BERLIN -- Awards by themselves don't necessarily bring out the worst in people. When they're connected to sizable prize money, though, discontent can brew faster than you can say "the winner is ...." That's what the German Film Academy is finding out.
Three years after taking over Germany's version of the Oscars, the German Film Prize called the Lolas, The Academy Is embroiled in a behind-the-scenes battle over the country's most prestigious and, with €2.9 million ($4.1 million) in prize money, most profitable award.
The main problem lies in a change that occurred two years ago. After coming into existence in the early '50s, the Bundesfilmpreis, as it was called, was a government award -- with winners decided upon by juries that were staffed with lots of politicians and a few film luminaries. In 2005, the German industry set up an academy based on the AMPAS model to nominate and vote on Lola winners. The cash still came from the government, but the academy decided how it got divided up.
From the start there was grumbling, particularly from independent producers, who claimed that established (and well-funded) producers such as Constantin Film's Bernd Eichinger and Stefan Arndt of X Filme, were being favored with nominations and awards.
Three years after taking over Germany's version of the Oscars, the German Film Prize called the Lolas, The Academy Is embroiled in a behind-the-scenes battle over the country's most prestigious and, with €2.9 million ($4.1 million) in prize money, most profitable award.
The main problem lies in a change that occurred two years ago. After coming into existence in the early '50s, the Bundesfilmpreis, as it was called, was a government award -- with winners decided upon by juries that were staffed with lots of politicians and a few film luminaries. In 2005, the German industry set up an academy based on the AMPAS model to nominate and vote on Lola winners. The cash still came from the government, but the academy decided how it got divided up.
From the start there was grumbling, particularly from independent producers, who claimed that established (and well-funded) producers such as Constantin Film's Bernd Eichinger and Stefan Arndt of X Filme, were being favored with nominations and awards.
- 10/19/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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