Film Festival
Foundry produces world-famous bears for Berlinale
The first blanks of the Berlinale bears in the Hermann Noack picture foundry in Berlin. photo
© Jens Kalaene/dpa
Preparations for the Berlinale are in full swing. Important symbols should not be missing: the bears.
This year’s Bear Prizes will be held at Berlin’s Hermann Noack picture foundry on Tuesday Berlinale was made. The highly sought-after bears were formed from glowing metal and were produced based on a design by the artist Renée Sintenis (1888-1965).
Traditionally, this is done by the picture foundry, which has been responsible for production since the Berlinale was founded in 1951. The bears are created with great sensitivity by the employees – from hot, liquid bronze to the finished, gold-plated bear on the engraved base.
For the Berlinale’s leading duo, managing director Mariëtte Rissenbeek and artistic director Carlo Chatrian, the production of the awards is a highlight every year: “You immediately think of great films. That’s your first association, because you get a bear when you see one made a particularly great film,” Rissenbeek told the German Press Agency. In addition, when it comes to bears, she always has to think of the creator, artist Sintenis.
Chatrian also sees something symbolic in the bear. When he sees the finished bear, he thinks of different things: “The bear can be sweet and strong or dangerous and friendly. And sometimes the films we choose are like that,” said Chatrian in the foundry’s production halls.
The Berlinale, which begins on February 15th, is one of the most important film festivals in the world alongside Cannes and Venice. In addition to the most important award, the Golden Bear for the best film, several Silver Bears are awarded. Filmmaker Martin Scorsese will be awarded the Honorary Golden Bear this year.