The festival team would like to say thank you to all friends & sponsors, have a happy Christmas and a great new year!

Overjoyed winners, from left to right: Timo Schwarz, cinematographer REGENBOGENENGEL, Daniel Büttner & Max Baberg, directors FALLEN GELASSEN, festival director Nicky Schulte and Pierre Schoeller, director of VERSAILLES
 

In the European feature film competition, the award of best director, worth EUR 7,500, goes to:
Pierre Schoeller for VERSAILLES (France 2008)

In the German-Language Short Film Competition, the Filmwerkstatt's Großer Preis of EUR 5,000, sponsored by Grimm & Partner Unternehmens- und Wirtschaftsberatung, is awarded to:
FALLEN GELASSEN (Germany 2008) by Daniel Büttner & Max Baberg

A special mention was given to young actor Jacob Matschenz for Fliegen and to the short documentary man stirbt. by Patrick Doberenz and Philipp Enders.

The WDR promotional prize from the Landesstudio Münster worth EUR 2,500 is awarded to:
REGENBOGENENGEL (Germany 2008) by Anna Kasten

The public's prize of EUR 1,000 endowed by the Münstersche Filmtheater-Betriebe is awarded to:
WAGAH (Germany 2009) by Supriyo Sen

Finally, a jury of students awarded the School Programme prize for the best short film on the theme of »courage«, the winner of which can participate in one of the film seminars offered by the Filmwerkstatt:
WIDERSTAND (Germany 2008) by Baris Aladag
 

Here's an extract from festival photographer Ralf Emmerich's portrait series …

Today at 19:30, the festival will commence with the grand opening. The new festival director Nicky Schulte is happy to welcome, among other guests of honour, the filmfestival's 'godfather' Oliver Keymis, a director himself, and vice president of the North Rhine-Westphalian parliament. Afterwards, the German premiere of Unter Bauern — Among Farmers, the first entry for the European feature film competition, will open the festival. Director Ludi Boeken tells the dramatic story of the survival of the Jew Marga Spiegel, who went into hiding with Westphalian farmers during WW II.

Here's an appetizer for tonight's sozialpalast: photos from last week …

Even before the start of the festival on October 7, we have a few highlights on offer:

On Tuesday, September 29, 19:00 the SHORT MATTERS! / PRIX UIP 08 reel will show Europe's best shorts at the Cinema Münster. Our first international guests are James Lees (GB), director of The Apology Line, and Koen Dejaegher (B) of De Onbaatzuchtigen. A perfect appetizer for the festival …

On Thursday, October 1, we have the pleasure to invite you to the opening of the video exhibition risk.views NL|D which will take place at 19:00, at the Hafenweg Münster, entrance is opposite to the Coconut Beach.
One day later, the video installation »in between« will start. It is located in a Kirghiz yurt in the courtyard of the city hall. It is open daily from 14:00 – 19:00.

The installations are a cooperation of the Filmwerkstatt Münster and the Münsterland e.V., funded by Euregio Gronau/Enschede. We are thankful for the support by Kunstakademie Münster and Aki / Artez Enschede.

On Friday, October 2, the art project sozialpalast 2009 starts a theatrical installation in the display window of a 2nd hand furniture shop: a couple shares its daily routines with the audience.
Fri, and next week on Tue, Fri and Sat, starts by 21:00, @raum2, Mauritzstr. 4-6, Münster

As soon as the festival has started, we'll publish photos from all festival locations.

From the archives:
Photo gallery 2007
Photo gallery 2005

All photos: © Ralf Emmerich | ralf.emilio [at] t-online.de