Golden Apples for Performances That Blur the Line Between Reality and Fiction
The 5th edition of KRAFFT wrapped up with the presentation of the Golden Apple Awards – a celebration of acting in all its complexity, subtlety and emotional depth. The international jury, composed of actors Katarina Čas and Primož Pirnat alongside casting director Maurilio Mangano, honoured five remarkable performances that redefined the boundaries between character and actor, between fiction and reality.
The Golden Apple Grand Prix for Outstanding Artistic Achievement was awarded to the ensemble cast of Dying (Sterben) by Matthias Glasner. The film exposes the emotional fractures of a family, with performances that are – in the words of the jury – “strikingly restrained and nuanced, unfolding emotional tension and distance between characters with calm precision.” The award goes to the full cast, led by Corinna Harfouch, Hans-Uwe Bauer, Lars Eidinger, Lilith Stangenberg, and Robert Gwisdek. “They perform through silence,” the jury wrote, “with pauses that often speak louder than words.”
Three Golden Apples for Outstanding Acting Achievement were awarded to performances that deeply moved the jury. Leonie Benesch was honoured for her role as a night nurse in Late Shift (Heldin), in which she captures “quiet strength, empathy and inner strain.” Her portrayal is so truthful, the jury noted, “that the line between actor and character disappears.”
Adam Bessa received the award for his haunting performance in Ghost Trail(Les Fantômes), portraying a Syrian man on a journey to confront the man who once tortured him. “His presence is magnetic,” the jury wrote, “rich with unspoken intensity – you feel his pain before you understand it.”
The third Golden Apple went to Hao Qin for his role in An Unfinished Film by Ye Lou. Playing an actor drawn into a long-delayed production just as the pandemic begins, Qin delivers a performance so understated and raw that, as the jury put it, “you no longer know whether you’re watching fiction or a documentary.”
The jury also awarded a Special Mention to Slovenian debutante Jara Sofija Ostan for her role as Lucija in Little Trouble Girls (Kaj ti je deklica) by Urška Djukić. Her performance as a girl on the threshold of womanhood “combines emotional intelligence and restraint, with feelings that move through her like a current – sometimes triggered by her surroundings, sometimes by inner change.”
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The Future of Slovenian Film Is in Good Hands
Earlier in the week, KRAFFT also presented two student awards to highlight emerging talent. The jury – actors Saša Tabaković, Primož Bezjak and last year’s winner Diana Kolenc – selected Kaja Petrovič for Best Performance in a Student Film for her role in Shards Bring Luck (Črepinje so za srečo, dir. Miha Dragan). She delivered a nuanced, multilayered performance that captivated the audience with quiet emotional charge.
The award for Best Actor Direction in a Student Film went to Matic Štamcar for Hook(ed) (Trnek). The jury praised his ability to direct actors in such a subtle, realistic way that “we feel as if we’re witnessing true moments of connection, vulnerability and everyday tenderness.” Štamcar previously received the same award at KRAFFT in 2023 for Others Remained Silent (Drugi so molčali).
KRAFFT Takes a Summer Break – but Only Briefly
Festival director Maja Sever shared her reflections as the fifth edition came to a close:
“The 5th KRAFFT was anything but easy to produce. We faced challenges that mirrored our own limits – from spatial restrictions to daily logistical puzzles. But perhaps that’s exactly why I’m so proud: we stayed focused, built a coherent and meaningful programme, deepened international ties and – most importantly – created a space where actors truly connect with audiences. The jubilee didn’t wear us out. It made us stronger.”
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Although the Golden Apple ceremony marks the symbolic end of the festival, KRAFFT’s energy remains very much alive. After a short summer break, we return with our industry programme – continuing in Ljubljana in late August and throughout September.
