Pre-Oscar Event of Villa Aurora at The Wende Museum
by VATMH Berlin
The Norwegian drama SENTIMENTAL VALUE, co-produced by the Berlin-based production company Komplizen Film, led by co-founder and Villa Aurora alumna Maren Ade, was awarded Best International Feature Film at this year’s Academy Awards. There was also a win in the documentary category, as MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN, a German co-production by ZDF/Arte, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
On the Saturday preceding the awards ceremony, filmmakers from Germany and the United States gathered at the annual Villa Aurora Pre-Oscar Reception, held this year at the Wende Museum in Los Angeles. Organized in collaboration with Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, German Films, the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Los Angeles, and numerous partners and sponsors, the event celebrated the achievements of German filmmakers and international co-productions.
This year’s reception placed a particular spotlight on successful co-productions. In total, seven international productions with German participation were nominated for Academy Awards.
Winners of Academy Awards
The Norwegian drama SENTIMENTAL VALUE, co-produced by Komplizen Film in collaboration with Maren Ade, Janine Jackowski, and Jonas Dornbach, received a total of nine Oscar nominations and won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film (for Norway).
Jakob Scherer, Managing Director of Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House:
“We warmly congratulate Komplizen Film on this outstanding achievement. For us, it is especially rewarding to see how artistic careers evolve: Maren Ade was a Villa Aurora Fellow in 2012 and has since received numerous awards. We are particularly delighted that yet another co-production by Komplizen Film, of which she is a co-founder, has now been honored with an Oscar.”
A significant achievement was recorded in the documentary category: MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN, directed by David Borenstein and co-produced by ZDF/arte, was awarded the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
Further Nominated Productions with German Involvement
German filmmakers were also represented this year in the field of visual effects: Michael Ralla and Guido Wolter were nominated for their work on SINNERS, the most-nominated film of this year’s Oscars with a total of 16 nominations. In addition, the Berlin-based studio Rise FX contributed to the visual effects of the film THE LOST BUS.
THE SECRET AGENT, co-produced by One Two Films, was nominated in four categories.
The film CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS, co-produced by inselfilm, was nominated for the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
German-British composer Max Richter was nominated for Best Original Score for HAMNET.
Pre-Oscar Reception of Villa Aurora
For over 30 years, Villa Aurora has served as an artist residence, a landmark of German-American exile history, and a symbol of artistic and intellectual freedom. Following devastating fires, the building is currently undergoing renovations in preparation for its reopening. Thanks to the generous support of long-standing partners and the Wende Museum, this year’s reception honoring German Oscar nominees was successfully held at the museum.
Justinian Jampol, Founder and Executive Director of the Wende Museum:
„After Villa Aurora had to close due to the fires, it felt only natural for us to host this special landmark event. Villa Aurora is such an important part of Los Angeles’ cultural life, and today is a reminder that art, film, and community are always strongest when they come together.”
With a total of seven nominations and two Academy Awards, this year’s results highlight the strong international recognition of German cinema—an успех that is set to be celebrated once again at Villa Aurora next year.
You can download photos from the event here: https://www.picdrop.com
The photos may only be used for reporting on the event. Photo credit: Aaron Perez/Villa Aurora
Partner
In cooperation with the Wende Museum in Los Angeles, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, German Films, the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Los Angeles, and numerous partners and sponsors.
