1,000 euros, sponsored by the NRW.BANK

A Taste of Honey
Simon Rittmeier
Germany 2008, 10 min, Beta SP, bw

Statement:
This black and white film reveals unexpected impressions of Cuba in the year 49 after the revolution: a less than motivated sales assistant, fans that don’t work because of the power failures, senior citizens at a dance, the Santera performing a religious ritual on the beach. The paralysis of life is manifest in the images, which are accompanied by atmospheric sounds. In spite of censorship and state control, the director manages to illustrate the absence of utopias in this tropical paradise and capture its stultifying atmosphere. The title of the film was taken from a Beatles song, because, above all, John Lennon was honoured with a monument in Havana.

500 euros, sponsored by the NRW.BANK

Dial M for Mother
Eli Cortiñas Hidalgo
Germany 2008, 11,5 min, Beta SP, colour

Statement:
This film is first and foremost a definite monument to the film star Gena Rowlands. A very subtle artistic quality is introduced into the film’s concept by its sophisticated montage, because it creates a second level where the focus is on the director’s phone conversations with her mother who, by means of split screens, leaves subtly altered impressions on the film star’s image. The frequent and exasperating ringing of the phone in combination with snatches of dialogue creates an extremely dense atmosphere.

Luft
(Air)
Natalia Stürz
Germany, 1 min, DV, colour

Statement:
Rarely do we listen as closely as when we listen to the news – even the news on television. The filmmaker listens even more closely and discovers the instant just before the news. In a concentrated and rapidly edited montage, she compiles the moments when the speaker draws breath and still manages to convey each news item.