The winning titles of the Frankfurter Buchmesse Film Awards have been chosen: "I'm Thinking of Ending Things", "Unorthodox", "When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit" and "French New Wave"
Special Mention goes to "Antigone" by Sophie Deraspe Appearance of Maria Schrader, Charlie Kaufman and Caroline Link in the livestream award ceremony
The Frankfurter Buchmesse Film Awards 2020 are presented in the categories "Best Literary Adaptation", "Best Literary Adaptation Series", "Best Adaptation for Children or Young Adults" and "Best Illustrated Book on Film". The winners have now been chosen and will be honoured in an award ceremony, which is broadcast via livestream on 9 October at 7 pm (CEST).
In the category "Best Literary Adaptation", the film "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" – based on the novel by Iain Reid – by Charlie Kaufman will be awarded. Kaufman wrote the script, directed and produced the film. "The film is a minimalist work of its own kind. In precisely composed images, in which often only the two main actors Cindy (Jessie Buckley) and Jake (Jesse Plemons) appear, the plot is largely revealed through the laconic-intellectual dialogues of the two", explains Beat Glur, Head of Jury Frankfurt Book Fair Film Awards.
The mini-series "Unorthodox" by Maria Schrader (based on the book by Deborah Feldman, screenplay written by Anna Winger and Alexa Karolinski) wins in the category "Best Literary Adaptation Series". This category is being awarded for the first time this year to highlight not only novel adaptations but also the best serial adaptation of a literary work. Maria Schrader has just received an Emmy Primetime Award in the category Best Director of a Miniseries, making her the first German director ever to be nominated and awarded an Emmy.
A special mention goes to the production "Antigone" by director Sophie Deraspe. The Canadian film is a very free adaptation of the ancient play by Sophocles and was awarded Best Canadian Film at its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival 2019. Sophie Deraspe interprets the ancient story – set in the immigrant milieu of today's Montreal – as a woman's search for justice.
The award for "Best Adaptation for Children or Young Adults" goes to Caroline Link and her film "When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit". "Caroline Link and Anna Brüggemann have adapted Judith Kerr's autobiographical children's book in such an extraordinary way that young viewers are able to understand the experience of an escape – also thanks to the outstanding acting performance by main actress Riva Krymalowski", explains Margret Albers, Jury Chair Children or Young Adults.
The Motovun Group of International Publishers (MGIP) awards the prize in the category "Best Illustrated Book on Film" to "French New Wave" (published by Reel Art Press, 2019). The book celebrates the French New Wave film genre in an extraordinary way by creating a compelling collage of film posters, biographies of artists, photographers and designers. Christopher Hudson, president of the Motovun Group of International Publishers (MGIP), says: "Although two books by MGIP members were finalists, the jury showed its true objectivity and selected a different winner. All finalists will be invited to take part in the ICMA Award–the International Creative Media Award–which will take place following Frankfurter Buchmesse, in November."
The Frankfurter Buchmesse Film Awards will be presented prior to the fair, on 9 October at 7 pm (CEST), as part of the B3 BEN Awards (Registration for the livestream event: https://fienta.com/b3biennale2020-10806(opens in a new window)). The evening will be moderated by Jo Schück, host of the ZDF TV show "aspekte Kulturjournal". The laudatory speeches for the winners will be held by Ellen Harrington, Head of the Advisory Board Film, Beat Glur and Margret Albers. Maria Schrader, Charlie Kaufman and Caroline Link – among others – will appear via video message within the ceremony. The B3 BEN Awards will also honour Willem Dafoe as "Most Influential Artist" for his life's work and Anne Imhof as "Most Important Artist".