Nora Fingscheidt’s System Crasher, which premiered at Berlin International Film Festival, had 10 nominations and came away with eight Lolas, including best film and best director, at the 70th German Film Awards held Friday night in Berlin.
System Crasher, the story of a young girl who rejects most social contact and finds happiness when forced into isolation, has won big at the quarantined version of the Lolas (German Oscars).
Fingscheidt also took home the best screenplay Lola for her script to System Crasher, her directorial debut. She accepted the honors via a wonky video link from Vancouver, where she is sheltering in anticipation of restarting her next project, a Netflix film starring Sandra Bullock.
With the entire country on COVID-19 lockdown, the German Film Academy held a virtual version of the Lolas ceremony.
Actor and showman Edin Hasanovic hosted the gala live on German TV from an empty studio.
The German Film Academy, which hosts the Lolas, decided to go ahead with this year’s ceremony despite the pandemic. It’s not just a show of solidarity. Lola nominees and winners share some $3.2 million in prize money from Germany’s culture ministry, cash that is earmarked for new productions and, post-crisis, will be sorely needed if the local industry is to bounce back.
