The Teachers' Lounge (Öğretmenler Odası)

The Teachers' Lounge (original title: Das Lehrerzimmer) is a 2023 German drama directed by İlker Çatak, who co-wrote the screenplay with Johannes Duncker. Leonie Benesch plays Carla Nowak, a young math and gym teacher new to her secondary school, who sets out to investigate a series of thefts. The surprising exposure of a suspected culprit and the ensuing inquiry, conducted under a 'zero tolerance' policy, soon breed denunciation, conflict and ostracism, while the prime suspect turning out to be the mother of her student Oskar forces Carla's idealism to collide with reality.

The film had its world premiere on 18 February 2023 in the Panorama section of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Panorama Audience Award and received critical acclaim. It went on to win the German Film Award in five categories, including best feature film and best actress for Benesch, was named one of the top five international films of 2023 by the National Board of Review, and was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards as Germany's entry.