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FILM
Reel Success: German Cinema
Today, the German film industry is one of the largest in the world, and its history is
as long and complex as that of the country itself. Germany is home to the influential
Berlin International Film Festival, as well as its annual Deutsche Filmpreis, the
German equivalent of the Oscars, with its iconic ‘Lola’ statuettes. - By Anna Wallace
Germany has contributed a great deal to the world
stage, including stars Diane Kruger and Marlene
Dietrich, memorable films, such as Downfall and
Run Lola Run, and classics Nosferatu and Metropolis.
Beginning in the 1890s with the Skladanowsky
brothers Max and Emil, whose invention, the
‘Bioscop’ fild projector premiered in November of
1895 at Berlin’s Wintergarten, the Germans were at
the forefront of cinematic development, ahead of
the famous Parisian Lumière brothers by nearly two
months. Since then, German cinema has gone from
strength to strength, although, like the historical
Benjamin Herrmann and Florian Gallenberger at the Deutsch Filmpreis.
Photography © Michael Tinnefeld (API) / DEUTSCHE FILMAKADEMIE.
changes in the country brought about by two world
wars, the genre has developed in distinctive styles
and movements.
The Berlin International Film Festival (also known
as the Berlinale) was founded in 1951, in what was
then West Berlin, and has taken place annually since
1978. The largest publicly attended film festival in
the world, it sees nearly half a million admissions
and some 400 films screened each year, providing
a comprehensive and incisive look at international
cinema. Notable for its awards of Gold and Silver
Bears, it has been headed by Festival Director Dieter
Kosslick since 2001 and categories include a Jury
Grand Prix, Best Director, Actor, Actress and Short
Film, among others.
Attracting film stars and celebrities from all over
the world as well as within Germany, the
Berlinale is divided into seven distinct sections,
for which films are chosen by a committee.
These categories comprise Competition
(feature-length films as yet unreleased outside
of their country of origin), Panorama (indie
and art house films), Forum (documentary
films), Generation (aimed at youth), Perspektive
Deutsches Kino (focusing on current trends
in German cinema), Berlinale Shorts (both
domestic and international) and Retrospective
(classic films previously shown at the Berlinale)
as well as other subcategories.
The 2012 edition of the Berlinale was hailed
by many as one of the best incarnations in recent
history, with critics lauding it for its strong content.
“Everything was just right: there were strong films
and the film market was the best attended since its
creation. Ticket sales reached a new record,” wrote
Peter Zander, a journalist at the German newspaper
Die Welt.
The 62nd edition also featured several films related
to the Arab spring as part of its global remit.
Held at the same time as the Berlinale, the European Film
Market (EFM) is a trade fair that acts as a major industry
meeting point for the international film circuit. Bringing
together producers, financiers, distributors and other
key players in the industry, it also features lectures and
workshops and is partnered with the Berlinale as a forum
for upcoming and emerging talent.
For more information visit www.efm-berlinale.de
Another major player on the German film scene is the
annual Deutscher Filmpreis, or German Film Awards,
colloquially known as the Lolas (after its awards
statuette). With its pot of three million Euros in cash
prizes, it is the most highly endowed German cultural
award and, since 2005, has been provided by the
Deutsche Filmakademie.
For more information visit www.deutscher-filmpreis.de
“[The Arab Spring] cuts right across all the sections,”
festival director Kosslick explained in an interview
on website for the the Goethe-Institut Australia.
Meryl Streep receives the Honorary Golden Bear at the 64th Berlinale.
“Filmmaking from this region is well represented
and is being discussed at various points. We will
have many documentaries on the Arab region…
and there are six Arabic films in the Panorama
section...” The event also featured panel discussions
with Arab filmmakers. With press from nearly 90
countries covering the event, it’s no wonder that the
Berlinale, with its wide array of international films,
styles, genres and subject matter, is considered a
leader in its field.
62nd Berlin Film Festival
at a Glance
Dates: 9–19 February 2012
Festival Director: Dieter Kosslick
Jury President: Mike Leigh
Number of Films: 400 over 953 public screenings
Theatre visits: 444,402
Accredited Guests: 15,923
Jury Grand Prix: Just the Wind, Benedek Fliegauf
Best Director: Christian Petzold, Barbara
Best Actress: Rachel Mwanza, War Witch
Best Actor: Mikkel Følsgaard, A Royal Affair
Honorary Golden Bear: Meryl Streep
Website: www.berlinale.de
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Image courtesy Berlinale.