Mahmut Tali Öngören (1931 - 1999) was a journalist, scriptwriter and co-founder of Turkish state television TRT. In 1955, he graduated from Columbia University with a degree in TV and radio journalism and took a leading role in the founding of TRT state television. Öngören was a pioneer who was committed to human rights as well as film. Thus, he co-founded Turkey's first cinematheque, the Ankara International Film Festival, the Human Rights Association, the Human Rights Foundation and the Turkish Human Rights Organization TIHAK. From the mid 90s, he was an advisor to the Film Festival Turkey Germany and thus made a great contribution to the success of the festival.

For Öngören's tireless fight in the name of democracy and human rights, the Öngören Prize is awarded annually to those directors who deal with the issues of democracy and human rights. The prize, valued at 1,000€, honors the great commitment of the directors to remind us of these fundamental rights and their abuse, even under adverse circumstances.

2023
Der lange Weg der Sinti und Roma / Sinti Roma’nın Uzun Zolu
Adrian Oeser

2022
„Don’t Stop Motion“
Niels Bauder, Franziska Bausch-Moser

2021
Kippa
Lukas Nathrath

2019
Kill me today, tomorrow I´m sick
Joachim Schroeder / Tobias Streck

2018
Die Legende vom hässlichen König / Çirkin Kral Efsanesi
Hüseyin Tabak

2017
Das Versprechen / Bana Söz Ver 
Marcus Vetter, Karin Steinberger

2016
Küçük Kara Balıklar / Kleine schwarze Fische 
A. Haluk Ünal, Ezel Akay, Serpil Güler, Cem Terbiyeli, Önder İnce

2015
Wir sind jung, wir sind stark / Genciz. Güçlüyüz
Burhan Qurbani
    
2014
Die Arier / Ariler 
Mo Asumang
    
2013
Waiting Area / Bekleme Alanı 
Nora Tschirner, Natalie Beer

2012
Zenne – Der Bauchtänzer / Zenne 
Caner Alper, Mehmet Binay

2011
Das Herz von Jenin / Jenin’in Kalbi 
Marcus Vetter, Leon Geller

2010
Mazel Tov 
Mischka Popp, Thomas Bergmann

2009
4857
Petra Holzer, Selçuk Erzurumlu, Ethem Özgüven

2008
Güzel “Bitch” / Beautiful Bitch 
Martin Theo Krieger

2007
Requiem für eine Frau / Kadına Ağıt 
Berrin Balay Tuncer, Önder Özdem

2006
Die Unerwünschten / İstenmeyenler 
Sarah Moll

2005
Ein Hauch von Gewürz / Politiki Kouzina
Tassos Boulmetis

2004 
Vertrieben für Frieden / Barış İçin Sürülenler 
Simone Sitte, Osman Okkan

2003 
Das Photo / Fotoğraf
Kazım Öz

2000    
Reise zur Sonne / Güneşe Yolculuk
Yeşim Ustaoğlu