The short film “Kaugummi” by Dascha Petuchow – a communication design final project – was awarded with the “Deutscher Nachwuchsfilmpreis 2023” (German Newcomer Award Short Film) at the seventeeth International Film Festival Hannover. The prize is worth EUR 2000.

The jury writes: “The movie finds an unintrusive way to bring us closer to an everyday reality of many people in Germany that usually stays hidden. It is a type of milieu story sizzling quietly along a hot summer, but with a loud message of protest. Petuchow showed us a little bit of summertime sadness paired with a desire to experience life.  A desire for freedom that stands against the obligations of a young women who longs to go off but can't. The beautiful images presenting the world of the protagonists show that summer can sometimes be everlasting and dull and bland, but can also take an unexpected turn, full of recklessness, euphoria and adventure.”

The short film, which was funded by the final project fund Hessen Film & Medien (Hessian Film and Media), has recently also been added to T-Port Lighthouse Selections, a list of the most unique short films of the year selected by the program directors of the most important short film festivals in the world.