The feature film The Teacher’s Lounge by Ilker Çatak (if… Productions Film) will enter the race for Germany to the 96th Oscars in the “Best International Feature Film“ category. The decision was made by an independent jury whose members were appointed by various associations working within the German film industry. A total of 13 films were submitted for consideration.
After screening all of the submitted films on August 22 and 23 in Munich, the nine-member jury with spokesperson Torsten Koch (Constantin Film, German Distributors Association) gave the motivation for its choice as follows:
“By nominating THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE, the jury has chosen a highly topical, universal feature film that is impossible to resist. Student Academy Award® winner Ilker Çatak takes the microcosm of a school as the setting for social processes of erosion in the post-factual age. Çatak is masterful in the way he stages his precisely written story as a breakdown in understanding. Leonie Benesch delivers a breathtaking performance as an idealist who, in trying to do everything right, comes under increasing pressure – intensified by the clever decision to adopt the unusual 4:3 format. THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE is supported by the outstanding casting and superb performances of its diverse ensemble.”
İlker Çatak and producer Ingo Fliess said in a statement: ‘‘The nomination of our film for the „Best International Feature Film“ Oscar® is a special honour and recognition of our consistent work as well as of the creative passion of all involved. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity and are delighted from the bottom of our hearts. At the same time, however, we are very aware of the responsibility involved in representing German film on the international stage. We see our film as an individual work and a contribution to our nation’s cultural identity. We will show full commitment to living up to this responsibility.“
