"Sound of Falling," directed by Mascha Schilinski, has been chosen as Germany's official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
The film, which previously won the Jury Prize at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, chronicles the lives of four women across a century, all connected by a farm in Germany's Altmark region. It explores themes of trauma, memory, and the passage of time, and has been lauded by critics for its formal rigor and emotional depth.
Schilinski was inspired by a summer spent on a farm in the Altmark region, where a discovered photograph sparked her curiosity about the lives lived within its walls. The film's narrative fluidly moves between different time periods—Alma in the 1910s, Erika in the 1940s, Angelika in the 1980s, and Nelly in the 2020s—mirroring the fragmented nature of memory.
The cast includes Hanna Heckt, Lena Urzendowsky, and Susanne Wuest. "Sound of Falling" is set for a German theatrical release on August 28, 2025, with Mubi distributing in North America and other territories. The film's producers, Maren Schmitt, Lucas Schmidt, and Lasse Scharpen, expressed pride in showcasing German cinema internationally, particularly a film directed by a woman.
The film has been sold to over 40 territories worldwide, indicating a strong international reception. Its exploration of intergenerational trauma and female resilience resonates deeply, offering a profound look at how the past shapes the present within the intimate setting of a family farm.