The 25th edition of the International Film Festival for Children and Young Audience SCHLINGEL with 263 films from more than 40 countries has just ended! Due to the pandemic, the screenings were distributed to several venues in the city of Chemnitz but also in the surrounding area to offer the potential audience the necessary security in the time of pandemic. Of course, the number of visitors is less than our attendance record of 2019 with 24,000 visitors. But the Festival was able to welcome in total more than 13,000 visitors in the cinemas under these special conditions. With the foundation of the "Club of Festivals" , it was a success in offering the films of the SCHLINGEL an international perspective and not to remain in the local defence system due to the difficult travelling conditions. More than 40 festival directors and programme makers, journalists, distributors from 23 countries were represented in the "Club of Festivals" as well as in the other juries of the festival and thus contribute as multipliers to the international distribution of the selected film productions of SCHLINGEL. An unique online platform was set up with a visually and artistically special design with access only for jury members. This platform allowed the jury members who did not physically travel to the festival to watch the festival programme during the festival week and, in addition, to exchange thoughts and opinions with the locally present jurors in special discussion forums.  
THE WINNERS OF THE 25TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SCHLINGEL
// AWARDS OF THE EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S JURY
European Children's Jury: Nine children from the Willy-Brandt-Schule Warsaw
European Children’s Film Award by the Saxon Ministry of Culture ....................................... 4
// AWARDS OF THE PROFESSIONAL JURY FEATURE FILM INTERNATIONAL ..... 5
Jury: Beate Biermann, MDR; Kathrin Franz, City of Chemnitz; Silke Haverkamp, KiKA; Prof. Dr. em. Rüdiger
Steinmetz, SLM; Felix Vanginderhuysen, General Secretary of ECFA, Brussels
SLM Top Award ....................................................................................................................... 5
Award of the City of Chemnitz ............................................................................................... 6
MDR Special Award ................................................................................................................ 6
// AWARD OF THE YOUTH JURY ..................................................................... 7
Youth Jury: Eight students of the Karl-Schmidt-Rottluff-Gymnasium Chemnitz
// AWARD OF THE JUNIOR JURY..................................................................... 7
Junior Jury: Six students of the Sportoberschule Chemnitz
// AWARD OF THE KIDS JURY ......................................................................... 8
Kids Jury: Six Students of the Montessori-Schule Chemnitz
// AWARDS OF THE PROFESSIONAL JURY FEATURE FILM NATIONAL .............. 9
Jury: Lena Kingelin, Goethe-Institut Helsinki / Finland; Georg Milz, Goethe-Institut München / Deutschland; Heidrun Rottke, Goethe-Institut Dublin / Ireland; Mirko Wiermann, DEFA Foundation Berlin / Germany
Children’s and Youth Film Award of the Goethe-Institut ....................................................... 9
DEFA Foundation Award......................................................................................................... 9
DIAMANT – Award for Best Child Actor ............................................................................... 10
// AWARD OF THE PROFESSIONAL JURY SHORT AND ANIMATED FILM .........11
Jury: Dr. Till Grahl, academic director of DIAF; Viola Lippmann, Filmverband Sachsen; Karsten Matern, AG Animationsfilm; Ines Wolter, Filmwerkstatt
Animated Feature Film Award............................................................................................ 111
// CLUB OF FESTIVALS AWARD CHILDREN…………………………………………….……..12
Jury: Aska Kishi, Executive Manager at KINEKO, International Children's Film Festival, Japan; Ekaterina Bordacheva, CEO Russian Film Market, Moscow, Russia; KIM Sang-hwa, Executive Director of BIKY, International Kids & Youth Film Festival, Busan, South Korea; Alejandra Fritis Zapata, Festival Director of Ojo de Pescado, Valparaiso, Chile; Daniel Lundquist, Head of Programming of BUFF Malmö Film Festival, Sweden; Jo- Anne Blouin, Festival Director of FIFEM, Festival International du Film pour Enfants de Montréal, Canada
// CLUB OF FESTIVALS AWARD JUNIOR……..………………………………………….…….12
Jury: Markéta Pášmová, Artistic Director of Zlín Film Festival, Czech Republik; Jitendra Mishra, Festival Director of SMILE - International Film Festival for Children & Youth New Delhi, India; Betty Liyuan, CICFF, China; Jerzy Moszkowicz, Festival Director of Ale Kino!, Poznan, Poland; Nóra Lakos, Festival Director of Cinemira - International Children's Film Festival Budapest, Hungary; Liset Cotera, Festival Director of La Matatena, International Film Festival for Children, Mexico
// CLUB OF FESTIVALS AWARD YOUTH………………………………………………………..12
Jury: Ann Vikstrom, Director of Chicago International Children's Film Festival, USA; Julia Jarl, Festival Director of BUFF Malmö Film Festival, Sweden; Pantelis Panteloglou, Deputy Artistic Director of Olympia International Film Festival, Pyros, Greece; Elisabeth Lichtkoppler, Programme Director of International Children's Film Festival Vienna, Austria; Jaroslava Hynštová, Programmer of Zlín Film Festival, Czech Republic; Stina Ask Mikkelsen, Festival Manager of KIFCC - Kristiansand International Children's Film Festival, Norway
// AWARD OF THE ECFA-JURY . .....................................................................12
Jury: Sebastian Grobler, Germany; Marjo Kovanen, Finland; Cosima Stracke-Nawka, Germany; Xiaojuan Zhou, Canada
// AWARD OF THE FIPRESCI-JURY................................................................133
Jury: Seray Genç, Turkey; Hamed Soleimanzadeh, Iran; Holger Twele, Germany
// AWARD OF THE ECUMENICAL JURY.........................................................144
Jury: Anna-Maria Kégl, Germany; Dr. Josef Nagl, Germany; Eleonore Sladeck, Germany
// AUDIENCE AWARD CHEMNITZ ................................................................144
// AUDIENCE AWARD ZWICKAU ..................................................................144
// AWARDS SHORT FILM COMPETITION
Jury: Dr. Till Grahl, academic director of DIAF; Viola Lippmann, Filmverband Sachsen; Karsten Matern, AG Animationsfilm; Ines Wolter, Filmwerkstatt
Short Film Award National………………………………………………………………………………………………15
Short Film Award International…………………………….…………………………………………………………15
Short Film Award Animation National…………………………………………………….………………………16
Short Film Award Animation National………………………………….…………………………………………16
 
// EUROPEAN  CHILDREN’S FI LM AWARD BY THE SAXON MINISTRY OF CULTURE
Endowed by the Saxon State Ministry for Science & Fine Arts (12,500 Euros // supporting award)
TRIPLE TROUBLE
Poland, 2020
Directed by: Marta Karwowska
Justification:
This year, we were particularly impressed by an action-packed and adventurous crime story. The three child actors played their roles convincingly.
The unpredictable outcome has particularly surprised us. This story, from the beginning to the end, captivated us and entertained us in a very special way.
 
// AWARDS OF THE PROFESSIONAL JURY FEATURE FILM INTERNATIONAL
SLM Top Award
Endowed by the Saxon State Institute for Private Broadcasting and New Media SLM (10,000
Euros, supporting award)
MOON ROCK FOR MONDAY
Australia, 2020
Directed by: Kurt Martin
Justification:
The nine-year-old Monday was so named by her father because she was born on a Monday and her mother died in the process. She has an incurable illness, a life expectancy of at most 16 years, takes expensive medicines, is shielded by her father from the outside world which is dangerous for her and does not live the life of a child.
Tyler is about 18, suffering from the trauma of the accidental death of his mother, who gave him her beautiful, precious ring when he was a child dying. He robs the jewelry store where he sees this ring and steals watches to finance life-saving medicine for his sick friend. In the process he shoots a policeman and has to flee.
In this road movie, both go on a long, intense journey to Alice Springs, the hottest place in Australia, through a chance encounter, because Monday wants to fulfill her mystical dream, hold a "moon rock" in her hands and get well, just like the Aborigines believe. On the Moon Rock field the Apollo 11 astronauts trained 50 years ago for the moon landing. On their journey, the two, with whom a brotherly affection develops, meet friendly and bizarre people in the heat of the Australian "outback". Diegetic and non-diegetic music play an important role for the two of them and for us as spectators.
A touching film between hard, tragic reality and poetry. Monday has freed herself from her medication through Moon Rock and enjoys the last few years of her short life on many trips together with her father Bob. And Tyler is shot by a cop.
 
AWARD OF THE CITY OF CHEMNITZ
Endowed by the city of Chemnitz (5,000 Euros, supporting award)
MY LITTLE SISTER
Russia, 2019
Directed by: Alexander Galibin
Justification:
The filmmakers have succeeded in making the Second World War the subject of their films without putting it into pictures. Despite this, the people involved suffer great suffering and heavy losses, but love, friendship and family keep the people alive in the truest sense of the word.
The film is deeply touching on an emotional level. Difficult topics are approached with a certain lightness and the film is very poetic and throughout the entire running time always close to the children - from their point of view.
The expert jury considers this film to be particularly valuable. It is important that it is shown at other international festivals. The film should also receive a German dubbing so that it can be seen and experienced by children, young people and their parents on television or in the cinema.
 
MDR Special Award
Endowed by the public broadcaster MDR (1,000 Euros, supporting award)
SISTERS: THE SUMMER WE FOUND OUR SUPERPOWERS
Norway, 2020
Directed by: Silje Salomonsen, Arild Østin Ommundsen
Justification:
The interaction of the two girls is convincing from the very beginning. The director succeeds in being very close to the two actresses. Together with the girls we experience a rollercoaster of emotions.
They get lost, reach physical and psychological limits and not only once lose their courage. But they don't give up, they give each other support and strength. A spelling game becomes a motivator - "Tottori" for the word of encouragement.
Vega and Billie experience on their journey that their different ways of living, which separate them at the beginning, bring them closer together. The two complement each other with their abilities and peculiarities and learn to take themselves as they are.
The directors Arild Ostia Ommundson and Silje Salomonen have made "SISTERS: THE SUMMER WE FOUND OUR SUPERPOWERS“ a film that is exciting, dramatic, funny and touching, exactly what makes a good children's film.
 
// AWARD OF THE YOUTH JURY
THE PROMISE OF PISA
Netherlands, Belgium, 2019
Directed by: Norbert ter Hall
Justification:
Infused with an unmistakable music, the film developed a magic of its own that makes it unique. The camera work and camera angles as well as the outstanding acting, all combine to form a harmonious picture. All these components create an indescribable atmosphere.
Through themes such as family, friendship, prejudice and religion, the film develops a complexity. None of these aspects are neglected. The viewers are shown that even in difficult times, friends and family are one of the most important restraints. We should all have the strength to fight prejudices and pursue our goals.
 
// AWARD OF THE JUNIOR JURY
THE BLACK MILL
Poland, 2020
Directed by: Mariusz Palej
Justification:
Very reluctantly Ivo takes care of his disabled sister. More and more often things and eventually people disappear in the village. Only Ivo's sister can interpret the signals sent out by a mill. Little by little she becomes an assistant in solving a big mystery in an imaginative and exciting way.
The topic of how to deal with disabled people and the finally successful integration is told in an emotionally gripping way.
 
// AWARD OF THE KIDS JURY
PIRATES DOWN THE STREET
Netherlands, 2020
Directed by: Pim van Hoeve
Justification:
The movie we have chosen is very funny, adventurous and action-packed. We also liked it because the roles were very well cast and convincingly played. We could feel with the characters and enjoyed watching the film.
 
// AWARDS OF THE PROFESSIONAL JURY FEATURE FILM NATIONAL
 Children’s and Youth Film Award of the Goethe -Institute
Endowed by Goethe-Institute (The prize includes the purchase of the non-commercial rights and the subtitling of the films into minimum five languages.)
INTO THE BEAT
Germany, 2020
Directed by: Stefan Westerwelle
Justification:
Katya Orlow comes from a famous ballet family. She has every chance of following in the footsteps of her late mother and that of her father Victor, who is still celebrated as a master dancer. Katya also is on her way to the top, but than she meets a group of street dancers. Fascinated by the dynamics of Hip Hop, she takes on the challenge of finding her own language in the dance, instead of perfectly copying given choreographies.
Street dance as a means of self-discovery in a world facing great challenges - this is where the strength of a street art scene networked worldwide by viral trends becomes apparent, offering a home to people of the most diverse origins. Staged in the streets of Hamburg at the height of the times, this is a picture of a world that is subtly multilayered. The performance of the main actress underlines this effect.
 
//DEFA Foundation Award
NOTHING MORE PERFECT
Germany, 2020
Directed by: Teresa Hoerl
Justification:
No coughing, no rustling, simply no sound at all disturbs a most strained listening - such a silence prevails in the cinema hall in the scene, in which the 16-year old protagonist Maya, sitting in a bathtub, takes itself with the Handykamera live into the Internet streaming, tablets and alcohol, in order to take itself the life. Fortunately,
Maya was only sold a placebo; she wakes up in a violent frenzy - and changes her view of life after this minimal experience.
The alternation between shots filmed with a cell phone camera on the one hand and a moving handheld camera on the other hand shapes Teres Hoerl's film formally and in terms of image design. It is precisely Maya's gaze into the cell phone camera that gives a scene like the one described at the beginning its emotional impact and immediacy. For the girl's gaze into the camera simultaneously looks at us, the viewer (thus breaking through the so-called Fourth Wall) and, with her despair, establishes a direct connection with us. Nevertheless, the film never freezes in the description of pure desolation; rather, it is constantly permeated by hints of subtle humor and, of course, hope, which becomes a certainty at the end of the film.
“NOTHING MORE PERFECT“,  lives above all through the highly intensive performance of its young leading actress Lilia Herrmann, who dominates the film with her multi-faceted acting.
//DIAMANT – Award for Best Child Actor
Leopold Pallua + Rosa Zant
(OSKAR & LILLI – WHERE NO ONE KNOWS US)
Austria, 2020
Directed by: Arash T. Riahi
Justification:
Leopold Pallua designs his Oskar pragmatically, shrewdly, self-confidently, rationally - sometimes supra- rationally for his age. He knows how to make large emotional arcs of tension credible with sometimes very small gestures. With his portrayal of the "wise and judicious" boy, he often creates a small smile in the audience, but on the other hand he also creates a sense of consternation for his character and its ge-untypical serenity.
 
Rosa Zant, on the other hand, makes her Lilli tender and reserved; she observes the events around her. Her facial expressions are capable of glances full of loss as well as glances full of hope; on the other hand, she masters the great outburst of emotion without exaggeration or false pathos, and thus moves and grips the viewer.
However, it is not only the play of Rosa and Leopold alone, in their respective scenes, but first and foremost the interplay and interplay of the two in their joint film scenes that characterizes “OSKAR & LILLI – WHERE NO ONE KNOWS US“ and gives the film a substantial part of its impact and depth. Therefore, this year the SCHLINGEL will not award one, but two DIAMONDS on an equal footing and most deservedly.
//ANIMATED FEATURE FILM AWARD
Endowed by the German Institute for Animated Film DIAF (1,000 Euros)
CALAMITY, A CHILDHOOD OF MARTHA JANE CANNARY
France, Denmark, 2020
Directed by: Rémi Chayé
Justification:
The Wild West, wide landscapes, adventure and in the middle of it all the wild Martha Jane Cannary, a girl who wants to do everything the boys do: Lasso throwing, riding, steering the carriage - no problem especially when Martha exchanges her skirt for trousers! "Can't be done" is not an option for someone like Martha! Even if her environment sees it differently. Undeterred she faces every challenge and soon she is called Disaster Jane - Calamity Jane. This stylistically exciting and powerful animated film tells vividly about the childhood of the famous American Western heroine Calamity Jane and draws in wonderful colors the story of a girl who knows no boundaries.
MEZQUITE’S HEART
Mexico, 2019
Directed by: Ana Laura Calderón
 
// CLUB OF FESTIVALS AWARD JUNIOR
THE CLUB OF UGLY CHILDREN
Netherlands, 2019
Directed by: Jonathan Elbers
 
// CLUB OF FESTIVALS AWARD YOUTH
LOLA
Belgium, France, 2019
Directed by: Laurent Micheli
MY LITTLE SISTER
Russia, 2019
Directed by: Alexander Galibin
Justification:
Time and time again children get into situations that adults are responsible for. This impressive film shows how they deal with these situations, using the instance of the consequences of the armed conflicts of World War II in the microcosm of a small, isolated Baskirian village. With the simplicity and clarity of great art, the film tells
in short 95 minutes how a foreign child speaking another language can become an integral part of one's own family, if love, trust, courage and humour affect the emotions. The story is consistently told from the point of view and from the observation and experience of the five-year-old actor of Jamil, Arslan Krymtschurin, whose great authenticity and magical presence impresses. Although the film takes place in the past, the film is a comprehensively told allegory of our present. A film that makes us feel and think a lot - in a language that children and adults alike understand.
 
// AWARD OF THE FIPRESCI-JURY
Moon Rock for Monday
Australia, 2020
Directed by: Kurt Martin
Justification:
This Roadmovie about a girl who is terminally ill with cancer and a young thief, does not solely show our nature from an absolutely extraordinary view, almost as if humankind would live on the moon. Even through the formal execution, the film encourages to question our viewing habits, and by this, the intertwined prejudices towards other people. Skillfully, common narrative patterns from other films are taken, in order to split them apart throughout the development of the characters and the further action. But most of all, the film which is entirely narrated from the perspective of the girl, who enchants through her genuineness, is a hymn of praise towards life and happiness of living for young and old alike. Hence, the FIPRESCI-Jury is granting their award towards the Australian film “MOON ROCK FOR MONDAY” by Kurt Martin.
THE PRINCE’S VOYAGE
France, 2020
Directed by: Jean-François Laguinie, Xavier Picard
Justification:
The entertaining yet intelligent animated film sensitively uses a parable to illustrate different civilisations and behaviours. It takes us into a world of human-shaped monkeys. This allegory invites to a journey to question man as the crown of creation from one’s own and other people’s perspective. The film succeeds in inspiring all generations to reflect on universal ethical values.
 
// AUDIENCE AWARD CHEMNITZ
SOUNDTRACK TO SIXTEEN
UK, 2020
Directed by: Hillary Shakespeare
 
//AUDIENCE AWARD ZWICKAU
THE FANTASTIC JOURNEY OF MARGOT & MARGUERITE
France, 2019
Directed by: Pierre Coré
 
//AWARDS SHORT FILM COMPETITION
SHORT FILM AWARD NATIONAL
Endowed by Filmverband Sachsen (500 Euros)
TO ANNA
Germany, 2020
Directed by: Denise Riedmayr
 
SHORT FILM AWARD INTERNATIONAL
Endowed by Filmverband Sachsen (500 Euros)
PUSSY BOO
France, 2020
Directed by: Remi Parisse
 
SHORT FILM AWARD ANIMATION NATIONAL
Endowed by AG Animationsfilm (500 Euros)
HEAVINESS
Germany, 2019
Directed by: Matisse Gonzalez
 
SHORT FILM AWARD ANIMATION INTERNATIONAL
Endowed by AG Animationsfilm (500 Euros)
WARM STAR
Russia, 2020
Directed by: Anna Kuzina