(February 2009)
Synopsis: Set in the early 1940s in Germany, Toyland explores the guilt, the responsibility, and the small and big lies during one of the most heinous periods in European history. In order to protect her son, Marianne Meibner tries to make him believe that the Jewish neighbors are going on a journey to Toyland. One morning her son disappears, the Jewish neighbors, too.
It took the filmmakers three years to raise the financing for the film and five days to shoot! Oscar-nominated for a Live Action Short.
The film's director and co-writer, Jochen Alexander Freydank, had this to say...
Making short films is the most "unrewarding" thing one can possibly do - no commercial value, no budget; and financing is its own drama in itself. Toyland was filmed in only five days, with a budget of 30,000 Euros, using original historic scenes and locations in and around Berlin. Well, it was a drama, but it was a story I really wanted to tell. A film about ignorance, truth and the history of my country. Shooting this film was one of the most rewarding experiences in my film life.
Growing up behind the Berlin Wall, I always dreamt about making films. But I never, ever thought that a film of mine might be nominated for an Oscar one day. It still feels a bit unreal, I must say. But makes me very, very happy. -MPM
Toyland is Oscar-nominated for a Live Action Short.
Photos courtesy of the filmmaker.
AWARDS
WINNER OF THE OFFICIAL SECTION - 52. Semana Internacional de Cine de Valladolid, Spain
BERMUDA SHORTS AWARD - Bermuda International Film Festival
FRIEDRICH WILHELM MURNAU SHORT FILM AWARD - Ger.
AUDIENCE AWARD - The Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival, USA
AUDIENCE AWARD - Short Shorts Film Festival, Tokyo
APEC AWARD - Giffoni Film Festival, Italy
AUDIENCE AWARD - Goldenes Einhorn at the Alpinale, Austria
INTERNATIONAL DISCOVERY AWARD (SECOND) - Rhode Island International Film Festival, USA
BEST CHILDREN/YOUTH FILM - Odense International Film Festival, Denmark
AUDIENCE AWARD - Palm Springs International Film Festival, USA
BEST FILM - Sedicicorto Film Festival Forli, Italy
BEST SHORT FILM - Asheville Film Festival, USA
BEST SHORT FILM - Victoria Independent Film Festival, Australia
AUDIENCE AWARD & JURY AWARD - Alemeria en Corto, Spain
NOMINATIONS
World Film Festival - Montreal, Canada
Foyle Film Festival - Derry, UK
Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis - Saarbrücken
Festival Internacional de Jóvenes Realizadores de Granada - Spain
Brooklyn International Film Festival - USA
Festroia International Film Festival - Setubal, Portugal
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival - USA
Los Angeles Short Film Festival - USA
Best of Shorts Festival - La Ciotot, France
Chicago International Children's Festival - USA