The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Two people from Munich in Hollywood

2022-12-31T09:10:02.890Z


Two people from Munich in Hollywood Created: 12/31/2022, 10:00 am By: Katrin Basaran Delivered great cinema: Welf Reinhart (left, with his silver Oscar) and Nils Keller. © M. Sleep The young directors Nils Keller (31) and Welf Reinhart (27) from the Munich University of Television and Film (HFF) won the student Oscar in 2022. Here they tell how it came about: The young directors Nils Keller (


Two people from Munich in Hollywood

Created: 12/31/2022, 10:00 am

By: Katrin Basaran

Delivered great cinema: Welf Reinhart (left, with his silver Oscar) and Nils Keller.

© M. Sleep

The young directors Nils Keller (31) and Welf Reinhart (27) from the Munich University of Television and Film (HFF) won the student Oscar in 2022.

Here they tell how it came about:

The young directors Nils Keller (31) and Welf Reinhart (27) have had a great year!

The former is a graduate of the Munich University for Television and Film (HFF), Reinhart is still in the middle of his studies.

Both are so talented that on October 20, 2022 in Los Angeles, they won the Student Academy Award for their respective short films - Keller for "Almost home" in gold, Reinhart for "Eigenheim" in silver (to be seen unfortunately they are not public).

The path goes even further for Keller: his film is on the shortlist for the Oscar, which will be awarded on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood.

Here they both look back on their special year:

How did this Oscar trip start for you?

Nils Keller

: I had my graduation film coming up – and then Corona began.

It quickly became clear that a feature film would never be possible in real life.

So what to do?

I had just read an article about a cruise ship that had the virus.

The people could not disembark.

A group of people quickly formed who did not want to go ashore, even if permission was granted, because the situation outside seemed to be escalating.

There was so much in this situation that I wanted to put in my graduation film anyway – an intimate story, dramatic developments that have something to do with all of us, and a certain visual quality.

Welf Reinhart:

For me it was about an exercise film.

The idea came to me after reading The Grapes of Wrath.

In one scene, farmers are evicted from their land.

And then I read about an eviction in the north of Munich.

I then asked the district court if I could accompany a bailiff because I wanted to get real impressions.

I've been present at three evictions - two of them involving older women.

The fate of one of them is close to my story.

Was there a key moment when you thought: This is a big hit?

Welf Reinhart:

The film initially did better abroad than in Germany.

He then qualified for submission to the Student Oscars through three major international festivals.

I still remember getting a phone call one night while on vacation in Norway in the spring: I had won a prize at the Brussels Short Film Festival!

Then I flew there.

And to be on stage in a hall like that in front of an audience, that was great and for me it was something like the starting gun.


Nils Keller:

It was kind of clear that Almost Home could be a movie to talk about.

That was not only because of the story, but also because of the cast, because of the supporters.

But before that it was more like stone-breaking, just hard work, trembling whether the concept will work and whether we can see the project through to the end.

Also because of the ongoing Covid situation.

The first time I noticed that the film was well received in its overall concept was in March when HFF professor and director Julia von Heinz ("And tomorrow the whole world") accepted the film.

She spoke of an amazing film with aspects that have not been seen before.

Confidence grew with every step up to the student Oscars: I noticed that the film is doing well internationally, that people like it.

And then someone comes and nominates the film?

Or how should one imagine the procedure?

Welf Reinhart:

There are different ways.

I was selected through qualifying festivals.

You have to take care of the submission yourself - that's a lot of work and also costs money.

Nils Keller:

Yes, you have to be proactive about it.

I was able to submit my contribution directly as a graduation film.

But I also did festival work.

also read

ARD shows "Kurzschluss" with Anke Engelke and Matthias Brandt: A television fortune cookie!

READ

Verena Altenberger in the ARD cave drama: "We just screamed at each other"

READ

Netflix: 35 million watch Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery over Christmas

READ

"Francesca da Rimini" by Mercadante at the Tyrolean Festival: the ruin of a marriage

READ

Netflix shows "The White Noise" with Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig between everyday life and apocalypse

READ

Fancy a voyage of discovery?

My space

Then summer came.

What happened next?

Welf Reinhart:

That was crazy.

To get to the semi-finals was great.

I thought I had no chance anyway.

And then came the nomination for the final...

How do you get notified – by email, by phone call?

Welf Reinhart:

I was in the middle of nowhere in Norway with no internet when the nomination came through – relatively unspectacular as the announcement, via the website.

Funnily enough, Nils' producer congratulated me, otherwise I wouldn't have checked anything at all... Before the finale, we nominees were then invited to zoom interviews under a pretext.

I thought: That's it now.

I could hardly sleep the night before because I was so excited.

Then they interviewed everyone for 20 minutes.

And at the end the director Gina Prince-Bythewood ("The Woman King") came and congratulated us.

So now you know you've got a student Oscar in your pocket - but not yet whether it's gold, silver or bronze?

Nils Keller: Exactly, we only found out at the ceremony in Los Angeles.

But before that, you've celebrated the win before...

Welf Reinhart:

Yes, I toasted that evening with my wife, the producer and his wife.

Nils Keller:

It was a little tricky for me – no one had time that spontaneously that evening.

The announcement came with a time difference from America.

But then I still managed to raise a glass with my fiancé and a friend in a small group.

And the next day there was a big celebration.

I didn't want to tell anyone anything beforehand.

Because even if there were many indications that our film would make it into the finale, there were still lingering doubts.

How big is the reputation of the student Oscars?

Nils Keller:

Of course it is a great recognition.

Around 600 experts voted for the student Oscars.

Welf Reinhart:

You can almost speak of an audience award.

Nils Keller:

The award is very relevant, especially in Germany, and helps to advance professionally.

How were you received in Los Angeles?

Nils Keller:

In the beginning it was student-like, something like an excursion.

No red carpet, no limousine or anything.

Welf Reinhart:

We thought at first that they only cook with water.

(Laughs.)

Nils Keller:

That's right.

But the award ceremony was already Oscar light.

With audience, hosted by producer and actor Terrence Jenkins, good food, photo shoots, interviews.

Is that intimidating too?

Welf Reinhart:

Oh, the necessary self-confidence is built up through the individual stages of the competition.

Nils Keller:

You should go there and say: Here I am!

People are curious – then shyly ducking away is counterproductive.

Welf Reinhart:

It's a platform that generates attention.

And it would be a shame if you let this chance slip away.

Did you meet personalities like Scorsese or Spielberg?

Nils Keller:

Almost.

(Laughs) You met people who worked with these sizes.

So more the creative atmosphere, which is almost more interesting because you could exchange ideas concretely.

But hey, we've never been that close to the masters.

The big moment, the category is called, bronze awarded - silver and gold remain.

What was on your mind?

Nils Keller:

I was surprisingly calm.

That surprised me, because I'm usually rather nervous on stage.

Welf Reinhart:

Maybe it was because we drank Francis Ford Coppola's wine beforehand.

(Laughs.) The excitement of the weeks before has culminated for me.

We brought our teams onto the stage - because without them we would never have gotten this far.

And we had to give acceptance speeches.

Nils Keller:

… never forget the Academy!

(Laughs.)

How are things going for you now?

Welf Reinhart:

In addition to a few projects, I'm already looking forward to the development of my graduation film, I already have the idea for it.

Nils Keller:

For me, it's about crossing the threshold to feature films.

I have a couple of projects coming up that will start talks in January.

But before that all works out, we'll have to shake a lot of hands.

(Laughs.)

Katrin Basaran conducted the interview.

Source: merkur

All life articles on 2022-12-31

You may like

News/Politics 2024-01-30T13:18:41.114Z

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.