Deutscher Menschenrechts-Filmpreis 2024:

FABW-Production "FÜNFZEHN MINUTEN" Wins in the Education Category

On Monday (11. November) the winners of the Deutsche Menschenrechts-Filmpreis 2024 were announced. Among the six award-winning productions is the 13-minute short film FÜNFZEHN MINUTEN (written and directed by Sejad Ademaj), which was created during the second year of studies at Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg. The film was awarded in the "Education" category, for which the FWU – Media Institute of the Federal States sponsors a prize of €2,500.

FÜNFZEHN MINUTEN addresses the highly topical issue of migration and deportation: When Jasmina is doing her homework with her parents after dinner, her friend Lukas calls and tries to convince her to come outside. While they are still on the phone, the doorbell rings. Instead of Lukas, it is the police. They inform Jasmina and her parents that they will be deported within fifteen minutes. Jasmina’s world falls apart. The long-awaited class trip to Berlin and her plans to get closer to Lukas are dashed. In her despair, Jasmina calls Lukas, whose mother is a lawyer and wants to help the family.

The jury for the Education category of the Deutsche Menschenrechts-Filmpreis praised Sejad Ademaj’s short film as an impressive work that "makes the unimaginable tangible in its brevity" and "gets under the skin". The film addresses deportation and self-harm, linking both topics in a powerful way. Despite the difficult content, it sparks important discussions and highlights the harsh reality for many children and young people in Germany. After intense discussions, the jury agreed that the pedagogical exploration of these complex issues is especially valuable. "The film has the potential to keep our awareness of human rights alive," the jury concluded, emphasising how worthwhile it is to tackle uncomfortable questions within film education.

Sejad Ademaj, son of a Montenegrin Rom*nja family, lived in Germany with a tolerated status from 1991 to 2008, which strongly influenced his childhood and adolescence. After training as an event manager and completing a bachelor's degree in "Media Design and Production" at Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, he began a screenwriting course at Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg in 2020 and switched to directing after two years. His current film DEUTSCHE SPRACHE SCHWERE SPRACHE premiered at the Hofer Filmtage in 2023.

Sejad Ademaj emphasises that the film is autobiographically inspired and reflects the experiences of the Rom*nja minority: "The constant threat of being deported as a Romnja deprives many people of the chance to integrate, work, and become part of society." He also points out the relevance of the topic of suicide, which particularly affects young people aged 15 to 25, for whom suicide remains one of the leading causes of death.

Among the 50 nominated films in competition were several productions by Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg students and alumni: In the Feature Film category, SIEGER SEIN! by Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg alumna Soleen Yusef, and in the University category, the three FABW documentaries For the Time Being (directed by Nele Dehnenkamp), YUMI - the whole world (directed by Felix Golenko) and Was bleibt – Journalistinnen in Krisenregionen (directed by Lotta Pommerien), as well as the short film Granica (directed by Joschua Neubert).

The Deutsche Menschenrechts-Filmpreis is an independent media competition awarded every two years since 1998. The films compete in six categories, each with a prize of €2,500. The awards ceremony will take place on the eve of the International Human Rights Day, this year on 7 December, in Nuremberg.

The competition is supported by a group of over 20 civil society organisations, including human rights, educational, cultural and media organisations, religious institutions, trade unions, and welfare associations. Together, they share the goal of promoting the respect and protection of human rights.

Further information (only German):

Satement Sejad Ademaj

Foto: Filmstill aus FÜNFZEHN MINUTEN

FABW-Production "FÜNFZEHN MINUTEN" Wins in the Education Category

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