In a two-hour gala in Munich, the Bavarian Film Prize was awarded, recognizing films like «Amrum» and «Das Kanu des Manitu». Winners used their speeches to appeal on abuse, care, and democracy. The event blended entertainment with social critique.
The gala for the Bavarian Film Prize in Munich lasted about two hours and featured entertaining yet deeply moving moments. «Amrum» by Fatih Akin was named best film, depicting the time around Nazi Germany's capitulation through a 12-year-old's eyes on the North Frisian island of Amrum. The most successful film was «Das Kanu des Manitu» by Michael «Bully» Herbig, who highlighted its cult status: «In die glücklichen Gesichter eines Publikums zu gucken, ist die größte Belohnung.» For the drama «In die Sonne schauen» by Mascha Schilinski, prizes went to direction and cinematography. The jury praised the intensity and sensitivity with which Schilinski portrays the lives of four girls from different epochs on a four-sided farm, as well as Fabian Gamper's poetic camera work that conveys hope and warmth. The debut film «Karla» by Yvonne Görlach received two awards, including for screenplay. In her speech, Görlach revealed the film is dedicated to her abused mother: «Danke Mama, ich liebe dich.» She emphasized: «Karla is a symbolic person standing for so many who have experienced the same fate.» Rainer Bock, awarded for his role as judge in «Karla», appealed to society and politics: «Es ist an uns, hinzusehen, hinzuhören und uns einzumischen. Streicht keine offene Stelle in Jugendämtern und Jugendfürsorgeeinrichtungen.» Leonie Benesch, joining via video due to COVID, won for her nurse in «Heldin» and demanded improvements for care workers: «Der erste und der letzte Mensch, der uns berührt in diesem Leben, ist höchstwahrscheinlich eine Pflegekraft.» She criticized that care workers burn out after four years while politics debates long sick leaves. Florian David Fitz received the Minister President's honorary prize from State Minister Florian Herrmann, as Markus Söder canceled due to illness. Fitz thanked democracy defenders: He navigates the «schwerfälligen demokratischen Tanker», unlike faster non-democratic actors. Other awards went to Heike Hanold-Lynch and Til Schindler for «Scham», Michael Kofler for «Zweitland», Daniel Abma for the documentary «Im Prinzip Familie», and Julia Lemke and Anna Koch for the children's film «Zirkuskind». The prize, awarded since 1979, is one of Germany's most prestigious film honors with eleven categories.
