Fiction film
The Fiction Film section shows the stories that move aspiring filmmakers from the most diverse corners of the world. Films of all lengths address current trends in the film world, tell highly personal stories or question the medium. The awards for Best Fiction Film (awarded to the director) and Outstanding Artistic Achievement in a Fiction Film (awarded to Cinematography, Montage, Original Film Music, Screenplay, Acting, Scenography, Sound Design or Special Effects) will be presented.
Documentary Film
From a snapshot to a portrait of an interesting personality to the exposing reportage, everything that is gripping and innovative can be found in our Documentary Film section. Films of all lengths deal with historical and current developments, tell of touching fates and bigger contexts. In this section the awards Best Documentary Film (awarded to the director) and Outstanding Artistic Achievement in a Documentary Film (awarded to cinematography, montage, original film music, book or sound design) are presented.
Genre Film
Whether sci-fi, western, horror, thriller, fantasy or even a classic romantic comedy – this section features films that push the boundaries of their genre conventions, rethink them and thus breathe fresh life into them. Sehsüchte offers lush genre cinema for hungry popcorn lovers! The Sehsüchte audience decides on the award Best Genre Film.
Animated film
From stop motion to animation to CGI, Sehsüchte is also dedicated to the most inspiring animated works. In this section, the Best Animated Film award is presented.
Focus Production
With its Focus Production section, Sehsüchte is one of the few festivals that takes a look behind the scenes of a film. What counts here is not only what is ultimately seen on the screen, but also the process that led to this result, which is usually invisible elsewhere. At Focus Production filmmakers can, for example, score points with innovative financing methods, fair working conditions, convincing gender equality concepts, sustainable use of resources and much more. Students from German-speaking universities in the DACH region can therefore be awarded the Best Production prize.
Future
In this section we show children from the age of 6 and young people from the age of 12 exciting, unconventional and sight-seeing short and feature-length films in a wide variety of forms. The winning films are decided solely by a children’s and youth jury. The Best Kids Film and Best Teens Film prizes are awarded in this section.
360°
The virtual reality section 360° explores the possibilities of visual storytelling in virtual space. The audience thus experiences a new cinematic environment that is not limited to the big screen. Immersive storytelling creates potential for new stories and poses challenges for filmmakers, making it particularly interesting for young filmmakers. That is why we are awarding the prize for Best 360°-Film in this section.
Retrospective
The Retrospective is Sehsüchte‘s look into student film history. The programme not only brings older films from the archives back to light, but also updates their meanings and aesthetic experience.
Showcase
Every year we offer films from the Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF as well as from an international partner university of the Filmuniversität the opportunity to present their most exciting or successful films in a showcase. The programme will be presented out of competition.
Schreibsüchte
The screenplay is more than the mere preliminary stage of a finished film, but an artistic work in its own right. In this section it takes centre stage. Innovative stories, brought into form through precise narrative craft, have a chance to win the Best Screenplay award. The nominated, previously unfilmed screenplays will be presented to the festival audience in the staged reading “Kopfkino”. But authors who have not yet finished a book also have the opportunity to present their ideas. In the Pitch, students can convince the jury with their idea and receive the prize for the Best Pitch.
Exhibition
In addition to the festival’s film programme, the exhibition will present media art that uses modern technologies in a creative way and is dedicated to innovative forms of narration. This includes, for example, topics such as XR, artificial intelligence, projection mapping, sensor- or web-based systems.
Event programme
In addition to the films, the event programme ensures that your Sehsüchte experience will be unforgettable. Live music, parties, interesting workshops, masterclasses and panels as well as a festive opening and awards ceremony ensure a unique time during the festival.
