A festival of love for films and forms

One of the most prominent examples is actor and director Til Schweiger ("Keinohrhasen," "Honig im Kopf"), who was named best newcomer in 1993. The award, which he received for his role in the film "Ebbies Bluff," was the "opening" for his career, Schweiger explained two years ago: "All of a sudden, everyone called, and then it took off." The list of award winners also includes many other well-known names, such as Maria Schrader, Anna Thalbach, Christiane Paul, Nora von Waldstätten, Julia Jäger, Thomas Kretschmann or Jasna Fritzi Bauer.

In past years, the festival's honorary award has gone to Doris Dörrie and Iris Berben, among others; in 2021, this award will go to director, photographer and producer Wim Wenders. Reason given by the festival management: "For decades, Wim Wenders has used his high reputation, his rich experience and his official duties to support young filmmakers in their creative endeavors by all means possible - be it through artistic involvement in his own work, through mediation or the awarding of grants."

In addition to sold-out movie theaters, the Max Ophüls Preis regularly offers a broad supporting program with discussions, workshops and networking events. Legendary among them - in non-Corona years - is the traditional festival club "Lola's Bistro", which we were able to design in 2020 with some extraordinary form.bar furniture. And thus contributed to the special atmosphere of the most intense meeting point of the young German-speaking film scene with the then guest of honor Heike Makatsch.

The film festival is named after Saarbrücken-born Max Ophüls (190-1957), one of the great European film directors of the 20th century. In 1933, Max Oppenheimer, a native of a Jewish family, had to flee the Nazis and found refuge first in France and later in the United States. Max Ophüls returned to Europe in the 1950s.