Peter Goedel receives the Film Prize of the City of Hof

The Film Prize of the City of Hof was awarded to documentary filmmaker, author and producer Peter Goedel in the Festsaal of the Freiheitshalle. The Süddeutsche Zeitung once described him as the "most exciting filmmaker of young German cinema".

Mayor Eva Döhla personally welcomed the guests and recalled the founding of the Hof International Film Festival in 1967, which was not only a cultural event, but also an expression of a new attitude towards life and the desire for freedom. "The film festival stands for an unconventional approach in which films are shown without prior viewing. This reflects the anti-authoritarian spirit of the time and positions Hof as a place of intellectual freedom. Freedom in the arts must be protected and promoted, especially in the face of cuts to cultural budgets. The power of the imagination can only be effective if we allow designs and counter-designs in art," says Eva Döhla.

The Film Prize of the City of Hof has been awarded since 1986 on the occasion of the Hof International Film Festival and honors personalities who are closely associated with the film festival in the city on the Saale.

With five films at the Hof Film Festival

In 1980, Peter Goedel's film "Talentprobe" celebrated its world premiere at the 14th Hof International Film Festival. Shot in the summer of 1979 at a public event in Cologne's Rheinpark, this documentary shows concerts by Udo Jürgens and a Beatles revival band, among others, as well as "Udo Werner's Talentprobe für Jedermann". The talents face a crowd of 5,000 people armed with whistles, trumpets and more, who shout them down mercilessly if they are displeased.

Goedel has made several guest appearances in Hof and is a regular visitor to the Hof International Film Festival. A total of five films directed by Goedel were shown in the city on the Saale:

• "Talentprobe" (documentary 1980)
• "Peter Przygodda, editing master" (documentary 1993)
• "Trip to Tunis" (feature film 1993)
• "Tangier - The Legend of a City" (feature film 1997)
• "The night is not just for sleeping" (documentary 2011)

Cinematic initiation

The laudatory speech was held by Dunja Bialas, journalist specializing in film criticism and lecturer at the LMU Munich. "He is a filmmaker who has produced a multifaceted oeuvre with a great deal of artistic freedom. He even makes political films poetic and poetic films political. He knows that there are no stories without reality," said Bialas.

Peter Goedel, visibly delighted with the award, expressed his gratitude: "Hof was my cinematic initiation. It was here that the world of film and cinema opened up to me and I experienced exciting films by my German colleagues. Hof gave me the decisive impetus to make films myself. I am therefore particularly honored to receive the Film Award of the City of Hof here."

The award ceremony was followed by a reception hosted by the Bavarian State Parliament. Ilse Aigner, member of the state parliament, personally attended this year's event. "Cinema in Hof is simply something special. Hof is a flagship for the Free State of Bavaria and enriches our culture," said Aigner.

Sandra Rieß hosted the event and the "Hof Arthouse Jazz Band" provided the musical accompaniment for the evening.

About the person

Peter Goedel, born on April 3, 1943 in Torgau, is a director, author and producer. He graduated from high school in Stuttgart and went on to study literature, theater studies, art history and philosophy in Cologne and Munich. He then worked as a dramaturge and assistant director at various theaters and staged his first plays. From 1972, he was an assistant director on several film and television productions. In 1974, Goedel began making his own films for television and worked as a freelancer, author and director for various television stations as well as cultural and film editorial offices.

About the Film Prize of the City of Hof

The Hof International Film Festival is one of the most important German film festivals and is regarded as the "family festival of German film". The non-endowed Film Prize of the City of Hof was first awarded in 1986, with Doris Dörrie being the first winner. Subsequent winners include other renowned names such as Wim Wenders, Werner Herzog, Detlef Buck, Sönke Wortmann, Tom Tykwer, Dominik Graf and Oscar winner Caroline Link. The prize itself consists of an object from the State Technical College for Product Design in Selb, designed by Christina Mosis and Konrad Gräßler, and is aimed at people who are closely associated with Hof and the festival. The Film Prize of the City of Hof is considered one of the most coveted awards in the German film scene.

List of award winners