Great Prize by the City of Tegernsee
Champions of the Golden Valley
Ben Sturgulewski | Sturgefilm Tideshift Studio, Katie Stjernholm |
Afghanistan, Germany, USA
Jury’s reasoning
Ben Sturgulewski’s film unfolds in flashback, telling the story of Afghan skier Alisha Farhang and his efforts to introduce skiing to his mountain village. Rooted in respect for local values, his project was met with enthusiasm and acceptance. It also fostered unity between traditionally hostile groups and opened space for the inclusion of girls and women.
The Taliban’s victory abruptly halts this progress, forcing a swift escape. Despite the chaos, Farhang and his family manage to flee. Their journey leads them to a small town in Saxony, where he falls into a deep depression. Gradually, by focusing on the needs of his children, he begins to rediscover hope. And elements of his work continue to live on in the village he left behind.
Told in striking images and coherent sequences, the film moves quickly and carries contemporary relevance—especially in light of today’s complex migration realities in Germany. It offers a deeper understanding of the experiences faced by refugees.
Best Film in the Category Mountain Experience – Price by the German Alpine Club - DAV
Flashed
Eric Bissell | Highpoint Productions | USA
Jury’s reasoning
A rare opportunity: Babsi Zangerl and Jacopo Larcher attempt to be the first to flash the Freerider route on El Capitan—while Eric Bissell and his team attempt to capture the climb on camera.
Both ambitions succeed. The film portrays this extraordinary rope team with quiet intensity, offering a compelling look at how a couple navigates success and failure in a shared pursuit, and how a historic ascent unfolds. By forgoing conventional character portraits and historical exposition, the film invites viewers to form their own impressions—through carefully chosen scenes and details—of the climbers, their teamwork, and the significance of this milestone
Best Film in the Category Mountain Nature
Requiem in Weiß | Requiem in White
Harry Putz | Freiluftdoku | Austria
Jury’s reasoning
The emotional and insistent tribute to glaciers “Requiem in Weiss” receives the Award for the Best Film in the category Mountain Nature.
In the International Year of Glacier Preservation, proclaimed by the United Nations, this film shows why a ‘Year of…’ has never felt more urgent. Austrian director and former professional athlete Harry Putz receives this award for his alarming and comprehensive portrait of our dying glaciers.
The film powerfully conveys the immense pressure glaciers are under. Putz leaves the audience to draw their own conclusions: We must not lose time. But is there still time? The requiem has already begun.
Best Film in the Category Mountain Life – Prize by the Tegernseer Energiegesellschaft | TEG
Climbing Never Die
Nick Rosen, Matt Groom | Reel Rock | USA
Jury’s reasoning
A deeply moving film with urgent relevance. It reveals that climbing is more than a sport—it can offer emotional support and a sense of connection, especially in times of crisis.
The director’s personal relationships and conversations with the protagonists lend the film its depth. His journey into a war zone is an act of extraordinary courage, yet never feels sensationalized. The focus stays with the people—on how they try to live with the situation they face.
Otto Guggenbichler Prize for a Junior Filmmaker - endowed by the Guggenbichler family
Going East
Joi Hoffmann | Austria
Jury’s reasoning
Following “Eis + Palmen” and “Balkan Express”, Max Kroneck once again proves with “Going East” that a ski trip by public transport offers more than just climate benefits.
Brushing teeth at train stations, getting lost in the Middle East, and unexpected encounters—Max Kroneck, Joi Hoffmann, Silvia Moser, and Loic Isliker discover far more than powder snow on their journey by train, bus, and ski. The camera guides viewers through landscapes, surprises, and human encounters, always with a keen eye for authentic spontaneity.
At only 27 years of age, Loic Isliker has created a compact film in which the sporting performance and the protagonists are not in the foreground. Instead, they lead like a red thread through a story that leaves room for complexity, invites more sustainable travel, and showcases the thrill of getting there.
Prize for the Most Outstanding Camera Work | donated by the Rotary Club Tegernsee
Ova Dobra Zemlja – Goodlands
Vladimir Perovic | Atomic | Montenegro
Jury’s reasoning
A very beautiful and gently decelerating film that captures the rugged lives of Montenegro’s mountain communities. Through slow, deliberate camerawork and a thoughtful blend of image and sound, viewers are invited to immerse themselves in the calm, heartfelt rhythms of the region’s inhabitants.
An inspired alternative to fast-paced, action-driven cinema and the sensory overload of modern life.
Prize for the Special Film | donated by the Rotary Club Tegernsee
Tian – Generation Farmfluencer
Thomas Schäfer, Meike Hollnaicher | Takt Film | Italy
Jury’s reasoning
In their film, Thomas Schäfer and Meike Hollnaicher introduce a growing network of South Tyrolean organic farms. What connects them all is a shared commitment to nature-friendly agriculture and horticulture—and to spreading these practices further. A close look at local ecological challenges—and the candid conversations among those involved—make the film both vivid and grounded. The development portrayed also involves forging ties with restaurants, expanding direct marketing efforts, and coming together to celebrate.
Honourable Mentions by the Jury | donated by the monte mare Spa & Sauna
Farming Turns
Anthony Bonello | Canada
Jury’s reasining
The jury decided to honour two entries with an Honourable Mention. One is “Farming Turns” by director Antony Bonello. In this short film, Canadian professional freerider Chris Rubens becomes an organic farmer—shifting from professional athlete to amateur cultivator.
The film shows how his surroundings change: from the glamour and glitter of the global ski circuit to working with his hands in the clay of a small farm in Revelstoke. As an inexperienced farmer, he tends to tomatoes, vegetables, and his young son.
Honourable Mentions by the Jury | donated by the monte mare Spa & Sauna
The Future of Climbing
Guillaume Broust | L´Endroit | France
Jury’s reasoning
The second Honourable Mention goes to “The Future of Climbing”. With great humour, director Guillaume Broust follows top French climber Cédric Lachat as he explores the fast-growing world of climbing. With a critical eye, Lachat highlights both the opportunities and the challenges facing this popular sport. The film left the jury eager to see its sequel.
Bayern 2 Audience Award
Buhl – Über alle Gipfel hinaus
(Buhl – Beyond all Peaks)
Werner Bertolan | Albolina Film & ServusTV | Italy, Austria
