MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein

Two Lions for MOIN-supported talents

07.09.2025 | Venice International Film Festival

Two of the coveted prizes at the Venice International Film Festival went to MOIN-funded productions on Saturday evening: The "Lion of the Future - Luigi De Laurentiis Award" for best debut went to "Short Summer" by Nastia Korkia. Actress Luna Wedler received the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actress for her outstanding performance in "Silent Friend".

Helge Albers, CEO of MOIN Film Fund: "We are delighted about this double recognition in Venice. The awards show how strong and diverse the talents are that we are able to support in the region - both behind and in front of the camera. The 'Lion of the Future' is one of the most important prizes for debut films worldwide and our congratulations go to the team around 'Short Summer' Director Nastia Korkia and the Hamburg-based Executive Producers Dirk Decker, Natalia Drozd and Andrea Schütte. We take our hats off to the acting performance of Luna Wedler in 'Silent Friend'. Bravissimo!"

The 'Lion of the Future' is one of the most important awards for debut films worldwide and our congratulations go to the team around 'Short Summer' Director Nastia Korkia.

Helge Albers
MOIN Film Fund

About the films

The Giornate degli Autori section featured Short Summer by Director and Script Writer Nastia Korkia, set in Russia in 2004: While her grandparents negotiate the end of their relationship, seven-year-old Katya spends one last summer with them in the countryside before she starts school. War is raging in nearby Chechnya, and Katya experiences a summer full of adventure, tenderness and hardship. The German production is Tamtam Film from Hamburg - "Short Summer" was funded with 230,000 euros. The film will have its German premiere at the Filmfest Hamburg.

The film Silent Friend by Ildikó Enyedi ("The Story of my Wife") starring Tony Leung Chiu-Wai ("In the Mood for Love"), Luna Wedler ("22 Bahnen") and Léa Seydoux tells three stories that all take place in an old German botanical garden. Part of the film crew comes from Hamburg and the German co-producer is Pandora Film. The MOIN Film Fund has supported the drama with 100,000 euros in production funding. The film screened in competition in Venice and was awarded five further prizes by independent expert juries, including the FIPRESCI Prize of the international film critics for the best film of the festival.

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This article was translated automatically. It can contain errors.