Gentle Monster Triumphs at Cannes
Gentle Monster, the latest feature project from Austrian director **Marie Kreutzer**, has garnered significant recognition by winning the **2025 ArteKino International Prize** at the esteemed **Investors Circle** during this year’s **Cannes Film Festival**. Producers **Alexander Glehr** and **Johanna Scherz** from **Film AG Produktions** received the award, totaling **€20,000** ($22,000), during an exclusive pitching session that concluded the third edition of the **Marché du Film’s** curated investment platform.
Marie Kreutzer’s Reaction
Expressing her excitement, Kreutzer remarked, “I’m surprised in the most positive way. Filmmaking is a really big mountain, and what happens before the premiere — to get a film made — is a very long climb. We really need people who want to support cinema and have love for cinema — that’s why meeting investors is extremely important. I had great conversations with these investors so far. The script has sparked their interest, and they’re eager to learn more about the project.”
The Investors Circle Experience
This year, the **Investors Circle** took place at the **Plage des Palmes** amid the vibrant atmosphere of the **78th Cannes Film Festival**. The event brought together elite film financiers and equity investors for an exclusive showcase of ten auteur-driven projects. This **invitation-only** event featured presentations from several internationally acclaimed directors, such as **Jessica Hausner**, **Sebastián Lelio**, **Lukas Dhont**, and **Jasmila Žbanić**.
Connecting Visionaries and Investors
The primary goal of the **Investors Circle** is to connect bold, creative visions with long-term backers. Projects presented at this year’s event had budgets ranging from **€3 million** to over **€9 million** ($3.3 million – $10 million). Each project team received invaluable support in their investor presentations from **111 Avocats**, a Paris-based law firm specializing in entertainment law. The selection for this year was meticulously curated by **Aleksandra Zakharchenko**, the **Head of Industry Programs** at the **Marché du Film**, alongside a jury comprising **Remi Burah** (ARTE France Cinéma), **Serge Hayat**, **Tamara Tatishvili** (Hubert Bals Fund), and **Marcin Łuczaj** (New Europe Film Sales).
The Lineup of Competing Projects
In addition to the much-lauded Gentle Monster, the **2025 Investors Circle** lineup featured a diverse range of compelling projects. These included:
- Coward, directed by **Lukas Dhont** (Belgium), produced by **Michiel Dhont** at **The Reunion**.
- Disorder, directed by **Giacomo Abbruzzese** (Italy), produced by **Marco Alessi** and **Giulia Achilli** at **Dugong Films**.
- Kamo, directed by **Kornél Mundruczó** (Hungary), produced by **Mike Goodridge** at **Good Chaos**, **Ilya Stewart** at **Hype Studios**, and **Balthazar de Ganay**.
- Motherlove, directed by **Eliza Hittman** (U.S.), produced by **Paul Mezey** and **Andrew Goldman** at **Present Company**.
- On Land and Sea, directed by **Hlynur Pálmason** (Iceland), produced by **Katrin Pors** at **Snowglobe** and **Anton Máni Svansson** at **Still Vivid**.
- Poeta Chileno, directed by **Sebastián Lelio** (Chile), produced by **Rocío Jadue**, **Juan de Dios Larraín**, and **Pablo Larraín** at **Fabula**.
- Quo Vadis, Aida – The Missing Part, directed by **Jasmila Žbanić** (Bosnia and Herzegovina), produced by **Damir Ibrahimović** at **Deblokada**.
- The Puma, directed by **Marcela Said** (France/Chile), produced by **Carole Scotta**, **Barbara Letellier**, and **Eliott Khayat** at **Haut et Court**.
- Toxic, directed by **Jessica Hausner** (Austria), produced by **Johannes Schubert** at **Schubert** and **Philippe Bober** at **Coproduction Office**.
The Essence of Support in Cinema
The importance of financial backing in the film industry cannot be overstated. Events like the Investors Circle play a crucial role in bridging the gap between creative visionaries and potential investors. By fostering strong relationships and facilitating **open dialogues**, filmmakers like Kreutzer find the support they need to transform their scripts into captivating cinematic experiences.
This year’s Investors Circle not only highlighted the artistic prowess of various filmmakers but also emphasized the critical role of investment in bringing these **auteur-driven** projects to fruition. **Gentle Monster** standing out among formidable contenders reinforces the idea that innovative storytelling can capture the interest and imagination of investors willing to take the plunge into new cinematic ventures.