German films triumph: Prizes for Dry Leaf” and Look into the Sun” at BKKIFF!

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The Bangkok International Film Festival returns after 16 years, with winners like “Dry Leaf” and “Looking into the Sun.”

Das Bangkok International Film Festival kehrt nach 16 Jahren zurück, mit Gewinnern wie „Dry Leaf“ und „In die Sonne schauen“.
The Bangkok International Film Festival returns after 16 years, with winners like “Dry Leaf” and “Looking into the Sun.”

German films triumph: Prizes for Dry Leaf” and Look into the Sun” at BKKIFF!

After a 16-year break, the Bangkok International Film Festival (BKKIFF) took place again and attracted cinematic hearts to the Thai capital. In a celebration of creativity and storytelling, the competition winners were announced. The main prize, the Grand Prix, went to the German film “Dry Leaf” by Alexandre Koberidze, while Mascha Schilinski’s “Looking into the Sun” was awarded the Special Jury Prize. This return of the festival was hailed as a significant moment for the international film scene in Thailand, where it has been a fixture since 2003. Wikipedia highlights that the festival has attracted numerous prominent names over the past two decades, including dazzling stars Catherine Deneuve and Jeremy Irons.

“Dry Leaf”, a German-Georgian co-production, tells the gripping story of a father who travels through Georgia in search of his missing daughter. The film previously premiered in the Locarno competition and was described by the jury as “inventive and hypnotizing”. A convincing performance that was rewarded with the Grand Prix, as The Spot Media Film reports.

Prize winners and their stories

“Looking into the Sun” by Mascha Schilinski not only received the award at the BKKIFF, but was also selected as Germany's official entry for the 2026 Oscars. The story spans four generations of female experiences in an Altmark farmhouse. Before this triumph in Bangkok, the film had already been honored with the Golden Athena Award in Athens and the Jury Prize in Cannes.

  • Wichtige Auszeichnungen:
  • Grand Prix: „Dry Leaf“ von Alexandre Koberidze
  • Spezialpreis der Jury: „In die Sonne schauen“ von Mascha Schilinski
  • Bester Regisseur: Pedro Pinho für „I Only Rest In The Storm“
  • New Voices Award: Nidhi Saxena für „Secret Of A Mountain Serpent“

Festival director Donsaron Kovitvaniycha expressed his delight at the smooth running of the comeback and emphasized the growing importance of this festival for the film landscape in Thailand. Since 2003, the BKKIFF has developed into a platform for Asian cinema, but also offers a competition for international films and a wide range of film genres, including documentaries and short films.
As mentioned, the festival attracted not only filmmakers but also a wide range of film enthusiasts ready to celebrate the creative contributions from around the world.

Cinema as a cultural bridge

One of the most notable works that did not go unnoticed at the festival is Sho Miyake's film, which adapts the works of Japanese author Yoshiharu Tsuge. This film combines melancholy with quiet resilience and shows humorous moments in everyday life. It is an exploration of the fundamental joys of travel and poetically describes the quirky encounters between people.

Overall, the BKKIFF presents a balanced mix of well-known names and fresh talent. The large number of awarded films, such as the aforementioned “I Only Rest In The Storm”, directed by a Portuguese director, shows that the festival remains a valuable platform for international filmmakers.

The return of the BKKIFF and the awarded works impressively demonstrate the dynamism of the global film scene and how cinema functions as a cultural bridge. In times of change, it is important to celebrate events that bring people together with stories. The latest edition of the BKKIFF sends a clear signal for the continued relevance of film in today's world.