HEAD-ON

FATIH AKIN

germany 2004 121 min

In order to get away from the traditional strictness of her family the 20-year old Sibel convinces the disillusioned alcoholic Cahit of a marriage of convenience with no strings attached. But Cahit falls in love with her. When Sibel also discovers her love for him it’s too late: in a jealous rage Cahit has beaten her lover to death. After his release from prison Cahit finds Sibel in Istanbul and still hopes that they can have a future together.

• About the film

  Original title Gegen die Wand

  Directed by Fatih Akin

  Screenplay Fatih Akin

  Cast Birol Unel Sibel Kekilli Catrin Striebeck Meltem Cumbul

  Music Alexander Hacke Mona Mur

  Cinematography Rainer Klausmann

  Editing Andrew Bird

  Production Companies Wuste Filmproduktion Bavaria Film International Corazon International NDR Arte

• Festivals & Awards

  Berlin International Film Festival
  2004 | Competition
  Golden Bear — Best Film
  FIPRESCI Prize

  Sydney Film Festival
  2004 | Official Selection

  Oslo Films from the South Festival
  2004 | Official Competition
  Silver Mirror Award — Best Feature

  Ourense Independent Film Festival
  2004 | Official Competition
  Grand Prize

  Seville European Film Festival
  2004 | Official Selection
  Audience Award

  Nuremberg Film Festival Turkey/Germany
  2004 | Official Selection
  Best Actor — Birol Ünel
  Best Actress — Sibel Kekilli
  Nomination — Best Film

  Manaki Brothers International Cinematographers' Film Festival
  2004 | Official Competition
  Golden Camera 300 — Best Cinematography — Rainer Klausmann

  Film+
  2004
  Editing Award — Andrew Bird

  German Film Awards
  2004
  Best Feature Film — Gold
  Best Director — Fatih Akin
  Best Actor — Birol Ünel
  Best Actress — Sibel Kekilli
  Best Cinematography — Rainer Klausmann

  European Film Awards
  2004
  European Film — Best European Film
  People's Choice Award — Best European Director — Fatih Akin
  Nomination — European Director — Fatih Akin
  Nomination — European Actress — Sibel Kekilli
  Nomination — European Actor — Birol Ünel
  Nomination — European Screenwriter — Fatih Akin

  Guild of German Art House Cinemas
  2004
  Guild Film Award — Gold — Best German Film

  Bambi Awards
  2004
  Shooting Star — Sibel Kekilli

  New Faces Awards, Germany
  2004
  New Faces Award — Best Young Actress — Sibel Kekilli

  Undine Awards
  2004
  Best Young Actress in a Film — Sibel Kekilli

  German Camera Award
  2004
  Best Cinematography — Feature Film — Rainer Klausmann
  Nomination — Outstanding Editing — Andrew Bird

  Goya Awards
  2005
  Goya Award — Best European Film

  Santa Barbara International Film Festival
  2005 | Official Selection
  Special Jury Award — International Film — Sibel Kekilli

  Santo Domingo International Film Festival
  2005
  Best Actress — Sibel Kekilli

  Luxembourg Film Awards
  2005
  Best European Film

  Mexico City International Contemporary Film Festival
  2005
  Best Narrative Feature Director — Fatih Akin

  Zimbabwe International Film Festival
  2005
  Best International Actress / Leading Actress — Sibel Kekilli

  Bodil Awards
  2005
  Nomination — Best Non-American Film

  David di Donatello Awards
  2005
  Nomination — Best European Film

  Danish Film Awards (Robert)
  2005
  Nomination — Best Non-American Film

  Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
  2005
  Nomination — Best Foreign Director — Fatih Akin

  Turkish Film Critics Association (SIYAD) Awards
  2004
  Nomination — Best Foreign Film

  Film Independent Spirit Awards
  2006
  Nomination — Best Foreign Film

  National Society of Film Critics Awards
  2006
  Best Foreign Language Film