Web producer HandOfBlood was named Creator of the Year at the VideoDays Festival Awards in Cologne. The 33-year-old from Salzgitter also received an award in the streaming category. The event honors outstanding creators from the social media industry.
The VideoDays Festival Awards, known as the 'Oscars of the social media industry,' took place in the evening in Cologne. Organized by the media company We Are Era, a total of 19 trophies and one honorary award were presented. HandOfBlood, whose real name is Maximilian «Hänno» Knabe, dominated in two categories: Creator of the Year and streaming.
The game influencer from Salzgitter is renowned for bridging worlds. Just before the Bundestag election in January, he streamed for two hours with Green politician Robert Habeck. Tobias Schiwek, managing director of We Are Era, praised: «He connects worlds: gaming with politics, stance with humor, electronic music with Twitch. He shows that with entertainment you can not only entertain, but really make a difference».
Other winners included Kurdish musician Baran Kok for queer-positive German rap, 29-year-old YouTube researcher Marvin Wildhage on topics like prostitution and the betting industry, and running influencer Paula Enzweiler in the sports category. The audience award for Newcomer went to Legendary Mirko, who calls himself the «worst TikToker in Germany». Visibly moved, comedian Phil Laude (35), a former member of the comedy trio Y-Titty from 2006 to 2015, accepted the honorary award.
Before the gala at the Cologne E-Werk, around 800 content creators networked with producers, media houses, and agencies at the VideoDays Festival.