One of the biggest misconceptions about red carpet film events and celebrity casseroles is that they are exclusive. No matter how loud the organizers can bang their stars and guest lists, no matter how hard the Adabei can try to get in: If the same celebrations always have to compete against each other, the exclusivity is quickly over. That’s why there are appointment calendars, that’s why they are spread out evenly throughout the year: the German Film Ball usually takes place in Munich in January, and the Berlinale in Berlin in February. The Oscars will be awarded in March, and the film world will be looking to Cannes in May. It goes on and on, there’s always a red carpet being rolled out somewhere.
The Munich Film Festival starts on June 23rd and is considered the sunniest festival of its kind. The date is a tough one, because every few years the team around festival director Diana Iljine has to compete against major football events. This year, the German national team is playing in winter, so the film festival has competition from its own ranks: just one day after its opening, on June 24, the German Film Prize will be awarded in Berlin. The country’s highest endowed cultural award is a must for the film industry, it is broadcast on television, and nowhere else are there more prominent national actors. The German Film Academy, which is responsible for the award, said that was not the intention, but “unfortunately there was a misunderstanding in communication”. Due to the pandemic, the prize could not be awarded at the beginning of May as usual. In view of the uncertain infection situation, the supposedly safe early summer was chosen this year.
By the time the conflicting dates were noticed, it was already too late: the effort was too great and the set-up process too long, so no alternative location could be found. “Even in a city like Berlin, these locations are limited,” said a spokeswoman for the film academy. “I find that very unfortunate,” says Filmfest boss Iljine, after all there aren’t many such major events. Her festival also suffered from the pandemic, this year it should get better again: There is a new series called “Series Specials”, and the first film title has also been announced: The remake of “Der Räuber Hotzenplotz” with Nicholas Ofczarek in the title role celebrates premiered on June 24th. It’s not nice that the red carpet is rolled out in Munich and Berlin on the same day and that film celebrities appear.