FABW graduate Johannes Naber is the winner
This year, the Thomas Strittmatter Award of the Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg (MFG) goes to the screenplay “Wachen” by FABW alumnus Johannes Naber. The 20,000-euro prize was awarded last Wednesday, February 19, at the Berlin International Film Festival.
The decision was made by a high-calibre jury consisting of screenwriter and producer Laila Stieler, director and author Güzin Kar, and media researcher Anna Kokenge. The jury members selected three screenplays from 45 anonymized submissions and nominated them for the prize, which already includes prize money of €2,500 each.
The comedy “Wachen” revolves around Ferdinand, a writer living on welfare. The employment office forces him into a security guard job. There he meets Ronny, an ex-soldier with a nationalist worldview. For Ferdinand, there is only one thing on his mind: getting out of the situation – by any means necessary.
Jury chair Laila Stieler about the script: “Telling a story that is both tragic and funny at the same time is a rare talent. The script that we have the pleasure of awarding here today is exactly that. Comedy writers are rarely praised. I am now doing so. I am pleased to do so.”
The award was presented to Johannes Naber at the permanent representation of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg in Berlin by the State Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Arne Braun, and MFG managing director Carl Bergengruen. Afterwards, actor Sebastian Blomberg read excerpts from the script.
Johannes Naber (born in Baden-Baden in 1971) studied directing at FABW from 1993 to 1999. His often award-winning works include the debut film DER ALBANER, the satire ZEIT DER KANNIBALEN (2014), the fairy tale adaptation DAS KALTE HERZ (2016) and the ironic political thriller CURVEBALL – WIR MACHEN DIE WAHRHEIT (2020).
The Thomas Strittmatter Award goes to authors for high-quality screenplays. The prize is awarded to television or cinema material with a connection to Baden-Wuerttemberg. Named after the author Thomas Strittmatter, who died young, the screenwriting prize is endowed with 20,000 euros and is awarded annually during the Berlinale at a festive gala.