Berlin, April 9, 2025 – This year’s edition of the achtung berlin film festival came to an end on the evening of April 9, 2025 with the festive presentation of the new berlin film awards at Berlin’s Babylon cinema. Launched on April 2, 2025, the festival is considered the most important forum for young German film from Berlin-Brandenburg. In a total of eight sections – including the competitions for feature films, documentaries, medium-length and short films as well as Berlin Spotlights, Berlin Special, Berlin Series and a film history retrospective – the festival presented over 80 films and series episodes, many of them as German or Berlin premieres, even before their exploitation in cinemas, television or streaming. In total, the festival presented new berlin film awards in 14 categories with a total value of almost 35,000 euros.
This is the tenth time that UCM. ONE and its film label Darling Berlin have partnered with the achtung berlin film festival. This year, UCM. ONE and Darling Berlin are once again sponsoring the awards for Best Acting, a prize awarded equally to two actors and endowed with prize money of EUR 1000. The competition prizes are also supported by numerous renowned partners – including Ziegler Film, ARRI, PHAROS, 25p cine support, Basis Berlin, Shoon’n’ Post and many more.
Actress Birgit Unterweger was honored for her acting performance in Sascha Hilpert’s film “Formen moderner Erschöpfung” (english Title: “Forms Of Modern Exhaustion”). The award was accepted on behalf of director Sascha Hilpert and the award winner’s son, actor Leonhard Hugger.
Jury statement:
“Sometimes you don’t need grand gestures to be deeply moving. This actress draws us into the maelstrom of her character with quiet intensity – so close that we feel the pressure on our chest and want to breathe a sigh of relief with her. Her acting is precise, quiet, but full of power. Without clichés, without pathos, she creates a nuanced portrait of a woman on the edge – torn between exhaustion, control and the desire for connection. She brings a tremendous presence, makes every emotion palpable, every resistance understandable. And she surprises us with humor precisely where we expect heaviness: for example, when she stubbornly refuses to take part in art therapy. Then again, she moves us to tears – for example in the dance scene, in which everything opens up for a moment and a new side of her becomes visible: a tender, physical, almost floating one. What seems reserved at first glance is in fact imbued with humanity, playfulness and depth. Their performance connects so seamlessly.”
Actress Emma Suthe was honored for her acting performance in the film “Ninja Motherf*cking Destruction” by Lotta Schwerk. The award was accepted on behalf of the winner by director Lotta Schwerk and cinematographer Fion Mutert.
Jury statement:
“It is not easy to create a character that touches us so much despite all the differences – be it in age, experience or gender. But that’s exactly what the actress has managed to do. She has told a story that reminds us of our own youth, with all its ups and downs.
First love, the challenges of friendships, breaking free from old patterns and growing self-awareness – she has brought this person to life in a true and sensitive way. It is impressive how she does justice to her character at every stage of her life.
She manages to touch us as viewers, to awaken deep understanding and to make us empathize with her in every scene – sometimes with a tear, sometimes with a smile of reconciliation. To portray such a development over the years with the same depth and dedication is anything but easy. It requires not only technical skill, but also a deep feeling for the emotional nuances and a genuine loyalty to the character. This is exactly what we feel in every scene – the youthful lightness, the first heartbreak and the silent growth in the face of all of life’s challenges. This performance requires much more than just talent. It requires exceptional sensitivity, a precise gift for observation and a great love of acting. And it is this mixture that makes her character so vivid that we remember her for a long time. Today we are honoring an artist whose talent, authenticity and closeness to her character not only convinced us, but moved us deeply: Emma Suthe for her role of Leonie in NINJA MOTHERF*CKING DESTRUCTION.”
The big winner of this year’s festival is ROTE STERNE ÜBERM FELD by Laura Laabs. The film’s three festival screenings – especially the Berlin premiere with its two-hour Q&A – generated intense discussion. The new berlin film award for Best Feature Film went to ROTE STERNE ÜBERM FELD. Director Laura Laabs was also honored for Best Screenplay, producers Balthasar Busmann and Maximilian Haslberger from Amerika Film were honored for Best Production, and Carlos Vasques for Best Cinematography in a Feature Film.
In addition, NACHT DER KOJOTEN by Clara Trischler was honored as Best Documentary , the prize for Best Director went to Lotta Schwerk for NINJA MOTHERF*CKING DESTRUCTION, the prizes for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design went toFrédéric Jaeger’s ALL WE EVER WANTED and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury went to IM PRINZIP FAMILIE by Daniel Abma.
More award winners here: Official press release
Further information about the festival and the program: achtung berlin
Further information about the film label: Darling Berlin
