Talking About Trees” wins Glashütte Original – Documentary Award 2019
Glashütte Original supported the 69th Berlinale as Partner and Award sponsor
Director Suhaib Gasmelbari and producer Marie Balducchi with the award trophy Copyright Cecile Mella
Glashütte
Original offers heartfelt congratulations to Suhaib Gasmelbari, who has
won the Glashütte Original – Documentary Award at the 69th Berlin
International Film Festival. The Sudanese filmmaker was honoured for his
film, “Talking About Trees”, a documentary on the history of the
Sudanese cinema. The award, donated by the Saxon watch manufactory and
endowed with 50,000 euros, was presented Saturday evening during the
official award ceremonies at the Berlinale Palace. Glashütte Original
also supported the 69th Berlinale as a sponsor this year.
The
presentation of the Glashütte Original – Documentary Award was a
highlight of the glamourous gala evening, as exciting as ever, that
brought the 69th Berlin International Film Festival to a close. Suhaib
Gasmelbari, who wrote the screenplay, directed and was the camera
operator for the winning film, accepted the award from the renowned
jury. In his acceptance speech Suhaib Gasmelbari was evidently very
moved, and chose to address his compatriots as well: “At this point I
would like to send a message of solidarity to the people of the Sudan,
who are still fighting for their freedom today.”
The film’s
producer, Marie Balducchi, thanked Suhaib Gasmelbari for his commitment
with the following words: “What he has created is a masterpiece. It is
the story of courage, of friendship, and of the cinema.”
Director Suhaib Gasmelbari and producer Marie Balducchi with the jury Copyright Cecile Mella
Jury
members Maria Bonsanti, Maria Ramos and Gregory Nava honoured “Talking
About Trees“ in their eulogy as “an exceptional expression of film as an
art form, and of the cinema as a powerful instrument of resistance and
as a universal language.” They had selected the film from 17 current
documentaries nominated for the Award by different sections of the
Festival. Glashütte Original, as sponsor of the Award, was particularly
supportive of the documentary form.
The Glashütte Original –
Documentary Award is characterized by more than just the recognition
that comes with the Award and the € 50,000 in prize money. The trophy,
too, has a special story to tell. The statuette, 20 centimetres high,
was made by employees of the Saxon watchmaker, crafted by hand in brass,
brushed stainless steel and acrylic resin. It takes the shape of
toothed gears arranged to form a column, which also evokes rolls of
film, symbolizing the many different facets of the connection between
the art of filmmaking and that of making watches.
www.glashuette-original.com