Awards for Julia von Heinz and Peter Meister

Director Julia von Heinz is honored with the Award of the City of Hof. "Julia is a fighter," says her longtime companion, filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim, in a poetic laudation at the award ceremony. "Sister, stay defiant and uncomfortable, laugh at and off everyone, and tiptoe around when someone doesn't take you seriously." The German Cinema New Talent Award goes to the opening film THE BLACK SQUARE by director Peter Meister.

With the film prize, which has been awarded for 35 years, the City of Hof honors people who are closely connected to the Upper Franconian city and the festival. Julia von Heinz is known for AND TOMORROW THE ENTIRE WORLD, for example. The film was the German entry for the 2021 Oscar Best International Film and opened the 2020 Hof International Film Festival.

The opening film of 2021 was Peter Meister's DAS SCHWARZE QUADRAT, a whimsical comedy about a 60-million-euro painting that goes missing to two art thieves. According to the jury's statement, the self-taught director Meister has created a film with a crazy pace and a great ensemble. The German Cinema New Talent Award is endowed with 10,000 euros.