The Oscars will be awarded in a few hours – but of course there will be celebrations before then. The German nominees traditionally do this in a special place: the historic “Villa Aurora”.
You can hear it from the stage: “Nominated for best actress: Sandraaaaa Hülser”. The German actress comes on stage in the garden of “Villa Aurora” and hundreds of people cheer. She’s thinking about how she can spend more time in the villa, Hülser jokes.
Understandable. The villa is in the middle of the hills. It looks like a postcard here. The house is white, a magnificent garden, palm trees, views of the Pacific. “I’m also very happy to be where I am. But maybe I’ll just leave,” continues Hülser.
The “Villa Aurora” was built in Pacific Palisades in 1927. In 1943 Lion Feuchtwanger bought the property.
Traditional meeting since the 1990s
During the Second World War, artists who had to flee the Nazis were accommodated in the villa. Today the German film elite meets here once a year.
“This is a tradition that started in the 90s,” says Jakob Scherer, managing director of the “Villa Aurora” operating association: “On the day before the Oscars, we are the center – if you will – of the German film in Los Angeles.”
Sandra Hülser at the reception in the “Villa Aurora”: The tension before the award ceremony is slowly increasing.
Christian Friedel is still a bit disoriented: “I don’t even know where I have to go.” He starred in “The Zone of Interest,” the film has been nominated five times. Friedel has a lot of appointments and hardly any time: “I brought food with me so I can have breakfast.” Then he bites into the crispbread.
Friedel is wearing a white suit. Many women wear high-heeled shoes – in deep grass. A visitor says: “It happens on the front bale. You’re not allowed to step on the verses. And then it works!”
German Film generations meet each other
German film generations also meet here: Wim Wenders, 78 years old, is nominated for an Oscar for the fourth time. He could win his first today – as director of the Japanese film “Perfect Days.” Nevertheless, he says he is very relaxed: “I definitely am – like when I’m filming. When it starts, I’m always the calmest.”
Phileas Spallek and Oscar Zickur are standing a meter away – and they are both very excited. You just talked to Wenders. Both are 15 years old and starred in “The Teacher’s Room”, which is nominated for Germany in the “International Film” category. Despite his fame, Wenders is “still so down to earth”; people meet at eye level: “And that’s just nice when you’re valued like that.”
There is also eye level at the buffet: there is cheese and finger food for everyone.
The team from the film “The Teacher’s Room” is present at the traditional reception.
Hülser on the award: Always go out to smoke
Many already have champagne in their hands. There are only a few hours left until the Oscars. Sandra Hülser has experienced this before. During the show she kept going out to smoke, she says. And that’s what she plans to do this time too.
And Leonie Benesch, leading actress of “The Teacher’s Room,” says on this topic: “There should be the best conversations there.” Christian Friedel prefers to stay seated. He was too excited to miss something.
And for Wim Wenders one thing is certain: “As a non-smoker, I might go and drink water. No alcohol during the show – we provided sake afterwards.”