Jannis Lenz’s Feature Debut ‘Oasis’ Premieres at Venice, With Exclusive Trailer Showing a School Violence Spiral and Refuge in a Forest

A new trailer for Oasis, the feature debut by director Jannis Lenz, was released in connection with the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival, The Hollywood Reporter reported on August 17. The preview introduces a story centered on a school setting in which violence escalates, and in which three young people break away from the environment that is consuming them.

According to the report, the film’s plot follows three outcasts who ultimately take refuge in a forest. The trailer framing, as described by The Hollywood Reporter, positions the wilderness as a counter-space to the school’s escalating conflict, shifting the focus from institutional corridors to a more isolated setting where the characters attempt to endure the fallout of what they have experienced.

The Hollywood Reporter also linked the trailer release to a poster for the film, described as underscoring the movie’s interest in human relationships under pressure. The outlet characterized Oasis as exploring what it called the quiet brutality of human relationships, while also echoing the violence that shapes the contemporary world.

The report did not provide additional production credits or plot specifics beyond the core trajectory of violence in the school and the outcasts’ flight to the forest. With that limitation, the initial public materials appear designed to emphasize the film’s tone and themes rather than a detailed procedural account of events.

Oasis is positioned as Lenz’s first feature-length work, with Venice serving as the film’s formal launch window. Festival premieres typically function as first-stage visibility for audiences, industry buyers, and media coverage, and they often determine how a title is discussed and marketed ahead of later distribution.

Further details on casting, release plans outside the festival circuit, and any companion screenings or press events tied to Venice were not included in the available report, which focuses on the trailer and the festival premiere announcement. As the festival date approaches, additional program notes and interviews may clarify how the film’s school setting and forest refuge are handled on screen, including the extent to which the story is anchored in specific incidents versus broader patterns of harm.