Leitz Cine Discovery Prize for Newcomers at Semaine de la Critique

Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH is an official partner for the 5^th time of La Semaine de la Critique du Festival de Cannes (taking place from 7^th to 15^th of July 2021), one of the most influential film festivals in the world. Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH together with Leica Camera AG are the official sponsors of the Leitz Cine Discovery Prize, which will be awarded to the best short film chosen by the jury of La Semaine de la Critique and is endowed with a prize in the amount of 4,000 Euros. With this prize, the two companies recognise innovative new talents in the world of short films.

Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH and Leica Camera AG are working in close cooperation on this prize, and both have their headquarters in the Leitz Park in the Hessian city of Wetzlar. 

In the past the award was given to:

• For the first time in 2016 under the name Leica Cine Discovery Prize to Prenjak by Wregas Bhanuteja
• In 2017 it went to Los Desheredados by Laura Ferrés
• In 2018 Hector Malot : The Last Day of the Year by Jacqueline Lentzou received the Leica Cine Discovery Award
• In 2019, for the first time under the new name Leitz Cine Discovery Prize, the award went to Qiu Yang for his work on She Runs.

Together we look forward to supporting lots of new filmmakers and their projects at this year’s edition of La Semaine de la Critique!

About Leitz :

The Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH based in Germany is one of the world’s leading premium cine lens manufacturers. The company distributes their lenses under the brand name 'Leitz'. With the development and production of these high quality, complex optical elements, the company has become one of the industry leaders in premium cinematographic optics within the last decade. The lenses are used in a large number of award-winning films and blockbusters, series and commercials worldwide. This achievement and the 'Science and Engineering Award' from the 'Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' are both validation and challenge to the people at Leitz, to continue with the development of high-end future film camera lenses, with the very same traditional technical precision, exceptional quality awareness and the deep passion for moving images to inspire filmmakers and enable them to realize their unique visions.

Leica Camera – A Partner for Photography :

Leica Camera AG is an international, premium manufacturer of cameras and sports optics. The legendary reputation of the Leica brand is based on a long tradition of excellent quality, German craftsmanship and German industrial design, combined with innovative technologies. An integral part of the brand's culture is the diversity of activities the company undertakes for the advancement of photography. In addition to the Leica Galleries and Leica Akademies spread around the world, there are the Leica Hall of Fame Award and, in particular, the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA), which is considered one of the most innovative sponsorship awards existing today. Furthermore, Leica Camera AG, with its headquarters in Wetzlar, Hessen, and a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal, has a worldwide network of its own national organisations and Leica Retail Stores.

Laura Kaufmann
Marketing Manager | Leitz

Seth Emmons
Director of Communications | Leitz