Sehsüchte - 44. Internationales Studentenfilmfestival

The theory of six degrees of separation states that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from every other person in the world. The Polish filmmakers of this documentary are putting this theory to the test. They go on a journey to explore the connections between two randomly selected people. An experiment that crosses borders, showing that the seemingly far away can be closer than we assume.

 Best Editing

Just released from prison, Agnieszka leaves her Polish home. In Munich, she meets the lonely Madame, who offers her a job as a Dominatrix at her escort service. Soon after, however, Agnieszka begins to resist her new boss, who in turn starts to reveal her dark, threatening personality.

 Best Acting Performance

 Best Music Video

A humorous biography of the artist and a reflection of his work’s role in a globalised, digitised society: With his performance art in public spheres, Christoph Faulhaber questions the order of reigning systems and exemplifies the entanglement of images and politics. Video game aesthetics are merged with documentary snippets, pushing the audience to reassess the material presented.

 best documentary (long)

Istanbul, 2014: Aslı lives in fairly stable conditions. But when she suddenly decides to protect a political activist, her family becomes a police target. Aslı is now torn between the wish for security and the willingness to do the right thing.

 Producers Award

Tobias, Thijs, Tarek and Sjeng are young, funny and close to finishing high school. The world is a playground and the freedom they long for seems even more attainable as their business idea flourishes. The camera remains close to the protagonists, even as the game abruptly ends for all of them.

 Best Youth Film

Four generations of women who lived their lives without concern for finding the right man, gave filmmaker Mea de Jong enough reason to make a touching, serious documentary about her mother, who spends most time laughing off her worries. Humorous and melancholic alike, this documentary explores the relationship dynamics of generation Y and their freedom-loving hippie parents.

 Audience Award

Every human carries memories around like baggage. Some carry them with ease while others are threatened to be crushed by them. Travelling on a boat carrying dozens of monitors, an old man rows into the open sea. But the weight of the monitors threatens to sink the ship. What is he going to do?

 Best Sound

Lux is a real life superhero who wants to make the world a better place. A team of cameramen follows him around, filming his heroic deeds. But soon his media presence becomes more important than actually helping those in need.

 Best Screenplay

One city, four colours, four people. Together, they wander the streets, each lost in their own thoughts. Trapped inside memories, plagued by regret and disappointments.

 Best Animation Film

Maciek is supposed to help out his father at the slaughterhouse. But he is a sensitive boy, who feels the pain of the sick apple trees, as well as the pig he is supposed to slaughter. On top of that he has a gift that allows him to save the hurt animal. A story about a difficult father-son relationship, told with poetic imagery.

 Best Feature Film Short

Zohar is confused. Together with her mother and her little sister, the small child arrived at a remote vacation destination at the coast of Israel. But her dad is not with them, and no one will tell her why. Insecure about everything, she wanders through the abandoned holiday resort and unknowingly gets involved in a dangerous game.

 Best Cinematography

When Agnieszka visits her dad after many years, her daughter by her side, the man is visibly struck down by age. Only his face reflects some of the energy he used to have when he was a much younger man. But Agnieszka stayed away for a reason. Confronted with her past, she remembers her father’s gruesome deeds, but also his loving side. And he mentioned something about a treasure.

 Best Feature Film

A gift that is supposed to prevent from playing computer games? Stupid! What the hell was mother thinking? An animated film that takes a surprising turn.

 Best Children's Film

To protect the caught fish from thieves, Elai stays behind while his brothers drive back to the village. During an attack Elai is severely beaten up but can be rescued by a fisherman from the neighboring village. When the brothers return and wonder what happened Elai can only appease them with a lie, but it has more serious consequences than he realizes. A film about the futility of hatred and prejudice.

 Best Feature Film Short