21 WINNERS

Including:

GRAND PRIZE, BEST FILM, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST ACTRESS, BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

★★★★
“A MARVELOUS PIECE OF CINEMA”
JAMES CHRISTOPHER, THE TIMES

★★★
“Engaging And Frequently Surprising…
A Sharply Written Script And Compelling Performances”
Matthew Turner, VIEWLONDON

★★★★ ½
“A Genuine Tour de Force Of Inventive Expression”
Jules Brenner, FILMCRITIC.COM

★★★★
“One Of The Most Exciting German Movies Since RUN, LOLA, RUN”
Geoff Bershire, CHICAGO TRIBUNE

It was 60 years ago that Traude Krüger began teaching music at a women’s prison. Now, on her search for possible students, she meets Jenny. Jenny is withdrawn, extremely violent and a convicted murderer. At their first meeting the stern and conservative teacher rejects the fiercely rebellious inmate outright, provoking Jenny into an explosive tantrum.

However, as vicious as Jenny is outwardly, the one-time musical prodigy can play the piano with astonishing beauty. Compelled to see Jenny’s musical gift flower, Krüger convinces the director to allow the fiery inmate to train for a renowned public music competition… Jenny, whose only other alternative is solitary confinement, grudgingly enters into a shaky truce with the strong-willed piano teacher. For Krüger, it isn’t just about the music. She’s also hauntingly reminded of a student she once had…

The Story Of The Famous Knight Who Free The City Of Constantinople
Based On The Best Selling Novel By Joanot Martorell

Tirante el Blanco tells the story of the famous knight Tirante, who is commissioned by the Emperor of Byzantium to free the city of Constantinople from the siege of the Turks.

Famous knight Tirant Lo Blanch receives orders from the Emperor of Byzantium to free Constantinople from Turkish seige. Tirant doesn’t defraud the Empire’s expectations of a military pushover; his men are a carbon copy of the ferocious Almogavars and he a shrewd strategist not impressed by the fact that the Turks are greater in number. Knowing how to win, he proceeds to do so, using his victory to overcome Carmesina’s natural opposition to losing what she considers to be her most intimate belonging: her virginity. Carmesina -no more than a girl- is the presumed and unique heir to the Empire. Tirant is young, attractive and, by all accounts, invincible. There’s only one problem: he doesn’t come from noble lineage.

The Epic Saga Of A Threatened Nation
A Heroic Struggle
And An Immortal Love
The Untold Story Of The Miraculous Victory
That Ensured The Survival of Latvia After World War I

Riga, Baltics, 1919. World War I is over, and Martin, an ardent Latvian patriot and soldier, returns home to his beloved Elza. She was faithful to him throughout the war; but trench warfare has changed him, and she herself has become more self-reliant. Meanwhile, the newly declared Latvian Republic is fatefully trapped between two mighty neighbours: the collapsing Russian empire, engulfed in a bloody revolution, and the German Reich, with its dreams of conquest and power. Elza and Martin find the way to each other again, but on the day of their wedding, Riga comes under a sudden, brutal attack. Aware that his wartime experience and organizational skills make him a valuable asset to his young nation, Martin joins the poorly equipped Latvian army and reluctantly leaves Elza behind again. In spite of her anger and sorrow, she knows that he is fighting for her, too, and not only for his country. Though they are grossly outnumbered by the enemy troops, Martin and his closest companions devise a daring, foolhardy strategy. Like David taunting Goliath, they lure their enemy into a trap, ensuring independence for Latvia and freedom for Riga.

The Charisma Of Mariene Dietrich.
The Heart Of Edith Piaf.
The Soul Of Post-War Germany: “The Knef”

“An Outstanding Biopic With A Captivating, Standout Performance…”
Kirk Honeycutt, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

“Her Ambitiousness Is Only Matched By Her Humility And Tenderness.
She Says… ‘ I wanted Beauty’ and She Created It Out Of Hunger,
Misery, Frustration, Humiliation”. Henry Miller

Broadway star, songstress, screen diva, international icon and bestselling author - Hildegard Knef was many things. But more than anything else, she was a fighter who often fell, but never stayed down.

Berlin, 1943. The collapse of Nazi Germany looms, but young HILDE marches through the rubble of Berlin with only one thought in her head: she wants to become a star. With luck, looks, the right men and overwhelming self-confidence, she makes her way in the film world, both during and after the war, swapping her Nazi lover for a young Jewish husband. Hollywood beckons, but Hilde is no Marlene. Underemployed and frustrated she longs for Germany. The divided country welcomes her back but a short nude scene in “The Sinner” (1950) provokes a national scandal, making her an outcast in her own country. Internationally, she becomes what she’s always wanted to be: a star, on the big screen, on Broadway, in America and Europe. The years go by in a whirl of successes and failures, of ups and downs. Yet even as her film career wanes she picks herself up and embarks on a new journey…

Winner of 10 Film Awards

”Fiercely Unsentimental And Surprisingly Beautiful…” Rachel Cameron, BBC
“A First-Rate Contribution To The Holocaust Canon.” Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
”Superb Performances…” Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“Remarkable, Vivid, Shattering, Emotionally And Intellectually Engaging … “Philip French, The Guardian
“Fateless Is Both Haunting And Poetic. It Also Is Visually Stunning.” Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
“Exquisitely Modulated And Superbly Mounted, … A Genuinely New Way Of Looking At The Holocaust…” Eddie Cockrell, Variety
“Accomplishes The Near Impossible, Bringing A Fresh Perspective To A Horrific Subject. “ Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

Fateless is a deeply moving tale of a Hungarian Jewish boy and his quest for the meaning of his past. Based on the 2002 Nobel prize-winning novel by Imre Kertesz, Fateless chronicles the attempts of 14-year-old Gyuri Koves to reconcile the unimaginable horror of having been incarcerated in German concentration camps. On his return to Budapest Gyuri finds those around him treat him with indifference. His friends and neighbours encourage him to put the past behind him, while an intellectual sympathetic to the personal and political terror of his past repeatedly refers to the camps as “the lowest circle of Hell”. Gyuri finds neither comfort nor meaning in these clinches. Increasingly troubled by the meaninglessness of his experiences, he gives human motives to the inhumanity of his captors, which helps maintain his tenuous hold on the world. Lacking emotional and spiritual ties to his Jewish heritage and feeling rejected by his country, he concludes that neither his Jewishness nor Hungarianess is really at the heart of fate.

The directorial debut of acclaimed cinematographer Koltai, this sweeping, profoundly moving drama offers a new perspective on one of modern history’s darkest junctures, as 14-year-old Gyurka is shuttled between the death factories of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Buchenwald and Zeitz - all the while, maintaining his stubborn, stoic belief that ‘There’s nothing too unimaginable to endure’. Vast in scale, yet boasting a remarkable historical detail, and with a sweeping score by Ennio Morricone, this is a work of immense compassion, unlikely beauty and shattering power - a true testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

PRODUCED BY KABEL EINS, NHNZ LTD AND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL

WHEN EARTH QUAKES, ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE

An Investigation Into The Anatomy Of An Earthquake:
From The Science Behind Recent Events,
Ramping To A Mega Earthquake That’s Yet To Happen.

Examining Significant Earthquakes Of Our Time -
Each More Powerful Than The Last, Each With Its Own Compelling Mysteries,
Each Propelling Us Towards A Projected Mega Disaster –
A Monster Quake That Could Rock The World.
Back Cover

One of the most destructive and unpredictable forces in nature, an earthquake strikes without warning and causes immense destruction. More than one million earthquakes shake the earth every year. Most are barely felt, others are events so huge they transform lives and landscapes in an instant. Most large earthquakes are caused by massive slabs of the Earth’s crust called tectonic plates crashing into, or sliding under each other.  But others seemingly come from nowhere.

Using archive footage, computer animation, and expert interviews, we expose the killer characteristics of natural disasters, leading to an ultimate disaster. Investigating the ‘big four’ of natural disasters: tornadoes, volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, Mega Disaster series takes viewers beyond the news footage, beyond the aftermath, and on a tour of the anatomy of these mega events to understand their genesis and the multitude of factors that contribute to their subsequent impact. Some of the world’s leading experts on each natural phenomenon provide analysis and insight into how some of Planet Earth’s titanic upheavals can result in something so deadly and cause such widespread damage.

In the final act of each Mega Disaster episode we construct a disaster scenario, using expert information and brought to life with astounding computer graphics, an event of such scale, enormity and power, it will eclipse all other disasters – truly a mega disaster. The final act of Mega Disaster: Earthquake will illustrate in detail the causes and possible effects of a mega-quake – another 9.5 mega-quake striking near Chile’s largest cities. It is a mega disaster that would release the equivalent energy of two million Hiroshima bombs, tearing Chile apart and spawning giant waves that would devastate the entire Pacific.

PRODUCED BY KABEL EINS, NHNZ LTD AND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL

Massive, Deadly, Unstoppable.

An Investigation Into The Anatomy Of A Tsunami:
From The Science Behind Recent Events,
Ramping To A Mega Tsunami That’s Yet To Happen.

Investigating 5 Of The Most Destructive Tsunamis In the Last 60 Years -
Each Has Its Own Character, Each Is Bigger Than The Last,
And Each Take Us One Step Closer To A Mega Disaster
Back Cover

Massive, unstoppable, deadly, combining huge mass and terrifying velocity, these giant waves are triggered by the earth’s most powerful forces. They can cross entire oceans at speeds in excess of 500 miles an hour, unleashing their destructive energy on coasts thousands of miles from their source. In exceptional situations they can reach dizzying heights of over 1700 feet. Using archive footage, computer animation, and expert interviews, we investigate five of the most destructive tsunamis in the last 60 years. Each has its own character, each is bigger than the last, and each takes us one step closer to a mega disaster.

Using archive footage, computer animation, and expert interviews, we expose the killer characteristics of natural disasters, leading to an ultimate disaster. Investigating the ‘big four’ of natural disasters: tornadoes, volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, Mega Disaster series takes viewers beyond the news footage, beyond the aftermath, and on a tour of the anatomy of these mega events to understand their genesis and the multitude of factors that contribute to their subsequent impact. Some of the world’s leading experts on each natural phenomenon provide analysis and insight into how some of Planet Earth’s titanic upheavals can result in something so deadly and cause such widespread damage.

In the final act of each Mega Disaster episode we construct a disaster scenario, using expert information and brought to life with astounding computer graphics, an event of such scale, enormity and power, it will eclipse all other disasters – truly a mega disaster. The final act of Mega Disaster: Tsunami, using a combination of complex CGI and real locations, will illustrate in detail the causes and possible effects of a mega-tsunami – a mega disaster that scientists say could happen sometime in our future. And if it does, it will not just rewrite the history books – it will erase them.

PRODUCED BY KABEL EINS, NHNZ LTD AND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL

FROM SPECTACULAR LAVA FOUNTAINS…TO DEADLY EXPLOSIONS

Profiling Some Of The Most Significant Eruptions Of Our Time -
Each More Devastating Than The Last, Each With Its Own Compelling Mysteries,
Each Leading Us To A Mega-Eruption That Will Change The World As We Know It.

VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS ARE DRAMATIC REMINDERS that our world is a living planet. Their destructive force is as old as the earth itself – a force that commands respect and fear. Unleashing the power of the Earth’s molten interior in a single cataclysmic event, volcanoes have made their mark on human civilisation since the earliest days of recorded history. We’ll circle the globe profiling some of the most significant eruptions of our time – each more devastating than the last, each with its own compelling mysteries, each leading us to a mega-eruption that will change the world as we know it.

Using archive footage, computer animation, and expert interviews, we expose the killer characteristics of natural disasters, leading to an ultimate disaster. Mega Disaster series takes viewers beyond the news footage, beyond the aftermath, and on a tour of the anatomy of these mega events to understand their genesis and the multitude of factors that contribute to their subsequent impact.

In the final act of each Mega Disaster episode we construct a disaster scenario, using expert information and brought to life with astounding computer graphics, an event of such scale, enormity and power, it will eclipse all other disasters – truly a mega disaster. In the final act of Mega Disaster: Volcano, we investigate the possibility of a blast so powerful it will change the Earth, and with it, the course of human civilisation.

One Of The Most Devastating Battles Of Ancient Times Brought To Life

Based On Latest Historical Evidence And New Findings
A Spectacular Sweep Of History Told Through Astonishing CGI

It was the worst defeat ever suffered by the Roman Empire: Three legions – 30,000 men – were lost in the forests of “Germania”. On receiving the news, Emperor Augustus exclaimed “Quintilius Varus, give me back my legions”. Varus, the Roman general who lost the legions – he had been betrayed and defeated by a once trusted Roman soldier: Arminius, the son of the leader of an Etruscan tribe…

This remarkable documentary brings one of the most devastating battles of ancient times back to life: The Battle of Varus, also know as the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Fought in 9 AD – its 2000th anniversary recurred in 2009 – it played a decisive role in shaping modern-day Europe.

The monument clash of Romans and Germanic tribes was led and masterminded by Arminius, a Teuton who had been brought up in Rome as a Roman. Sent to the northern province of Germania, Arminius rediscovers his roots. Arminius knows what makes the Romans strong – and how to exploit their weaknesses. Soon, he gathers a massive army of rebel soldiers who annihilate three Roman legions in only three days. The Roman commander Varus commits suicide and Arminius is hailed as the new king of the Teutons.

This docu-drama is baed on the latest historical evidence and new findings abut the nature of Roman military power and Roman rule. The film explores how the Romans enforced their rule through the Pax Romana by imposing taxes, building new settlements, absorbing “Barbarian” tribes into their service and instilling within them the Roman way of life. CGI technology is used to recreate the ancient Roman Germanic world. Creating a thriller-style narration, the film is trying to give new answers to old questions: Why did Arminius betray the Romans? How did he succeed? And where is the battlefield of “Varus last stand”?

Featuring Rare Historical Recordings And Transcripts Made Privately In The White House As Well As Exclusive Interviews With Some Of The World’s Most Outstanding Historical Witnesses Such As George W. Bush, Alexander Haig, James Schlesinger, Richard Perle, Lawrence Eagleburger, Brent Scowcroft, Norman Mailer And Carl Berstein.

Though Henry Kissinger is often giving short statements to the media, he refuses detailed interviews about his own life. Now he agreed to answer questions about his person in an extensive documentary. A rare chance.

The life of Henry Kissinger provides a lot of material for a fascinating and historically relevant film. In his life important stages of the last century become unveiled: youth in the Third Reich, exodus of Europeans to the USA, the Cold War (secret travels to Beijing and Moscow), wars in Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, East-Timor), coup d’etats (Chile), crisis in the Middle East. He has been on the margins of the biggest scandal of the USA in domestic affairs (Watergate). Nevertheless, Kissinger witnessed the downfall of President Nixon at close range. It slipped the mind of most people that Kissinger once has been a symbol for a liberal social life during the 1970s: Showing himself with Hollywood actresses he temporarily got the standing of a bon vivant. As a politician he was honoured (Nobel Peace Prize 1973) and hated. Like only a few living personalities Kissinger is both, a historical witness and a political decision market of the 20th century. Even today he is using his influence: He supports the military engagement of the USA in Iraq and was one of the personal advisors of President George W. Bush.

For the first time Henry Kissinger speaks openly about his exciting life. And so do others: George W. Bush, Helmut Schmidt, Alexander Haig, Brent Scowcroft, James Schlesinger, Carl Berstein, Norman Mailer and many more.