Manfred Stelzer Young Talent Award for Film Comedies

Since 2026, the Manfred Stelzer Emerging Talent Award for Film Comedies has annually honored outstanding comedic projects by young filmmakers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. With a prize of 5,000 euros, the Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum for Film and Television recognizes talents who reinterpret the genre with a sense of humor, absurdity, and narrative power. The award commemorates the versatile work of director and screenwriter Manfred Stelzer (1944–2020) and deliberately focuses on emerging productions created between September 2024 and August 2026. Creative diversity is paramount: whether fictional or non-fictional, short or feature-length – all lengths and formats have the chance to shine in a public jury decision.

Eligible to participate are students, graduates, debutants, and independent filmmakers who have not yet reached the age of 35 at the time of submission and can prove residence or workplace within the German-speaking region (DACH). A simple application by email by September 22, 2026, requires a viewing link to the film, a crew list, a short biography, and contact details. After a preliminary selection by the Deutsche Kinemathek, an expert jury will make the final decision. The award ceremony will take place in November 2026 at the Deutsche Kinemathek’s premises and offers the winners public recognition and valuable acknowledgment within the industry.