Award

The Werner Herzog Film Award 2020 goes to
GARAGENVOLK (Garage People) by Natalija Yefimkina

The Werner Herzog Film Award, an annual award endowed with a sum of Euro 5,000, can go to a feature film, a documentary, a filmmaker, an actor, or anyone working in the art of cinema. It will be given to special achievements in innovation, courage, and vision. The award is open to citizens of all countries. There is no application procedure, and no competition.

The Werner Herzog Foundation Award 2020 goes to

NATALIJA YEFIMKINA for her film GARAGENVOLK (Garage people)



NATALIJA YEFIMKINA
Film Award 2020


Much to our regret we must inform you that Werner Herzog is unable to travel to Germany from the US to personally hand over the award to Natalija Yefimkina. Travel restrictions due to the Corona pandemic are very severe and it is just impossible for Werner to enter Germany without being forced to quarantine for days. — Nevertheless, the award ceremony will take place as planned and Werner will present Natalija the award in a virtual event with a laudation over the net.

In Russia's north, garages stretch out into endlessness. Behind rusty doors everything can be found, except cars. They are the refuge of the Russian man, the vanishing point out of bleak daily life and a signal of hope for big dreams.

Werner Herzog on the bestowal of the award:

The moment I have seen Natalija Yefimkina’s film, I instantly knew that everything I and the board of the Foundation wants to see of an recipient of the Werner Herzog Film Award.

I am myself very impressed of the humanitarian worldview of the film. I have never seen before what Natalija shows us here. Her film, shot in the outer province of Russia, has an universal feature, deeply humanly. I have the impression as have looked at the core of the Russian soul.

Natalija Yefimkina is known for her work on Garagenvolk (2020), 24H Europe: The Next Generation (2019) and Röllin sydän (2007).

Garagenvolk won the HEINER CAROW-PREIS at the Berlinale 2020.

Depending on possible restrictions due to the Corona pandemic, the award ceremony is going to take place on
Friday, October 16, 2020 at 7 pm
at the Munich Cinematheque (Filmmuseum München), St.-Jakobs-Platz 1

The ceremony is followed by the screening of the award winning film and a live discussion between the Natalija Yefimkina and Werner Herzog.

Limited ticket sales.