2024 Winners

2022. The two Ukrainian sisters Eugenia and Nastya are warmly welcomed in Munich after they have had to flee from their home country. They suddenly dive into a world full of sun, music and parties - as if they just landed on a paradise island. While Nastya tries to enjoy her new life, Eugenia struggles to celebrate while there‘s war at home. As a photographer, she refuses to take new pictures in Europe and notices that Nastya is slowly becoming a stranger to her. Now Eugenia has to learn how to deal with the place where she doesn‘t want to be. Director Statement This film is based on the story of my sisters. They are twins and were forced to flee from Kyiv in Spring 2022. Shortly after their arrival, I accompanied them to an interview at a high school in Munich. One of my sisters was very excited about the new place and the opportunities it offered. The second one burst into tears on the way home. This inner turmoil is a feeling that many refugees from Ukraine experience. I myself left my country in 2013 and had to observe the first wave of the Russian invasion from a distance. This is why I can identify very well with the feeling of guilt. May I still feel joy? Do I betray my people by continuing to lead a normal life in the paradise, that is called Germany, or is there a bigger strength in being able to continue functioning as if nothing had happened?