Press Release – Youth 4 German Cinema 2023
2023 Berlin & Beyond Film Festival:
Youth 4 German Cinema 2023 Program Announces
Winning Film “The Ordinaries”
– Festival Publicist: Steve Indig PR at steve@steveindigpr.com
– Youth 4 German Cinema: Lisa Klien, Goethe-Institut San Francisco, Language Program Officer at Lisa.Klien@goethe.de
(February 7, 2023) The international jury of Youth 4 German Cinema has chosen the alternate-reality, sci-fi dramedy “The Ordinaries” by German director Sophie Linnenbaum as its 2023 Youth 4 German Cinema Award winner. Youth 4 German Cinema celebrates 10 years at the 27th Berlin & Beyond Film Festival (March 23-26, 2023). This special screening of “The Ordinaries” on Friday, March 24, 2023, at 10:00 AM will be its West Coast Premiere, following its US Premiere at SXSW.
The 2023 Youth Jury Members:
- Daryan Mostashfi (Ohio, USA)
- Onima Street (Washington, USA)
- Jun Lilly Wang (Missouri, USA)
- Ray (Minrui) Wu (Ontario, Canada)
Jury Statement:
“The Ordinaries indulged us in a gorgeous yet brutal high-concept world where every design was thoroughly explored and utilized. Purpose-filled scenes drive the plot in unpredictable directions, creating much success with a fresh idea. The bizarre world that the main characters, supporting characters, and outtakes find themselves in reverberates far after the credit rolls and far beyond the fourth wall they live in.”
Admission:
The invitation-only screening for “The Ordinaries” will take place Friday, March 24, 2023 at 10:00 AM at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco. The film is recommended for ages 14 and older. This event is expected to be at capacity. Priority entry will be given to participating schools that are registered with the Goethe-Institut Step Into German program.
About the 2023 Winning Film:
“The Ordinaries” (2022)
120 min. Germany – In a repressive three class-society, Paula, a simple Supporting Character, is about to face the most important test of her life: she has to prove she deserves to be a Lead. She is at the top of her class at the Main Character School – but so far has failed in generating great emotional music. In search of a solution, she finds herself in the abyss of the cinematic world, on the fringes of the storyline and lost amongst the Outtakes. The Ordinaries won two German Cinema New Talent Awards for Director and for Producer at the 2022 Munich International Film Festival, and the Children’s and Youth Film Award of the Goethe-Institut at the 2022 International Film Festival for Children and Young Audience SCHLiNGEL.
Directed by Sophie Linnenbaum. Written by Sophie Linnenbaum and Michael Fetter Nathansky. Starring Fine Sendel, Jule Böwe, Henning Peker.
Youth 4 German Cinema is organized by the Goethe-Institut’s Step Into German initiative, in partnership with the festival. Each year, it welcomes an international youth jury from across North America. The winning films are shown to participating school groups that attend the festival, coming from across the Bay Area and Northern California. An interactive Q&A, moderated by the jury, follows select screenings with a film talent. Over 4,000 students have attended through the years. The 2023 program is also supported by a special grant from the Excelsior German Center.
Berlin & Beyond
Since 1996, the Berlin & Beyond Film Festival has been the leading festival of contemporary German cinema in the Americas, and has presented over 500 motion pictures, along with the presence of celebrated film figures, including Fatih Akin, Moritz Bleibtreu, Daniel Brühl, Lars Eidinger, Hannelore Elsner, Florian David Fitz, Bruno Ganz, Werner Herzog, Frederick Lau, Maria Schrader, Dan Stevens, Barbara Sukowa, and Wim Wenders. The 27th Berlin & Beyond Film Festival will run March 23-25 at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco and March 26 in the East Bay (official venue to be announced). Full line-up to be unveiled on February 23rd. Official Website: berlinbeyond.com
Key Partners and Sponsors:
Goethe-Institut San Francisco (Presented by)
San Francisco Grants for the Arts (Special Support)
Excelsior German Center (Premiere Sponsor)
Consulate General of Germany in San Francisco (Premiere Sponsor)
DW (Premiere Sponsor)
Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco (Signature Sponsor)
Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America (Signature Sponsor)
German Films and German Film Office (Signature Sponsor)
Goethe-Institut San Francisco
The Goethe-Institut is Germany’s official cultural center comprised of 157 institutes in 98 countries. The Goethe-Institut exists to promote art and films from Germany, the study of the German language, and encourage the international cultural exchange with Germany. Having celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2017, the San Francisco branch has been promoting German culture and language since 1967. Its year-round cultural activities include art exhibitions, film screenings, and special events with local cultural institutions. Official Website: goethe.de/sf
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