Strike
Bavarian Film Award "Pierrot" 2006

Katharina Thalbach and Andreas Höfer received the Bavarian Film Award for “Strike” by Volker Schlöndorff in Munich in January 19th. Katharina Thalbach received the award for her extraordinary representation of the deckhand Agnieszka, who belonged to the driving core of the Solidarnosc movement.

The Jury: “Katharina Thalbach with her great performance as the hard working, trusting worker Agniezka of the Gdansk ship yard reminds us of the fact that ordinary people, 'everyday heroes', were the ones who started a great political movement. It is the hour of birth of Solidarnosc and the development of a courageous woman who turns into a self-confident fighter for an independent union in Poland in the face of inhuman working conditions. Katharina Thalbach is one of the few actresses who can play such a challenging role with so much credibility, smartness and intensity. Katharina Thalbach’s Agnieszka is more than a strong woman; she is a truly great woman.”

Moreover, the cinematographer Andreas Höfer received the Bavarian Film Award 2006 for best cinematography.
The Jury: “Andreas Höfer managed impressively to create a symbiosis between the feature film scenes and the documentary parts by merging the epic stylistic devices with those of the documentary genre. In doing so, he never lost sight of the actors which can be seen in the close shots. He remains close to the protagonists and to the events and creates thus a immediacy, linking the viewer to the film.”

Strike
Golden Saturn 2006

Volker Schlöndorffs “Strike” received the main award, the Golden Saturn, at the Saturno International Film Festival from October 29th to November 4th 2006.
The Jury: “The film deals with a decisive moment in Polish history with great sensibility and emotional power. The film’s cinematography is wonderful and the main character is played by an extraordinary actress. A 'resurged' Schlöndorff.”

The Ninth Day
Grand Prix and Golden Sword for The Ninth Day

At the 4th International Film Festivals Juri Oserow (also called International Festival for Anti-War Films) in St. Petersburg, October 9th to 15th 2006, “The Ninth Day” by Volker Schlöndorff received the Grand Prix for Best Film. Schlöndorff was awarded the Golden Sword for Best Director. In memory of the Russian director Juri Oserow (“Liberation”, “The Fight for Moscow”, “Stalingrad”), who passed away on October 15th 2001, the film festival with films against war has been taking place in St. Petersburg since 2003. David C. Bunners who was a member of the jury this year after he was among the laureates in 2005 (Best actor) presented the award.

Mephisto
Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film

The literary adaptation of Klaus Mann’s Mephisto by István Szabó starring Klaus Maria Brandauer received the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in the USA in 1981.
The outstanding performances of the film makers were honoured with further awards: Cannes Film Festival 1981: Award of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI); Taormina Film Festival, Italy 1982: David-di-Donatello Award for best foreign film and best foreign actor; Sindacato Nazionale Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani, Rome 1982: Silver Ribbon for István Szabó (Best Dierctor – foreign language film)

Moscow Does Not Believe In Tears
Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film

Wladimir Menschow’s light, sentimental women’s film “Moscow Does Not Believe In Tears” received the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in the USA in 1980.

Jacob The Liar
The only Oscar nomination for a DEFA film

In 1977 a DEFA production is nominated for the first time for an Academy Award USA as Best Foreign Language Film.
Two years before, Jacob The Liar was the first DEFA film to be screened at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1975. Main actor Vlastimil Brodsky received the Silver Bear for Best Actor.

Dersu Uzala
Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film

“Dersu Uzala”, Akira Kurosawa’s parable on the clash of two cultures, received the Academy Award USA in the category Best Foreign Film in 1976.
Further awards: Taormina FilmFest 1977: David-di-Donatello-Award for best director Akira Kurosawa and Special Award for production; Semaine Internationale de la Critique Paris 1978: film critics award for best foreign film; Sindacato Nazionale Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani Rome 1977: Best director foreign language film for Akira Kurosawa; Moscow International Film Festival 1975: Golden Prize and FIPRESCI Award for Akira Kurosawa.

War And Peace
Oscar for Best Foreign Film

In 1969, Sergej Bondartschuku’s literary adaptation “War and Peace” received the Oscar for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Award USA.
Further awards for the Mosfilm production: Golden Globe, USA 1969: Best Foreign Language Film; National Board of Review, New York 1969: NBR award for Best Foreign Language Film; British Academy of Film and Television Arts, London 1970: nominated for Best Director.

Marriage In The Shadows
Bambi – German television and media prize

Kurt Maetzig’s drama based on the biography of the actor Joachim Gottschalk received the Bambi in Munich in 1948. The newsreel “The Eye Witness” reported about the ceremony.
About three decades later, 1975, the Museum of Modern Art New York screened the film during its DEFA retrospective.
Marriage In The Shadows was rated among the 100 most important German films of all times by film critics and historians.