German writer-director Jannis Lenz's feature debut "Oasis" (Oase) is premiering in the Horizons section of the Venice Film Festival, exploring themes of exclusion and adolescent violence. The film follows three young outcasts who retreat to a forest after a video of one of them threatening classmates goes viral, examining how digital-age pressures amplify ostracism and pain among teenagers. It matters as a timely, uncomfortable examination of youth violence and belonging, tackled by a director drawing on personal memories of his own school years and childhood surroundings.

The film stars Florian Geißelmann, Anton Petzold and Mathilda Smidt as the trio of outcasts, with veteran actor Godehard Giese, Britta Hammelstein and Ioana Iacob in supporting roles. Lenz co-wrote the screenplay with cinematographer Alexander Dirninger and shot partly in the elementary school he himself attended, now attended by his own son. Produced by Germany's Zeitgeist Filmproduktion with several co-producers, "Oasis" is set for German theatrical release in February 2027 via Mindjazz Pictures, with Totem Films handling international sales. It marks Lenz's first feature after previous acclaimed shorts including "Soldat Ahmet", and premieres on 6 September 2026 at Venice's 83rd edition.