short Film. In the documentary, the director, together with her mother and aunt, traces the continuities of National Socialist educational ideals.
The award, endowed with 2,000 euros, is made possible through the generous support of the Sparkassen-Kulturstiftung Hessen-Thüringen.
The jury of the regional short film competition – Sabrina Amali, actress, Jasper Wiedhöft, producer, and Behrooz Karamizade, director – praised the film as a work that, within a limited local setting, finds images “that take root and reveal abysses.” At the same time, the film shows two “incredibly lovable protagonists,” between whom moments emerge in which memories are viewed anew and experiences are told differently.
Filmhaus Frankfurt Young Talent Award for “Harika”
For the fifth time, Filmhaus Frankfurt presented its Young Talent Award at the LICHTER Filmfest in support of extraordinary emerging talents.
The Filmhaus Gerippte, along with a seminar and equipment voucher worth 500 euros, went to “Harika” by Seyit Beran Ergün. The regional short film tells, in a summery and light-hearted way, of two boys and their affectionate observation of small everyday moments.
Audience Award for “Ensemble Modern – Why We Play”
This year’s LICHTER Audience Award went to Thorsten Schütte for “Ensemble Modern – Why We Play.” The documentary is dedicated to Frankfurt’s Ensemble Modern, one of the world’s leading musicians’ collectives, and captures the sensory atmosphere of its rehearsal work.
At its centre is not only the result on stage, but also the path leading there: the searching, discarding and collective discovery of a musical language. After each screening, the audience voted for its favourite using a school-grade system from 1 to 5. The result was razor-thin: only 0.09 percent separated “Ensemble Modern – Why We Play” from the second-placed film “Fat Years Of Fatmull” by North Hessian filmmaker Maxi Buck.
Thorsten Schütte receives the LICHTER Bembel as well as prize money of 2,000 euros.
16th LICHTER Art Award for “Father Says”
For one week, the five nominated works for the 16th LICHTER Art Award were exhibited at haistudio. On Sunday, the jury named Artūras Ustinovas the winner for his video work “Father Says.”
In his performative video work, Ustinovas explores the relationship between father and son. Through the father’s voice, a monologue about the unsaid unfolds. The jury – consisting of filmmaker Sita Scherer and curators Leonie Emeka and Saul Judd – particularly praised the connection between image, sound and performative gesture, as well as the work’s engagement with identity, memory and family structures.
The LICHTER Art Award is endowed with prize money of 1,000 euros.
10th Virtual Storytelling Award for “Romancecar”
This year, the VR Storytelling Award was once again presented as an audience award. After four days of immersive screenings at the location display, the audience chose “Romancecar” by Jonathan Haggard.
The VR work tells the story of Japan’s Odakyu Romance Car train line, which has connected Tokyo with recreational areas such as Hakone since the 1960s. In hand-drawn 360-degree panoramas, Haggard follows the changes in the train, the landscape and the people who use it over several decades.
“Romancecar” was awarded the LICHTER Bembel and prize money of 1,000 euros.