Nora Fingscheidt’s debut film System Crasher (Systemsprenger) has been selected to represent Germany at the 2020 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature category.

System Crasher beat five other shortlisted films including The German Lesson, Sealed Lips, The Collini Case, Heimat is a Space in Time, and Lara.

System Crasher world premiered at the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival in February, where it won the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize.

It tells the story of Benni, a nine-year-old girl who grows up in children’s homes and foster families. Time and again, the child rebels against teachers and foster parents. Hardly anyone gets along with her, with the exception of a young teacher who normally works with young offenders but who manages to reach Benni. In the end, even he finally fails because of the young girl’s anger and unrestrained emotions.