Awards
The winners of the 33rd edition of FILMFEST HAMBURG have been announced. A total of twelve prizes were awarded, including the Hamburg Producers Awards, the Douglas Sirk Award, the Albert Wiederspiel Award and the FILMFEST HAMBURG AUDIENCE AWARD.
HAMBURg Producers Award
INTERNATIONAL CINEMA-COPRO
The Hamburg Producers Award for International Cinema CoPro is endowed with €25,000, provided by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and awarded to the German co-producer(s).
Laureates
2025: Georg Neubert, Katharina Weser and Jasper Wiedhöft (Reynard Films, Leipzig) for A Sad and Beautiful World (Dir.: Cyril Aris; Scr.: Cyril Aris, Bane Fakih)
2024: Dorothe Beinemeier (Red Balloon, Hamburg ) for Happy Holidays (Dir. & Scr.: Scandar Copti)
2023: Fabian Driehorst (Fabian&Fred, Hamburg) for Sultana’s Dream (Dir.: Isabel Herguera; Scr.: Isabel Herguera, Gianmarco Serra)
2022: Michael Reuter, Saar Yogev and Naomi Levari (Electric Sheep, Berlin) for Victim (Dir.: Michal Blaško); Special Mention: Sol Bondy (One Two Films, Berlin) für Holy Spider (Dir.: Ali Abbasi)
2021: Melanie Andernach (Made in Germany Filmproduktion, Cologne) for Lingui (Dir. & Scr. Mahamat-Saleh Haroun)
2019: Michael Henrichs (Die Gesellschaft DGS, Cologne) for You Will Die at Twenty (Dir.: Amjad Abu Alala)
2018: Michael Eckelt (Riva Film, Hamburg) for Sibel (Dir.: Çagla Zencirci,Guillaume Giovanetti)
2017: Eva Blondiau (Color of May, Cologne) for Arrhythmia (Dir. Boris Khlebnikov)
2016: Jonas Dornbach, Janine Jackowski and Maren Ade (Komplizen Film Berlin) for Scarred Hearts (Dir. & Scr.: Radu Jude)
2015: Christine Haupt and Alexander Ris (Neue Mediopolis Filmproduktion, Leipzig) for One Floor Below (Dir. Radu Muntean, Scr.: Radu Muntean, Alexandru Baciu, Razvan Radulescu); Romanian co-producer: Dragos Vilcu (Multi Media Est).
2014: Daniel Zuta (Brandstorm Entertainment) for Welcome to Karastan (Dir.: Ben Hopkins; Scr.: Ben Hopkins, Pawel Pawlikoski); Georgian co-producer: Vladimer Katcharava (20 Steps Production)
Hamburg Producers Award
GERMAN CINEMA
The Hamburg Producers Award for German Cinema has been presented since 2018 to films from the GROSSE FREIHEIT section. The producer of the winning film receives €25,000. The prize money is provided by the Ministry of Culture and Media.
Previous winners:
2025: Kirill Krasovski (Blue Monticola Film, Magdeburg) for Phantoms in July (Screenplay & Direction: Julian Radlmaier); Special Mention: Ingmar Trost (Sutor Kolonko, Cologne) for Gavagai (Dir. & Scr.: Ulrich Köhler).
2024: Dietmar Güntsche, Martin Rohé and Svenja Vanhoefer (Rebelle Film, Weimar) for Vena (Dir. & Scr: Chiara Fleischhacker)
2023: Katharina Huber for A Good Place (Dir., Scr., Prod.: Katharina Huber)
2022: Tobias Walker and Philipp Worm (Walker + Worm Film) for Skin Deep (Dir.: Alex Schaad; Scr.: Alex Schaad, Dimitrij Schaad)
2021: Jonas Weydemann (Weydeman & Bros.) for No One’s with the Calves (Dir.: Sabrina Sarabi)
2019: Verena Gräfe-Höft (Junafilm) for Pelican Blood (Dir. & Scr.: Katrin Gebbe)
2018: Jamila Wenske and Sol Bondy (One Two Films) for The Most Beautiful Couple (Dir. Sven Taddicken)
Hamburg Producers Award
GERMAN TELEVISION FILMS
The Hamburg Producers Award for German Television Films is presented in the TV section TELEVISIONEN. The producer of the winning film receives €25,000. Since 2014, the prize money has been endowed by the VFF, the Collecting Society of Film and Television Producers.
Previous winners:
2025: Peter Hartwig (KINEO Film) for Polizei (Dir.: Buket Alakuş; Scr.: Laila Stieler).
2024: Bernd von Fehrn, René Jamm (Warner Bros.), Roxana Richters and Alexander Wadouh (Chromosom Film), for Von uns wird es keiner sein (Dir.: Simon Ostermann; Scr.: Lucas Flasch)
2023: Jakob Claussen and Ulrike Putz (Claussen + Putz) for Sörensen fängt Feuer (Dir.: Bjarne Mädel; Scr.: Sven Stricker)
2022: Christian Popp (Producers at Work) for Das Wunder von Kapstadt (Dir.: Franziska Buch; Scr: Christoph Silber)
2021: Jürgen Schuster (Fandango Film) for Sleepless in Portugal (Dir.: Florian Froschmayer; Scr.: Sathyan Ramesh)
2019: Ingmar Trost (Sutor Kolonko, Cologne) for A Voluntary Year (Dir: Ulrich Köhler, Henner Winckler)
2018: Heike Wiehle-Timm (Relevant Film, Hamburg) for Aufbruch in die Freiheit (Dir.: Isabel Kleefeld)
2017: Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt and Christoph Bicker (Polyphon Film- und Fernsehgesellschaft Hamburg) for Meine fremde Freundin (Dir.: Stefan Krohmer)
2016: Heike Wiehle-Timm (Relevant Film Hamburg) for Apropos Glück (Dir.: Ulrike Grote)
2015: Brit Possardt (Calypso Entertainment) for Frauen (Dir.: Jan Ružička)
2014: Iris Kiefer (Filmpool Fiction) for Polizeiruf 110: Familiensache (Dir.: Eoin Moore)
2012: Claudia Schröder (Aspekt Telefilm-Produktion) for Mörderische Jagd (Dir.: Markus Imboden)
2011: Ulrich Aselmann (d.i.e. film) for Tödlicher Rausch (Dir.: Johannes Fabrick)
2010: Ralph Schwingel and Stefan Schubert (Wüste Film for Etwas Besseres als den Tod (Dir.: Nicole Weegmann)
2009: Claudia Schröder (Bremedia Filmproduktion) for Mörder auf Amrum (Dir.: Markus Imboden)
2008: Astrid Kahmke (Bavaria Fernsehproduktion) for Machen wir’s auf Finnisch (Dir.: Marco Petry)
2007: Babette Schröder (Magnolia Filmproduktion) for Kuckuckszeit (Dir.: Johannes Fabrick)
2006: Gloria Burkert and Andreas Bareiss (BurkertBareiss) for Ich wollte nicht töten (Dir.: Dagmar Hirtz)
Hamburg Producers Award
GERMAN SERIES
Since 2021, the Hamburg Producers Award for German Series has been presented. The prize money of €10,000 is also provided by the VFF.
Previous winners:
2025: Kirstin Wille, Alexandra Bauermeister, Phil Laude and Ralph Schiller (DCM Pictures in cooperation with DiggiTales) for Almania (Showrunner: Phil Laude; Dir.: David Gruschka; Scr.: Thomas Mielmann, Phil Laude, Melina Natale, David Gruschka, Pejwak Ghasryani)
2024: Martin Danisch and David Hadda (Turbokultur) for Deadlines (Dir.: Sonja Heiss; Scr.: Johannes Boss, Nora Gantenbrink, Sonja Heiss)
2023: Katrin Haase and Oliver Arnold (U5 Filmproduktion) for Füxe (Dir.: David Clay Diaz, Susan Gordanshekan)
2022: Christian Beetz (Gebrüder Beetz Filmproduktion) for Reeperbahn – Special Police Unit 65 (Dir.: Georg Tschurtschenthaler, Carsten Gutschmidt, Ina Kessebohm)
2021: Ulf Israel and Reik Möller (Senator FIlmproduktion) for Warten auf’n Bus (Dir.: Fabian Möhrke; Scr.: Sophie Decker, Oliver Bukowski)
ARTHOUSE CINEMA AWARD
The Arthouse Cinema Award of the International Confederation of Art Cinemas (C.I.C.A.E.) is, from this year, accompanied by €25,000 from MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein for PR measures of the German distributor. Nominated are films that have been released in German cinemas by a distributor.
Previous winners:
2025: Port au Prince Pictures; The Secret Agent (BR, FR, NL, DE) Dir. & Scr.: Kleber Mendonça Filho)
2024: Rapid Eye Movies;Universal Language (CA), Dir.: Matthew Rankin
2023: Capelight Pictures; How to Have Sex (UK, GR), Dir.: Molly Manning Walker
2022: Pandora Film Verleih; Close (BE, FR, NL), Dir.: Lucas Dhont
2021: Neue Visionen Filmverleih; Paris 13th District (FR), Dir.: Jacques Audiard
2019: Alamode Film; Portrait of a Lady on Fire (FR), Dir.: Céline Sciamma
2018: Pandora Film Verleih; Women at War (IS, FR, UA), Dir.: Benedikt Erlingsson; Scr.: Ólafur Egilsson, Benedikt Erlingsson
2017: Weltkino; The Rider (US), Dir.: Chloé Zhao
2016: Weltkino; Only the End of the World (CA, FR), Dir.: Xavier Dolan
2015: Weltkino; Mustang (FR, TR, DE), Dir.: Deniz Gamze Ergüven
2014: Salzgeber; Get – Der Prozess der Viviane Amsalem (IL, FR, DE), Dir.:, Scr.: Ronit Elkabetz und Shlomi Elkabetz
2013: Prokino; Venus in Fur (FR, PL), Dir.:, Scr.: Roman Polański
2012: nfp; Laurence Anyways (CA), Dir.:, Scr.: Xavier Dolan
2011: Arsenal Filmverleih; Monsieur Lazhar (CA), Dir.:, Scr.: Philippe Falardeau
2010: Senator Film; Nowhere Boy (UK, CA), Dir.: Sam Taylor-Wood
2009: Pandora Film Verleih; Soul Kitchen (DE), Dir.: Fatih Akin
2008: Pandora Film Verleih; 35 Rum (FR, DE), Dir.: Claire Denis
The Political Film of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Since 2013, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung has been honouring socially engaged cinema. Documentary and feature films in the Veto! section compete for prize money of €10,000. The award goes to the best director.
Previous winners:
2025: Do You Love Me (FR, LB, DE, QA) Director: Lana Daher
2024: Sugarcane (US, CA) Directors: Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie
2023: In the Rearview (FR, PL, UA), Director: Maciek Hamela
2022: How to Blow Up a Pipeline (US), Director: Daniel Goldhaber
2021: La Civil (BE, RO, MX), Director: Teodora Ana Mihai
2019: Movements of a Nearby Mountain (AT, FR), Director: Sebastian Brameshuber
2018: On Her Shoulders (US), Director: Alexandria Bombach
2017: The Wait (DK), Directors: Emil Langballe and Andrea Storm Henriksen
2016: Tadmor (B, FR, CH, QA, AE), Directors: Monika Borgmann and Lokman Slim
2015: Every Face Has a Name (SE), Director: Magnus Gertten
2014: Children 404 (RU), Directors: Askold Kurov and Pavel Loparev
2013: Manuscripts Don’t Burn (IR), Director and Screenwriter: Mohammad Rasulof
2012: Fire in the Blood (IN), Director: Dylan Mohan Gray
NDR Young Talent Award
Hamburg students award the NDR Young Talent Award to directors who are showing their feature film debut or second directorial work across sections. The prize is endowed with €5,000 and is provided by Norddeutscher Rundfunk.
Previous winners:
2025: Lucky Lu (US, CA), Director: Lloyd Lee Choi
2024: Diciannove (IT, GB), Director: Giovanni Tortorici
2023: Shayda (AU), Director: Noora Niasari
2022: Dalva (Love According to Dalva) (BE, FR), Director: Emmanuelle Nicot
2021: Hive (XK, CH, AL, MK), Director: Blerta Basholli
2019: A Son (TN, FR), Director: Mehdi M. Barsaoui
2018: Little Tickles (FR), Director: Eric Métayer und Andréa Bescond
2017: Beach Rats (US), Director: Eliza Hittman. Lobende Erwähnung für Satan Said Dance (PL, NL), Regie: Kasia Rosłaniec
2016: Cold of Kalandar (HU, TR), Director: Mustafa Kara
2015: Keeper (BE, FR, CH), Director: Guillaume Senez
2014: Mary Is Happy, Mary Is Happy (TH), Director: Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit
2013: Short Term 12 (US), Director: Destin Cretton
2012: Germania (AR), Director: Maximiliano Schonfeld
2011: Avé (BG), Director: Konstantin Boschanow
2010: Shrouds (IL), Director: Shalom Hager
2009: Before my Eyes (TR), Director: Miraz Bezar
2008: Johnny Mad Dog (FR), Director: Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire
Critics’ Choice Award
The Critics’ Choice Award has been presented in collaboration with the Verband der deutschen Filmkritik since 2018. The prize is awarded to a film in the programme that stands out for its original perspective.
Previous winners:
2025: Second Victims (DK), Director: Zinnini Elkington
2024: The Sparrow in the Chimney (CH), Director: Ramon Zürcher
2023: Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World (HR, FR, LU, RO), Director: Radu Jude
2022: R.M.N. (RO, FR), Director: Cristian Mungiu
2021: Vortex (FR, BE, MC), Director: Gaspar Noé
2019: Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains (CN), Director: Gu Xiaogang
2018: Our Struggles (BE, FR), Director: Guillaume Senez
2017: The Florida Project (US), Director: Sean Baker. Lobende Erwähnung für Song of Granite (IE, CA), Director: Pat Collins
2016: Graduation (FR, RO, BE), Director and Screenwriter: Cristian Mungiu
2015: Neon Bull (BR, UY, NL), Director and Screenwriter: Gabriel Mascaro
2014: Hope (FR), Director and Screenwriter: Boris Lojkine
2013: Metro Manila (GB, PH), Director: Sean Ellis
2012: Lore (DE, AU, GB), Director: Cate Shortland
2011: Take Shelter (US), Director: Jeff Nichols
2010: Pulsar (BE), Director: Alex Stockman
2009: Cold Souls (US), Director: Sophie Barthes
2008: Frozen River (US), Director: Courtney Hunt
2007: Control (NL), Director: Anton Corbijn
2005: Iron Island (IR), Director: Mohammad Rasulof
2004: Brothers (DK), Director: Susanne Bier
MAJA
The MICHEL Film Award MAJA, endowed with €10,000, is sponsored by Hamburg cinema operator Hans-Peter Jansen. A jury of children and young people will choose their favourite from among all the films in this section.
Previous winners:
2025: Tales from the Magic Garden (CZ, SK, SI, FR), Directors: David Súkup, Patrik Pašš, Leon Vidmar und Jean-Claude Rozec. Honourable mention for Wild Foxes (FR, BE), Director: Valéry Carnoy
2024: Lars Is LOL (NO), Director: Eirik Sæter Stordahl
2023: Totem (NL, LU, DE), Director: Sander Burger
2022: Summer Scars (FR), Director: Christophe Barratier
2021: The Ape Star (SE), Director: Linda Hambäck
2019: Psychobitch (NO), Director: Martin Lund
2018: Supa Modo (DE, KE), Director: Likarion Wainaina
2017: 1:54 (CA), Director: Yan England
2016: Fanny’s Journey (FR), Director: Lola Doillon
2015: Little Gangster (NL), Director: Arne Toonen
2014: The Shamer’s Daughter (DK), Director: Martin Miehe-Renard
2013: Felix (ZA), Director: Roberta Durrant
2012: Stay Away from Me (NL), Director: Lourens Blok
2011: Ways to Live Forever (GB, ES), Director and Screenwriter: Gustavo Ron
2010: Spork (US), Director: J.B. Ghuman Jr.
2009: Glowing Stars (SE), Director: Lisa Siwe
2008: Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueburger (AU), Director: Cathy Randall
2007: Red Like the Sky (IT), Director: Cristiano Bortone
2006: Don (NL), Director: Arend Steenbergen
2005: The Treasure of the White Falcons (DE), Director: Christian Zübert
2004: 4th Floor (ES), Director: Antonio Mercero
2003: The Mysterious Miss C. (CA), Director: Richard Ciupka
FILMFEST HAMBURG Audience Award
The FILMFEST HAMBURG AUDIENCE AWARD, endowed with €5,000 and donated by the HHapag-Lloyd Stiftung goes to the festival’s audience favourite.
Previous winners:
2025: Love Letters (FR), Director: Alice Douard
2024: Freedom in the Heart (DE), Director: Roxana Samadi
2023: Heaven Can Wait (DE), Director: Sven Halfar
2022: Amerikatsi (AM), Director: Michael Goorjian
2021: Little Palestine, Diary of a Siege (LB, QA, FR), Director: Abdallah Al-Khatib
2020: Gunda (NO, US), Director: Victor Kossakovsky
2019: Psychobitch (NO), Director: Martin Lund
2018: Solsidan (SE), Directors: Felix Herngren und Måns Herngren
2017: For Your Own Good (ES), Director: Carlos Therón
2016: The Day Will Come (DK), Director: Jesper W. Nielsen
2015: Nice People (SE), Directors: Karin af Klintberg und Anders Helgeson
2014: HalloHallo (SE), Director and Screenwriter: Maria Blom
2013: Les Gamins (Forever Young) (FR), Director and Screenwriter: Anthony Marciano
2012: This Life (DK), Director: Anne-Grethe Bjarup Riis
2011: King of Devil’s Island (NO), Director: Marius Holst
2010: Oldboys (DK), Director and Screenwriter: Nikolaj Steen
2009: The First Star (FR), Director: Lucien Jean-Baptiste
2008: Welcome to the Sticks (FR), Director: Dany Boon
2005: Adam’s Apples (DK), Director: Anders Thomas Jensen
2004: Dog Nail Clipper (FI), Director: Markku Pölönen
ALBERT WIEDERSPIEL AWARD
Since 2023, the Hapag-Lloyd Foundation has awarded the Albert Wiederspiel Prize for International Film Direction, endowed with €10,000. The award honors directors who, despite adverse political conditions in their home countries, courageously use their art to advocate for democracy and human rights. By establishing the prize and naming it after the former festival director of FILMFEST HAMBURG, the Hapag-Lloyd Foundation aims
“to honour a dedicated festival organiser and film enthusiast”
Previous winners:
2025: Honeymoon (UA), Director: Zhanna Ozirna
2024: April (GE), Director: Dea Kulumbegashvili
2023: Achilles (IR), Director: Farhad Delaram
Douglas Sirk AWARD
Since 1995, the Douglas Sirk Prize has been awarded as part of FILMFEST HAMBURG to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to film culture and the film industry. The 2025 award winners are Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne.
