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.
Suhaib Gasmelbari, who wrote the screenplay, directed and was the camera operator for the winning film, accepted the award from the renowned jury during the glamourous gala evening that brought the 69th Berlin International Film Festival to a close. 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.”
“What he has created is a masterpiece. It is the story of courage, of friendship, and of the cinema,” said the film’s producer, Marie Balducchi.
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.
The trophy of the Glashütte Original–Documentary Award 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.
