Debut film 'Oasis' premieres at Venice, chillingly relevant

The much-anticipated debut feature film from German writer-director Jannis Lenz, titled 'Oasis,' is set to world premiere on September 6, as part of the 83rd Venice Film Festival's Horizons section. This cinematic drama distinguishes itself by its profound exploration of adolescent outcasts, identity, and the pervasive themes of violence.

The film's synopsis reveals a school spiraling into escalating violence following a viral video of a student threatening classmates. Amidst pressure from authorities, three outcasts seek refuge in a forest, where their interactions harden into ritual, and pain becomes an escape, ultimately resurfacing old wounds.

'Oasis' is a German-Austrian co-production, with Zeitgeist Filmproduktion (Germany) and Wega Film (Austria) as primary producers. The film features up-and-coming actors Florian Geißelmann, Anton Petzold, and Mathilda Smidt, alongside veteran Godehard Giese and other notable cast members. The German theatrical release is scheduled for February 2027.

Director Jannis Lenz, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Alexander Dirninger, previously garnered attention for his award-winning short films 'Wannabe' and 'Soldat Ahmet.' The press notes emphasize the film's examination of how body, space, and identity dissolve, exposing the brutal beauty of relationships and the violence shaping the modern world.