Fiction Film
In this section, the short or full-length feature films tell the stories that are important to up-and-coming filmmakers from all around the world. The films draw their inspiration from current trends in filmmaking being either poignantly funny or epic in scope. In this section the prizes for Best Feature Film and Best Short Film are awarded.
Documentary Film
In this section you can find films that feature a single snapshot in time, films presenting personal portraits, or films revealing a shocking investigation. Both the short and full-length films explore current issues and touching twists of fate in their larger contexts. In this section the prizes for Best Documentary Feature and Best Documentary Short are awarded.
Genre Film
This section shows films that give you insight into other worlds, reviving the classic genres such as Sci-Fi, western, horror, thriller and fantasy. There is no limit to your creativity. Reach outside the limits of genre convention and breathe fresh air into them by thinking differently. Sehsüchte offers rich genre cinema for hungry popcorn-lovers.
Animated Film
From stop motion via animated cartoon through to CGI: Sehsüchte dedicates this section to the most inspiring animated works. In this section the prize for Best Animation Film is awarded.
Focus Production
With its section Focus Production, Sehsüchte is one of the only festivals that throws a glance behind the scenes and into the production offices. What we worship here is not only what is ultimately to be seen on the screen, but also the oftentimes long and exhausting process that led to the result. At Focus Production, filmmakers can score points with innovative financing methods, fair working conditions, convincing gender equality concepts, sustainable use of resources and much more, which is often forgotten elsewhere. In this way, students from German-speaking universities can be awarded for Best Production.
360°
The section 360° explores the possibilities of visual storytelling. The audience 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, which makes it particularly interesting for newcomers to the film industry. This section awards the Best 360° Film.
Future
This section of Sehsüchte features films for children from the age of six onwards and for young adults from the ages twelve and up. We present exciting, entertaining and unconventional short and feature film productions from different genres. Not only this particular target group, but people of all ages are cordially invited to join. However, the award winners will solely be selected by young judges. In this section the prize for Best Children’s Film and Best Youth Film will be awarded.
Schreibsüchte
Not as a pre-stage of the future film, but as its own piece of art – this category is all about innovative ideas brought to life by outstanding writing and narrative skills. Innovative stories that are brought to form through precise narrative craft have the chance to win the award Best Screenplay (German only). The nominated screenplays will be read out loud by professional dubbing actors at a scenic reading called “Kopfkino”. But also before the completion of a book, authors have the opportunity to present their ideas. Students can convince the jury and win the prize for Best Pitch (German AND English).
Retrospektive
The section Retrospektive has been a part of the festival since 2016, and is developed out of a cooperation with the master program “Film Cultural Heritage”. The programme’s material is mostly provided by the university’s very own large film archive, displaying the film university’s production history since the 1950ies up to today. Not only does the program shed a light onto older films from the archive, but also presents their meaning and aesthetic experience in the programme’s bigger context.
Showcase
Every year we offer both films from the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, which hosts the festival, as well as an international partner university the opportunity to present their most exciting or current films in this section. The programme will be presented outside the competition.
Exhibition: Beyond the Frame
The section Exhibition: Beyond the Frame features projects which involve the creative use of technology and novel forms of storytelling next to the traditional movies of the festival programme. These could involve for example XR, artificial intelligence, projection mapping, sensor-based systems, or web-based experiences.