Best First Feature Award endowed by GWFF

The Berlinale has been even more committed to supporting the next generation of film makers since 2006, when it introduced the Best First Feature Award. The award is endowed with 50,000 Euros, donated by the GWFF (Gesellschaft zur Wahrnehmung von Film- und Fernsehrecht), a society dedicated to safeguarding film and television rights. The prize money is to be split between the producer and the director of the winning film. Additionally, the director is awarded with a high-quality viewfinder as both a useful instrument and memorable trophy that should accompany them on their future road to success. Debut feature films from the sections Competition, Panorama, Forum, Generation or Perspektive Deutsches Kino compete for the award.

The winners were announced at the official award ceremony in the Berlinale Palast on February 16. The members of the 2013 Jury for the Best First Feature Award, Oren Moverman, Taika Waititi and Lucy Walker, awarded the prize to:

BEST FIRST FEATURE AWARD

Pauline Phayvanh Phoumindr, Kim Mordaunt, Sylvia Wilczynski

The Rocket
by Kim Mordaunt
(Generation)

SPECIAL MENTION

A batalha de Tabatô (The Battle of Tabatô)
by João Viana
(Forum)

Guidelines for the Award

Article 1 – Eligibility

Films eligible for the Best First Feature Award must fulfil the following criteria:

The film’s running time must exceed 60 minutes and it must be the director’s first fiction film.
The film has to be presented as a World premiere at the Berlinale. It may not have been shown publicly beforehand.
To qualify as a director’s debut feature, the director may not have previously completed a fiction film. However, previous documentaries by the director do not affect the eligibility for the award.
A previous student thesis film may not have been screened publicly or presented at any festival.

Article 2 – The Prize

The prize is endowed with € 50.000 founded by GWFF (Gesellschaft zur Wahrnehmung von Film- und Fernsehrechten).
The prize money is to be shared in equal parts between the director and the producer of the best first feature film invited in any of the following sections: Competition, Panorama, Forum, Generation and Perspektive Deutsches Kino.
In case of co-productions, the producer’s share of the prize is to be divided between the co-producers. The splitting of the producers share will be conducted by the award founder (GWFF). There is no right of appeal.
The prize may not be shared between two films. Honorary mentions are not foreseen.

Article 3 – The Jury

An international Jury, consisting of at least three members, will be appointed by the Festival Director.
No jury member may be involved professionally with the production or distribution of any film eligible for the Best First Feature Award.

Article 4

The Festival Director reserves the right to decide on any eventuality not foreseen in the guidelines.

Download Guidelines Best First Feature Award, PDF (62 KB)

Berlinale: Best First Feature Award

Best First Feature Award endowed by GWFF