German Film Prize: News of Margot Friedländer's death gives us goosebumps
Berlin. Suddenly, a murmur rippled through the hall. Shock was written all over Iris Berben's face. The news of Margot Friedländer's death broke in the middle of the German Film Awards ceremony. Star pianist Igor Levit visibly fought back tears as he paid tribute to the deceased Holocaust witness on stage instead of delivering a laudatory speech for the best film score.
It was the most moving moment of the several-hour-long gala at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin. Many actors and actresses in the audience appeared surprised and shocked when they heard of the 103-year-old's death. Just last year, she had made an urgent appeal to filmmakers at the German Film Awards.
The Jewish pianist called for a moment of silence for Friedländer, his voice repeatedly faltering. "There are moments that are greater than the price, than any price, than all of us." Friedländer was a "great, great miracle."
Igor Levit fought back tears.
Source: Christoph Soeder/dpa
Levit also used the tribute to send a political message: There is no justification for leaving even a single millimeter to those who wanted to destroy everything for which Friedländer lived for 103 years.
In general, the German Film Awards ceremony on Friday evening was characterized by political statements, primarily against a shift to the right in society and calling for greater cohesion. Actress Iris Berben emphasized that we can no longer stand idly by while others, for example, take over our voices.
At almost 90, Margot Friedländer returned to Berlin, the land of the perpetrators. The Holocaust witness tirelessly committed herself to remembrance. Now she has died, but her words remain.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, the 74-year-old told the German Press Agency: "It's worrying that this shift to the right is now being seen so massively worldwide." She added that one shouldn't be speechless; one must unite culture and be vocal.
Director Florian Gallenberger, who heads the German Film Academy together with actress Vicky Krieps, also emphasized that diversity is enriching. Without diversity, there would be no culture, no art, and no cinema.
The new Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer gave his first public speech since taking office.
Source: Christoph Soeder/dpa
The gala thus became a kind of first test for the new Minister of State for Culture, Wolfram Weimer, whose predecessor, Claudia Roth, was also in the audience. After his appointment as Minister of State for Culture and Media was announced, there was some harsh criticism from the cultural scene.
His very conservative statements in the past were met with reservations. Gallenberger began by asking Weimer what he could say to those who were now worried.
The Minister of State for Culture retorted: "The only cultural battle I will wage is the battle for culture." Politics should allow for freedom, and cultural policy should remain on the side of culture and freedom. Actress Karoline Herfurth later took this as an opportunity to say to Weimer: "Freedom. That's a word, Mr. Weimer. We might talk about that again, but not now."
And beyond politics? It quickly became clear who would be the big winner of the evening. Tim Fehlbaum's thriller "September 5," about the 1972 Munich Olympic bombing, not only won the Golden Lola for Best Feature Film, but also eight other awards. It received prizes for directing and screenplay, among others. Leonie Benesch was honored for Best Supporting Actress.
The film recounts the events of the Olympic bombing on September 5, 1972, from the perspective of a US television crew that was supposed to be covering the competitions. Instead, the journalists become live reporters of a Palestinian terrorist group taking Israeli athletes hostage.
Misagh Zare won Best Actor for “The Seed of the Sacred Fig Tree,” a political thriller about the protests in Iran following the death of the young Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini in September 2022. Liv Lisa Fries received an award for Best Actor for her portrayal of Nazi resistance fighter Hilde Coppi (1909–1943) in the drama “With Love, Your Hilde.”
The 34-year-old used her acceptance speech, which she had prepared on a piece of paper, to make an appeal. "I dedicate this award to love, the strength that sustains us when things get serious. And they are serious," she said. "It requires our commitment to one another, to compassion, tenderness, peace, and freedom."
RND/dpa
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