Drama “Dying” wins German Film Prize
The “Lolas” are awarded at a gala event in Berlin. An emotional appeal is made by Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer.
Berlin (dpa) - Matthias Glasner’s three-hour drama “Dying” has won the Golden Lola for best feature film at the German Film Prize ceremony. This film about a dysfunctional family picked up four awards in all, including best female lead for Corinna Harfouch. Though the title might suggest otherwise, “Dying” is actually a film about living. It tells the story of a family whose members have to start engaging with one another again following the death of the father, who had been suffering from dementia.
The most moving performance during the gala event at Berlin’s Theater am Potsdamer Platz was given by 102-year-old Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer. “Very many storytellers are sitting here in this room. You have a responsibility to use the power of film to ensure that something like that never happens again,” was her appeal to the filmmakers. The actress Hanna Schygulla won the German Film Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding services to German cinema.
The German Film Prize is one of the industry’s most important awards. The nominations and awards are endowed with around three million euros in total for new projects.