This year, the Hofer Goldpreis at the 57th International Hofer Filmtage was awarded to director Pauline Schläger, a graduate of the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln, for her ifs graduation film »Dann lieber sterben«.
The Hofer Goldpreis, was awarded by the Friedrich Baur Foundation, honors a director’s debut feature-length film produced in Germany that premieres in Hof. It is currently endowed with approximately 35,000 € in certified gold, making it the most highly endowed award for emerging directors in Germany. The prize is awarded by the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts in memory of Heinz Badewitz. It includes artistic guidance for the winner over the course of a year as she develops a new film, provided by this year’s Goldpreis mentor, media artist Corinna Schnitt.
The feature film »Dann lieber sterben« (Director & Screenplay: Pauline Schläger; Concept: Jana Thüring, Pauline Schläger, Julius Nerlich; Production & Screenplay: Julius Nerlich; Cinematography: Marcel Reiter; Editing & Sound Design: Ivan Kolesov; Production Design: Kira Thönnes; 57 min.) depicts the various reactions of a group of friends to their friend Arthur’s suicide attempt. Everyone is desperately trying to say and do the right thing. But as if that weren’t enough, the group of friends also has to bury a giant rabbit. Despite the uncertainties, the friends eventually find their own personal ways of dealing with it all. The ifs graduation film was funded by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW.