Filmfest Oldenburg Foreign Affairs & European Discoveries

“Foreign Affairs” is a remarkable documentary that offers an extraordinary perspective and rare glimpse into the life of Jean Asselborn, Europe’s longest serving Minister of Foreign Affairs, taking us both straight into the heart of global politics and the everyday life of “Jang”. We share his engagement with diplomacy and hope that he carries in his function as a politician, but also in the intimate moments of solitude that he experiences during his unrestrained race around a world marked by major political crises. On this prestigious occasion, in attendance with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pasha Rafiy will present his documentary to the audience in Oldenburg.

DISCOVERY AWARD 2016

Last year, jury members from the European Film Academy and FIPRESCI gathered for the first time in Oldenburg to deliberate the final nominees for the “European Discovery Award – Prix FIPRESCI” - dedicated to a first feature film by a European director.
Announced live during the Closing Night Gala at the State Theater, it was an especially celebratory event as one of the finalists was Tom Sommerlatte whose debut feature “Summers Downstairs” also took home Oldenburg’s top prize –the 2015 German Independence Award for “Best Film”.

After the successful inaugural event, the Oldenburg International Film Festival is honored to once again host the commission at the 23rd Edition of the Festival described by Chairwoman of the EFA Board, Oscar-nominated director, Agnieszka Holland, as „a festival that is known for its heart for young filmmakers and for an inspiring and innovative environment.”
The jury will gather in Oldenburg on Saturday September 17th and will announce the official final five nominees during the Festival’s Closing Night Gala at the Oldenburg State Theater on September 18th.

The announcement of the winner of the 2016 “European Discovery Award – Prix FIPRESCI“ will take place during the 29th European Film Awards on December 10th in the city of Wroclaw. We are excited to welcome the nomination committee composed of renowned members of the EFA and FIPRESCI to Oldenburg:

- Dagmar Jacobsen, Germany (Producer)

- Angeles González-Sinde, Spain (Filmmaker and former Spanish Minister of Culture)

- Mihai Chirilov, Romania (Artistic Director of the Transylvania International Film Festival)

- Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, Poland (Film Critic)

- Isabelle Danel, France (Film Critic and Vice-President of FIPRESCI)

- Neil Young, UK (Film Critic and Programmer for Edinburgh FF, Ljubljana, and others)

- Tom Sommerlatte, Germany (Filmmaker, 2015 Discovery Award finalist, 2015 winner of Oldenburg’s German Independence Award)