The Door-to-Door Bookstore

Winner of the 29th Berlin & Beyond Film Festival 2025 Audience Award – Feature Film

Statement by Director Ngo The Chau: 

Dear Festival organizers, and especially the audience,

I am truly honored and grateful to receive the Audience Award at the San Francisco Berlin & Beyond Film Festival. This recognition means a lot to me, and I want to thank each of you for embracing this film with such warmth and enthusiasm. A huge thank you to my incredible team, the talented cast, and everyone who helped bring this project to life. This award is as much yours as it is mine. Thank you once again for this unforgettable honor.

With gratitude,
Chau

Film Description: Carl’s life runs like clockwork: every day, he goes door-to-door delivering books to a handful of loyal customers. He knows their preferences and takes pride in selecting the perfect story for each of them. But his well-ordered life is turned upside down by a cheerful nine-year-old girl, Schascha, who decides to join him on his daily book round. Schascha’s unique outlook on life helps Carl to come out of his shell and realise that his customers are so much more than just that to him. But when Carl unexpectedly loses his job, this vibrant community starts to fall apart – and it will take the power of books and all Schascha’s determination to bring them back together again.

This film is represented internationally by StudioCanal and was produced in Germany by Daniel Hartmann and Björn Vosgerau (Wüste Film). Co-Producers & German Distributor: StudioCanal GmbH

Showtime: Rialto Elmwood, Berkeley – March 30 at 1:00 PM (Sold Out)

Festival Screening Sponsored by the Excelsior German Center

Director’s photograph by Wolfgang Ennenbach © Wüste Film / Studiocanal