CFD 26| Hysteria

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Hysteria
LEM 20/04 > 20:00 | NIC 21/04 > 20:00
104', 2025, Germany

Directed by
Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay

Screenplay
Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay

Cinematography
Christian Kochmann

Editing
Denys Darahan
Andreas Menn

Production design
Mayte Hellenthal

Costume design
Marisa Lattmann

Music
Marvin Miller

Sound design
Steffen Pfauth

Cast
Devrim Lingnau
Mehdi Meskar
Serkan Kaya
Nicolette Krebitz
Aziz Çapkurt
Nazmi Kırık

Producers
Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay
Claus Herzog-Reichel

Production company
filmfaust

When a burned Quran is found on a film set, the shoot takes a dark turn and the crew is thrown into turmoil. Caught in the crossfire of accusations, 24-year-old intern Elif is drawn into a dangerous game of secrets and lies, finding herself at the heart of an all-absorbing conspiracy.

Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay studied Media Arts at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. His graduation film Oray received numerous international awards at prestigious festivals and won the Best First Feature Award at the Berlinale in 2019. With his production company, filmfaust, which he co-founded with Claus Herzog-Reichel, he has written and produced internationally acclaimed and award-winning feature films and documentaries, including Love, Deutschmarks and Death by Cem Kaya and Sirens Call by Miri Ian Gossing and Lina Sieckmann.

Awards
Europa Cinemas Label for Best European Film, Berlinale – Berlin International Film Festival, Germany, 2025.
FIPRESCI Award, Filmkunstfest Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, 2025.
Special Jury Prize for Screenwriting, Hamptons International Film Festival, USA, 2025.
NRW Film Award, Cologne Film Festival, Germany, 2025.
Hessischer Film- und Kinopreis, Hessian Film and Cinema Awards, Germany, 2025.

Filmography
2025 Hysteria
2018 Oray
2013 Vor dem Tor des Ijtihad (s.f.)