"Many thanks to Tobi Krell and Tobi Obermeier for this wonderful invitation and the marvelous selection of films we had the privilege of seeing this week! The section started off with a documentary graduation film from Germany and then opened a window onto the world in the form of two animated films and five feature films. In total, four of these were directed by women and four by men, and almost all of them were debut films. The films' protagonists impressed us across the board. In particular, we wish to highlight the performances by the child actors in the fictional projects. We encountered a huge variety of narratives and new environments recommended for children aged five to 12, but we as adults thoroughly enjoyed this magnificent cinema as well. As a jury, we are especially eager to mention the intensity of coming-of-age films, which we unfortunately come across so rarely as a genre, but which have an immense capacity to leave a lasting impression on viewers of all ages. As a general request to all filmmakers here and elsewhere, without regard to our section: We want more of this! After all, what other genre has the power to get people of different generations talking to one another and perhaps also help them to understand each other better? And that brings us to our decision: Our world is complex and is often made even more complicated. Not all friendship is true friendship. The path of the many is not always the right one. Friendships can be put to the test, hold up under pressure, and not fall apart. And getting out of a maze of intrigue and prejudice unscathed is not so easy to pull off. Dramatized in a sophisticated way and presented to the audience at their level, the award-winning film allows us to accompany the protagonist on her emotional journey - in a process in which she learns to take a stand and, with the help of her friends, is able to admit her mistake. That is how this movie succeeds in being unbelievably important to all of us in the world we live in today. The 2024 CineKindl goes to LARS IS LOL by Eirik Sæter Stordahl."
