The Friedrich Baur Gold Award 2025, Germany's most highly endowed prize for young directors, was awarded at the 59th Hof International Film Festival. This year, Ina Balon and Alexander Conrads share the award, which comes with a certified gold bar with a total value of 35,000 euros.
Since 2018, the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts has been awarding the prize for the best directorial achievement in a first feature-length film in memoriam of the Filmtage founder Heinz Badewitz. In addition to the gold prize, the winners receive a one-year mentoring, accompanied by an experienced filmmaker. In 2025, director Dominik Graf took over the task of the jury and will accompany the award winners in an advisory capacity next year.
The prize was presented by Dr. Hans-Peter Friedrich, Advisory Board Member of the Friedrich Baur Foundation, Member of the German Bundestag and former Federal Minister.
The award-winning films
Ina Balon is awarded for her film PLAN F – an intense Family drama about two sisters, which, according to juror Graf, is "boundless, excessive and carried by a fresh energy". Especially the actresses Bärbel Schwarz and Ursula were highlighted Renneke as well as the strong ensemble around Florian Stetter, Jörg Malchow and Christoph Eckert.
The second prize goes to Alexander Conrads for GEMEINSAM IST MAN LESS SEPARATED, a charming, dialogue-rich relationship comedy about Love and separation in everyday life. Graf praised the "lovingly everyday" narrative style and the "successful scenes like a pearl necklace". In the Abenaa Prempeh and Konstantin Gerlach, supported by Johanna Gastdorf, Amer El-Erwadi, Amelie Barth and Zoe Lara Löhmann.
About the price
The Friedrich Baur Gold Award was awarded by the Friedrich Baur Foundation , which is based on the commitment of the entrepreneur and patron of the arts Dr. h.c. Friedrich Baur and his wife Kathi Baur. Both are passionate about art, culture, sports and social projects.
This year's nominees were ten debut films by German filmmakers. productions that premiered in the competition of the Hof Film Festival. In addition to the gold bar, the prize winners will also receive the Stehle "Heinz Badewitz Prize", designed by the Design School Selb, Presented.
