2017
The 24th Edition embraced the revolutionary spirit of the 2017 Honorary Retrospective recipient, maverick Hollywood producer Edward R. Pressman, in attendance with family members and collaborators, wife Annie and son Sam. As was Honorary Tribute recipient, »La Bamba« heartthrob Lou Diamond Phillips, joined by his wife Yvonne and young daughter Indigo.
The family affair resonated at the Opening Night Gala at the EWE Arena where the debut feature of Kubilay Sarikaya and Sedat Kirtan, »Familiye« had its world premiere and won the hearts of the audience and went on to win the 2017 German Independence Award for Best Film. It's co-producer, German superstar Moritz Bleibtreu, was also in attendance to present the film and was honored with the eleventh Star of Excellence on the OLB Walk of Fame.
A special night at the Mid Gala Tribute Awards at the grand State Theatre. Presented with surprise tribute reels, film friends such as Werner Herzog, Abel Ferrara, Oliver Stone, Nicolas Cage, and Jeremy Irons reached out from around the world to send Edward R Pressman their eternal gratitude. And following Lou Diamond Phillip's Award, he presented his next film, the world premiere of Santiago Rizzo's autobiographical debut »Quest« – for which its young star, Gregory Kasyan, won the Best Actor Seymour Cassel Award for his breakout performance.
Indie darling & Alum, Lindsay Burge, returned to Oldenburg with »Thirst Street« for which she won the Best Actress Seymour Cassel Award. And Best Short went to »Sur Le Fil« by Luxembourg filmmaking duo Thierry Bessling and Löic Tanson, with a Special Jury Prize awarded to Phillip Andoine's audacious one minute Short film »Vand«.