With its U18 Youth Film Competition, the 27th FilmFestival Cottbus (FFC) explores the lives of young people in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.
Nine feature and medium-length films from Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic will compete in the U18 Youth Film Competition of the 27th FFC (7 to 12 November 2017) for the prize for Best Youth Film endowed with EUR 3,000 bestowed by Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG (LEAG). As in previous years, the prize will be awarded by a tri-national jury of pupils from the 5th Lyceum Zielona Góra, the Gymnazium Teplice and, for the first time, the Humboldt-Gymnasium in Cottbus. “This year’s U18 Youth Film Competition is an inspiration with its enormous variety. It addresses big issues such as family, self-determination, digital worlds and, of course, the exciting adventure of love”, says U18 curator Jarek Godlewski. “The films are fast-paced, entertaining, artistic and at times a little thrilling – an enthralling programme for teenagers and young adults alike.”
From junkie to iron man: the Polish director Łukasz Palkowski tells the true story of Jerzy Górski in BREAKING THE LIMITS. At a young age, Jerzy consumes hard drugs with his clique. When many of his friends die as a result of overdosing, he decides to fight against his addition by keenly pursuing athletic goals. A gripping biopic that recently won three awards at the renowned Polish film festival Gdynia. Another recent award winner is LOMO – THE LANGUAGE OF MANY OTHERS by Julia Langhof. Main actor Jonas Dassler won the Götz George Award for Emerging Talents at First Steps. He plays Karl, who is fed up with satisfying the wishes of his ambitious parents and therefore regularly ‘feeds’ his blog by mercilessly posting his unfiltered experiences. A gripping drama that innovatively explores the world of digital natives in their search for meaning. MONTENEGRO by Petr Kubík likewise gathers pace by virtue of the internet: this is where the young Czechs Tomaš und Adam arrange to undertake an off-road Jeep tour through Montenegro with two young Serbian women. A charming road movie with strong cars, stunning landscapes, plenty of jealousy and the spirit of summer.
The U18 Youth Film Competition is supported by Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG (LEAG) and the Brandenburg State Ministry of Science, Research and Culture (MWFK). “The FilmFestival Cottbus’s U18 Youth Film Competition and the tri-national student meeting add to exchange within the border triangle on a very special level”, says Dr Martina Münch from the MWFK. “The youths from Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany meet in Cottbus on a cinematic and a personal level and in doing so discover connectedness, yet perhaps also differences in their lives, which in turn initiates dialogue. I am delighted that this competition forms part of the festival. Europe needs such formats that promote mutual understanding and the engagement with a wide range of different cultures. This is particularly important for our young generation, as it is they who will shape the vision of Europe.”