Germany, Austria 2024 – 90 min – Director: Monika Grassl & Linda Osusky

The German Environmental and Sustainability Award at the NaturVision Film Festival 2025 goes to a film that represents a successful compromise between journalism and the big screen: SCARS OF GROWTH is visually magnificent and close to the protagonists, although it deals with a complex topic: Mining in Europe. The two directors Monika Grassl and Linda Osusky succeed in creating a multi-perspective picture of this truly controversial topic: on the one hand, we need raw materials for the energy transition, on the other hand, the sites of the mines are located in sensitive natural habitats, in arid Andalusia there is a threat of gigantic water consumption and in Lapland, which is already plagued by mining, further destruction of reindeer migration routes. The criticism is clearly expressed, but the film is not one-sided; the pro-mining side is also able to express its point of view clearly. This documentary film shows the dilemma of the European ‘Green Deal’ in an understandable and emotionally stirring way. It is particularly pleasing that these are talented filmmakers who developed their film at the Documentary Campus Masterschool, a European training programme for young filmmakers.