German Film Award 2008

Logo of the German Film Academy

Barbara Schöneberger

Best film, best director and best screenplay: Fatih Akın

Best female lead: Nina Hoss

The German Film Prize 2008 was awarded on April 25, 2008 by the German Film Academy . For the third time, the award ceremony took place in the Berlin Palais at the radio tower , and for the first time the gala, which was broadcast on television, was moderated by Barbara Schöneberger . Prizes were awarded in a total of 15 categories.

As in the previous year, the nominations by Senta Berger , the President of the German Film Academy, and Bernd Neumann , the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media , were announced in the ZDF morning magazine. Most of the nominations went to Doris Dörries Kirschblüten - Hanami , the only German entry in the 2008 Berlinale competition , and Fatih Akıns Auf der Other Seite , who was Germany's candidate for the 2008 Academy Awards .

In a preselection, a jury nominated 27 films for the categories of best film , best children's and youth film and best documentary , from which the 1000 members of the academy then selected the nominations. For the first time, the three winners in the Best Feature Film category no longer differentiate between one golden and two silver lolas, but instead, depending on the number of votes, between a golden (500,000 euros in prize money), a silver (425,000 euros) and a bronze lola (375,000 euros).

In the run-up to the nominations, there was a controversy about Til Schweiger's comedy Keinohrhasen . In January 2008, Schweiger announced his resignation from the academy out of annoyance that his film would not be considered and announced the foundation of its own film prize. According to the academy, however, the film could not be considered because the producers had failed to submit the film to the selection process on time. In the meantime, however, the dispute was settled, and Schweiger rejoined the German Film Academy.

Filmmaker Alexander Kluge received the honorary award for his outstanding services to German film . As one of the signatories of the Oberhausen Manifesto, Kluge was awarded the Gold Film Ribbon for his many years of outstanding work in German film as early as 1982 . Günter Rohrbach , President of the German Film Academy, emphasized, however, that Kluge “went beyond his artistic work [...] and was also active in film politics. To this day, German filmmakers owe him significant state funding initiatives. For some time now, Kluge has concentrated his impressive creativity on television. But he has remained what he was from the beginning, a passionate filmmaker "

On the other hand , the best film was awarded the Gold Film Prize. With further awards for the best editing and for the best script and the best director, Fatih Akıns film received the most prizes. As expected, Elmar Wepper was awarded the best actor for his role in Cherry Blossoms - Hanami . Doris Dörries Film received the film award in silver and with the award for the best costume design a total of three awards. The third winner in the Best Feature Film category was the remake of the youth novel Die Welle (2008) . The 18-year-old Frederick Lau received the award for best supporting actor for his role in Die Welle . Best supporting actress was Christine Schorn in the comedy Frei nach Plan . Nina Hoss was honored as the best leading actress for her role in Yella . She won the Silver Bear at the Berlinale for this role last year.