Encounters

"We think of Encounters as a mirror of the 21st century."
An introduction to the section with Carlo Chatrian (Artistic Director), Eva Trobisch (jury) and the directors Victor Kossakovsky, Sandra Wollner and Camilo Restrepo.
Encounters is a platform aiming to foster aesthetically and structurally daring works from independent, innovative filmmakers. Its goal is to support new perspectives in cinema and to give more room to diverse narrative and documentary forms in the official selection.
Conceived as a counterpoint and a complement to Competition, Encounters is a competitive section devoted to new cinematic visions. The films selected will challenge traditional forms and ask viewers to reconsider their positions in relation to them. Being a mirror of the different ways of production that have developed in the 21st century and reflecting this vibrant energy, Encounters will become a meeting point for filmmakers and producers, programmers and film critics, cinephiles and festival lovers.
Not distinguishing between genres, Encounters comprises usually around 15 works - world or international premieres of fiction or documentary films of at least 60 minutes in length. A three-member jury will choose winners for best film, best director and a special jury award

A selection of Encounters works

Ian Madrigal, Lilith Stangenberg
Orphea by Alexander Kluge, Khavn
DEU 2020, Encounters

Lena Watson
The Trouble With Being Born by Sandra Wollner
AUT, DEU 2020, Encounters
© Panama Film

Luis Felipe Lozano
Los conductos by Camilo Restrepo
FRA, COL, BRA 2020, Encounters
© 5a7 Films - mutokino - If you hold a stone - montañero cine

Ugo Broussot, Agathe Bosch, Marina Palii, Frédéric Schulz-Richard
Malmkrog by Cristi Puiu
ROU, SRB, CHE, SWE, BIH, MKD 2020, Encounters
© Mandragora

The Works and Days (of Tayoko Shiojiri in the Shiotani Basin) | Werke und Tage (der Tayoko Shiojiri im Shiotanibecken) by C.W. Winter, Anders Edström
USA, SWE, JPN, GBR 2020, Encounters
© Anders Edström/2020 General Asst.

Gunda by Victor Kossakovsky
NOR, USA 2020, Encounters
© Egil Håskjold Larsen/Sant & Usant

Elisabeth Moss, Odessa Young
Shirley by Josephine Decker
USA 2020, Encounters
© 2018 LAMF Shirley Inc.

Samuel Skyva, Tomáš Turek
Služobníci | Servants by Ivan Ostrochovský
SVK, ROU, CZE, IRL 2020, Encounters
© Juraj Chlpík/ Punkchart films

Marie Tragousti
Nackte Tiere | Naked Animals by Melanie Waelde
DEU 2020, Encounters
© Czar Film
The three-person Jury Encounters awards the following prizes:
- Best Film
- Special Jury Award
- Best Director
Cross-section awards respectively awards of the Independent Juries:
- GWFF Best First Feature Award (endowed with 50,000 Euros)
- Berlinale Documentary Award, funded by rbb and endowed with 40,000 Euros
- TEDDY AWARDS
- Prizes of the FIPRESCI Jury
- Peace Film Prize
- Amnesty International Film Award