• Photo: Jury members Wim Wenders, Mirko Derpmann and Petra Müller with the recipients Frédéric Schuld, Alexandra Schröder, Eibe Maleen Krebs, Andreas Keck, Fabian Driehorst, Natalie Muntermann, Erik Schmitt © Anna Kaduk / Film- and Media Foundation NRW
  • Petra Müller and Wim Wenders with the recipients Eibe Malen Krebs and Andreas Keck. ©WWS
  • Bernd Eichhorn (Wim Wenders Foundation) presents gifts from the Wim Wenders archive to the recipients Alexander Keck, Eibe Maleen Krebs and Frédéric Schuld ©WWS
  • Hans W. Geißendörfer and Wim Wenders. © Anna Kaduk/ Film and Media Foundation NRW
  • Susanna Felgner and Sven Ilgner (both Film- and Media Foundation NRW) with Laura Schmidt (Wim Wenders Foundation) © Anna Kaduk/ Film- and Media Foundation NRW
  • Guests at the ceremony of the Wim Wenders scholarship ©WWS

On 4th June 2014 four projects received the Wim Wenders Scholarship worth a total sum of 95000 Euro. The Film and Media Foundation NRW had advertised the scholarship for the first time, in collaboration with the Wim Wenders Foundation. It is aimed at young filmmakers whose vision it is to advance cinematic storytelling and develop an individual visual language.

The jury chaired by Wim Wenders chose the winners from 49 competition entries. Further jury members were Petra Müller, chairwoman of the Film and Media Foundation NRW as well as Mirko Derpmann, creative director and member of the management at Scholz & Friends.

“We are thankful to all applicants who have given us their trust with extraordinarily creative ideas already in the first round. Congratulations to the recipients and best of luck for the advancement of their projects.” said Petra Müller.

“From the beginning of this scholarship it was our goal that filmmakers would be fostered who approach well-known forms and formats in ground-breaking ways. Finally the jury chose those applicants who convinced us with extraordinary stories and who are also promising to develop an individual visual language.” said jury chairman Wim Wenders. “I am looking forward to accompanying and helping these projects with words and deeds as best as I can.”

RECIPIENTS

“Brothers Wolf”
Fabian Driehorst and Frédéric Schuld, Hamburg/ Düsseldorf
Animated Film, 40,000 Euro

After his grandparents’ death Dan Wolf receives a letter that his grandfather had addressed at him before he was even born. He writes about a forgotten film and about why he as a comedian fled Hamburg and how he got the USA through Shanghai. With the help of a German journalist Dan sets out to find out about his ancestors and discovers the history of his name. There had once already been a Dan Wolf and the family Wolf changed their name for a good reason.

“The Story of Berlin”
Erik Schmitt, Berlin
Feature Film, 20,000 Euro

Two very different people go on an expedition together to find a hidden treasure underneath the city. Viktor is an introverted theorist, an archaeologist who has never dug. Sophia is wild, psyched and always to close to the limit, close to burning out. Their journey is more than an adventure through urban space. Who sets out to dig up forgotten memories will always also find pain and emptiness. An anti-archaeological journey to the surface of the city.

“MOB”
Alexandra Schröder and Natalie Muntermann, Köln
Film Essay, 20,000 Euro

Mass gatherings have attracted us humans forever. One can submerge and disappear in the mass, increase one’s self esteem in it, flee into a parallel world or manifest a political statement. “MOB” observes the choreography of the mass, immerges into the flush and draws a portrait of an elusive creature in an artistic essay film.

“A Vicious Game”
Eibe Maleen Krebs and Andreas Keck, Hamburg/ Berlin
Filmic intimate play, 15,000 Euro

27-year-old Sven has been living in special-care home for a couple of years. He suffers from muscular dystrophy and knows that he is about to die. As he requires increasingly more aid he is appointed a personal conscientous objector aid. Stephan is full of enthusiasm and wishes to help sick people. Sven and Stephan go through multiple phases of a relationship. Sven gives Stephan a hard time, as he hates being degraded to a sick person…