Film Festival Cottbus awards prizes to Romanian drama and new filmmakers

The 36th Film Festival Cottbus concluded its awards ceremony, distributing approximately 52,000 euros in prize money. The top prize, worth 15,000 euros, was awarded to the Romanian father-son drama “You Don't Belong Here,” directed by Florin Serban. The jury praised the film for its multilayered screenplay and thriller-like tension.

Other notable awards included the special prize for best direction, which went to Vladena Sandu for her debut film “Memory.” The festival also introduced the GenNext Award, a new competition focusing on young filmmakers. The 5,000 euro GenNext prize was awarded to Milena Aboyan for the film adaptation “Drei Kameradinnen.”

The festival featured 147 films from 43 countries. Additionally, the event hosted a premiere of the crime film “Polizeiruf 110: Stalker,” directed by Oliver Schmitz, which explores themes of digital violence and cybercrime near the German-Polish border.