​03.11.2025

Stop-motion short film DETLEV wins German Short Film Award 2025

by Eyes & Ears of Europe

On 20 November 2025, the Minister of State for Culture and Media, Wolfram Weimer, presented the German Short Film Award in Hamburg. In the category “Animated Films up to 30 Minutes,” DETLEV (Director & Producer: Ferdinand Ehrhardt, Producer: Saskia Stirn), a stop-motion animated film from the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg (FABW), took home the prize. The German Short Film Award is considered the most important accolade for short films in Germany.

In DETLEV, a perpetually cold man in his mid-forties drives to a remote gas station every evening to order a microwaved Hawaiian toast. He submits himself to this bizarre ritual because it is the only thing that brings him warmth. But when a stranger witnesses him one night, his world begins to fall apart.

Director Ferdinand Ehrhardt is above all grateful for the team experience during the highly elaborate production of the stop-motion film at the Filmakademie’s Animation Institute:
“Working on DETLEV taught me that it feels good to reach out to the people around me, that trusting in the work of others is worthwhile, and that collective work can create something far greater than anything I could ever achieve alone.”

Dr. Andreas Bareiß, Director of the FABW, congratulates:
“What an achievement! Congratulations to Ferdinand Ehrhardt and the entire DETLEV team! This award is truly well deserved — and joins a long list of many other well-deserved prizes received by FABW productions already this year.”

After the award ceremony, Ferdinand Ehrhardt said:
“This award is, of course, an enormous honor. It fills me with pride and gives me the courage to continue pursuing filmmaking. I want to thank our huge team, who poured an incredible amount of dedication and energy into these thirteen minutes of film over three years of production. My deepest thanks also go to the Animation Institute and the entire Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg — at virtually no other film school in Central Europe would an animation project of this scale have been possible. Thank you for allowing us to make this film, and thank you for allowing me to keep doing what I do!”

Dr. Jan Pinkava, Director of the Animation Institute, adds:
“We at the Animation Institute are very proud of DETLEV. With the help of the elaborate stop-motion animation technique, Ferdi and his team have created a moving and funny story full of heart and genuine emotion. A very German story — celebrated by audiences around the world and now once again here at home. Congratulations!”

Alongside the award for DETLEV, another FABW project received a prize: In the category “Live-Action Film over 15 Minutes up to 30 Minutes,” the film AT HOME I FEEL LIKE LEAVING (Director: Simon Maria Kubiena) won a German Short Film Award. For more information, please also refer to the FABW press release.

The German Short Film Award is both the most important and the highest-endowed distinction for short films in Germany. Since 1956, the state has honored and supported filmmakers with this award. A total of €275,000 is awarded annually for nominations (€15,000 each) and the Gold Film Awards (€30,000 each), plus an additional €20,000 for the best medium-length film.

Further information on the German Short Film Award

Source: https://animationsinstitut.de/de/detlev-gewinnt-deutschen-kurzfilmpreis

Picture Credit: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg