It takes courage to make a movie about children with cancer. Or a single mother with heroin addiction. Or the life of a brutal dictator. Or when you’re filming in a country where people are being jailed for their beliefs. But it also takes courage to film an apnea diver under the arctic ice. Or a free-solo ascent on a 3000 ft wall in Patagonia. Courage is needed to start a film project without knowing where it leads. Without 100% budget security. And without the guarantee that the film will ever recover its costs.

Movies are not exclusively made of clever ideas, advanced techniques or a high-end cast. They equally rely on the courage of filmmakers, producers, and directors of photography.

For the first time, Film Fest Zell proudly hosts the Courageous Film Award at Film Fest Zell 2019 (03 – 06 October), honoring filmmakers who

• address dramatic yet pressing issues within a community,
• work under difficult political or social circumstances,
• film in extreme natural (eg climatic / topological / etc) conditions,
• or face great mental or physical challenges during production

The recipient of the Courageous Film Award 2019 receives € 1,000 and an award sculpture by Austrian artist Peter Fritzenwallner.

We are happy to receive your nominations by mail to team@filmfestzell.at

We wholeheartedly congratulate the winner of the Courageous Film Award 2019 at Film Fest Zell:

Mickey Fonseca
“Redemption”