This year's German Film Academy Awards highlighted an interesting mixture of awards to popular releases as well as the more art-house releases.
VINCENT WILL MEER/VINCENT WANTS TO SEA was awarded the Gold Prize for best film, as well as the best actor award to Florian David Fitz in his bravura performance as a young man with Tourette's.
POLL/THE POLL DIARIES received four awards: best supporting actor for Ricky Muller, plus awards for cinematography, production design and costume design. The film, shot in 3 countries, and based on events in Estonia in 1914, was a big budget production, directed by Chris Kraus.
The Silver prize for best film, as well as the best screenplay award, went to the popular hit: ALMANJA, highlighting Turkish immigrants to Germany, while the Bronze prize for best film went to WER WENN NICHT WIR?/WHO IF NOT US?
Wim Wenders highly acclaimed new Documentary, PINA, on legendary dancer Pina Bausch received the best documentary award. The first feature length arts based documentary to be shot in 3D, the film will be released in Australia later this year.
DAS LIED IN MIR/THE DAY I WAS NOT BORN, scored the prize for best supporting actress for Beatriz Spelzini, as well as best musical score.
GOETHE received one prize, for best make-up.
Tom Tykwer's new film, DREI/3, was awarded prizes for best director, as well as for best actress: Sophie Rois. The film also received the best editing award.
This year's awards continue to demonstrate the richness of current German film production, and that most of the awards went to films in this year's Festival of German Films.
Peter Krausz
