Berlinale 2025 - Deaf and If You Are Afraid You Put Your Heart into Your Mouth and Smile are the Arthouse Cinema Award winners • CICAE

On Saturday 22 February 2025, the juries of the International Confederation of Arthouse Cinemas (CICAE) at the 75th Berlinale announced the winning films of the Arthouse Cinema Award: Sorda (Deaf) by Eva Libertad at the Panorama section; and Wenn du Angst hast nimmst du dein Herz in den Mund und lächelst (If You Are Afraid You Put Your Heart into Your Mouth and Smile) by Marie Luise Lehner at the Forum section.

Sorda (Deaf) by Eva Libertad is the winner of the CICAE Arthouse Cinema Award 2025 in the Panorama section. The CICAE jury stated the following:

"The CICAE Arthouse Cinema award in the Panorama section goes to Sorda (Deaf) by Eva Libertad. A powerful and emotionally resonant exploration of identity, love, motherhood, and the unspoken challenges of navigating in a world that often fails to listen. Rather than making a statement about deafness, the film immerses us in the lives of its characters portrayed not by limitation but driven by strength and ambitions.

With deeply intimate cinematography, sound design as an extension of perspective, it masterfully captures the nuances of both the deaf and hearing worlds—seeking connection while acknowledging the tensions that arise. Through raw performances and deeply human storytelling, Sorda transcends boundaries, delivering a sensitive and profoundly moving cinematic experience."

The jury was formed by the following international members of the CICAE :

Panos Achtsioglou, Thessaloniki Film Festival, Thessaloniki, Greece
Laura Bartusevičiũtė, SKALVIJA Cinema Center, Vilnius, Lithuania
Samira Zaïbat, Mouv' Itinerant cinema Jolifanto, Brussels, Belgium

Ángela, a deaf woman, and Héctor, her hearing partner, are expecting a child. They are excited about the pregnancy, although they do not yet know whether the baby will be deaf or hearing. Despite both claiming they can handle whatever comes, their underlying concerns are evident.
After a complicated and emotionally intense labour, Ángela gives birth to their daughter, but the pair will have to wait a couple of months to learn if the baby is hearing or not. During this time, Héctor struggles to fully grasp the challenges Ángela is facing, while she must come to terms with raising a daughter who may not share her experience of the world. This journey forces both of them to question their roles as partners and parents, as Ángela grapples with her identity in a society that does not fully accept or understand her.

More information on the Berlinale website.

Directed by: Eva Libertad

Written by: Eva Libertad

Cinematographer: Gina Ferrer García

Editing: Marta Velasco

Music: Aránzazu Calleja

Cast: Miriam Garlo, Álvaro Cervantes, Elena Irureta, Joaquín Notario

Production:

International Sales:

Wenn du Angst hast nimmst du dein Herz in den Mund und lächelst (If You Are Afraid You Put Your Heart into Your Mouth and Smile) by Marie Luise Lehner is the winner of the CICAE Arthouse Cinema Award in the Forum section. The CICAE jury chose stated the following:

"The three of us feel we were given a warm embrace by a very open, frivolous and nonjudgemental film that does not put it's caharacters into boxes, but rather lets them openly express themselves. WENN DU ANGST HAST NIMMST DU DEIN HERZ IN DEN MUND UND LÄCHELST just might be a new catch phrase for the three of us. It is a rich, complex and rewarding film from a new voice. Marie Luise Lehner has made a remarkable artistic achievement, tackling a lot of timely social issues with a diverse cast of characters, allowing and empowering us to be ourselves. But above all, we had a wonderful time with this film, and we sincerery hope it will reach the broadest of audiences."

The jury was formed by the following international members of the CICAE :

Juliette Duret, Centre for Fine Arts - BOZAR, Brussels, Belgium
Marlene Hofmann, Filmkunsttheater Casablanca, Nürnberg, Germany
Jure Matičič, Mestni kino Domžale, Domžale, Slovenia

Slowly, 12-year-old Anna and her deaf mum are starting to feel a bit cramped in their flat. It’s not just the lack of privacy that’s causing friction – Anna has just started secondary school and quickly realises what’s important now: brand-name clothes and a sense of belonging. She quickly gets hold of a fake Ralph Lauren jumper, but money’s still tight. In her debut, director and author Marie Luise Lehner stages a confrontation with classist structures, which Anna tackles with a mixture of shame and grit. She finds an ally in Mara, who challenges others with feminist issues and who also lives alone with her queer father. Lehner stands by her heroes unconditionally, giving them space for introspection and outbursts, allowing them to row back and reconcile. Not fitting in allows them to get to know and appreciate who they are. Lehner flies the flag of solidarity, quite naturally and with plenty of references to pop culture. And closes with a liberating “Fuck you, Vienna”, high above the city’s rooftops.

More information on the Berlinale website.

Directed by: Marie Luise Lehner

Written by: Marie Luise Lehner

Cinematographer: Simone Hart

Editing: Jana Libnik, Joana Scrinzi, Alexandra Schneider

Sound Design: Lenja Gathmann

Cast: Siena Popović, Mariya Menner, Jessica Paar

Production:

The CICAE Arthouse Cinema Award was conceived as an impetus for a film to have a wider recognition as a work of art and to stand as a mark of quality for cinema-goers and cinephiles.