Editor

Detlev Buck’s TOUGH ENOUGH (Knallhart) was awarded the Europa Cinemas Label today by a jury of four Europa Cinemas exhibitors at the closing ceremony of the Panorama section of the Berlinale/Berlin Film Festival.

Sold internationally by the Match Factory, TOUGH ENOUGH (Knallhart) is a powerful film from renowned German director Detlev Buck, starring Jenny Elvers-Elbertzhagen, David Kross, Jan Henrik Stahlberg, Erhan Emre, Oktay Őzdemir and Kida Khodr Ramadan. Delphi Film Verleih will release the film in Germany on March 9.

In TOUGH ENOUGH (Knallhart), fifteen-year-old Michael (David Kross) must prove he's tough enough when he's thrown into the gritty urban world of a rough ethnic neighborhood, far from the posh suburbs he's used to.

A jury of four Europa Cinemas exhibitors awarded the Label at Berlin - Suzan Beermann (Berlin - Germany), Vladimir Trifonov (Sofia - Bulgaria), Martin Kaufmann (Bolzano - Italy) and Patrick Deboes (Gent – Belgium)

The jury issued the following statement about the winning film: “TOUGH ENOUGH is a strong, contemporary coming of age story set in a big European capital. Directed with great panache, Detlev works particularly effectively with his young cast. The film deals with the hugely important theme of multi-cultural life in Europe today with great attention to detail and a sense of humour, but does not moralise. The film has the potential to attract a young audience and to stimulate discussion without patronising them. The Label will help this film reach the wide audience around Europe it deserves.”

TOUGH ENOUGH (Knallhart) will now receive the invaluable support of extended theatrical exposure and additional promotion from the Europa Cinemas network - 1562 screens in 664 cinemas in 365 cities in 59 countries.

This marks the second year that the Europa Cinemas Label has been awarded at Berlin, and complements the Labels awarded at the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes and the Venice Days section of the Mostra del Cinema.

Founded in 1992, the Europa Cinemas network now consists of a remarkable 1562 screens in 664 cinemas in 365 cities in 59 countries. Europa Cinemas’ aim is to support the programming and visibility of European films outside their country of origin, and to foster initiatives aimed at encouraging younger audiences to develop their interest in European films and cultural diversity.

Previous winners of the Europa Cinemas Label are:

Cannes - Directors’ Fortnight
2005: La Moustache (Emmanuel Carrère, France)
2004: In the Battlefields (Danielle Arbid, France/Belgium/Lebanon)
2003: The Mother (Roger Michell, UK)
Kitchen Stories (Bent Hamer, Norway/Sweden)
Berlin - Panorama
2005: Live and Become (Radu Mihaileanu, France/Belgium/Israel)
Crustacés et Coquillages (Olivier Ducastel, Jacques Martineau/France)



Venice - Venice Days
2005: Le Petit Lieutenant (Xavier Beauvois, France)
2004: Darwin’s Nightmare (Hubert Sauper, Austria/France/Belgium)