Bremer Filmpreis

2025

Stephen Frears

In Stephen Frears, Bremen is paying tribute to one of Europe’s most influential and versatile directors. He is not a filmmaker who can be confined to one genre, theme or style. Among his over 70 films made over five decades are small social studies such as “My Beautiful Laundrette”, his breakthrough as a director, opulent period dramas like “Dangerous Liaisons” or the neo-western “Hi-Lo Country” which was awarded with the Silver Bear. He discovered young talents who are now international stars such as Gary Oldman and Tim Roth, and worked with already established celebrities, including Hugh Grant, Michelle Pfeiffer and Julia Roberts.

 

Frears is considered one of the most important minds of New British Cinema, alongside directors like Ken Loach and Peter Greenaway. Since the 1970s he has shaped British film culture which sought to separate itself from Hollywood. However, this has not prevented Frears from working internationally and with Hollywood stars like Meryl Streep, Dustin Hoffman and Glenn Close – though he seems to always return to the United Kingdom in the end.

 

To this day, he condemns the aftermath of Thatcherism and Brexit in his work. The absurdity of living in a democracy desperately clinging to monarchy is also addressed repeatedly, for instance in “The Queen”, which received six Oscar nominations and for whose titular role Helen Mirren won the trophy.

 

Stephen Frears will be awarded the Bremer Filmpreis for his entire body of work which is characterized by his commitment to humanism. When staging his characters, be it the Queen or a gang member, he is interested in one thing above all: the individual as a being with agency. His characters are subject to societal constraints but none of them are relieved of the responsibility to make their own decisions. These decisions are often detrimental to someone – not rarely to the decision-makers themselves. Many of Frears’ ambivalent characters have therefore been described as anti-heroes. Precisely their flawed nature and their dark sides are what makes them human.

 

Through such characters, constantly embodied by great actors whom he knows to lead with virtuosity, Stephen Frears manages time and time again to tell stories that have societal relevance and emotional resonance at the same time. According to his own account, the best compliment he received was from Queen Elizabeth’s former private secretary who said of “The Queen”: “You got it all wrong, but you got it right.” You really cannot give a director and storyteller higher praise than that.

Award Ceremony

March 19 2025, 7:30 p.m.
at Theater am Goetheplatz

 

followed by the German premiere of

 

Brian and Maggie

In 1989, when journalist Brian Walden (Steve Coogan) and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (Harriet Walter) came together for their final TV interview, they had no idea they were about to engage in one of the most famous political slugfests of all time. The 45-minute showdown became a national talking point and initiated a series of events that ended with Margaret Thatcher’s resignation. After that, the two never spoke again…

Greeting from Klaus Windheuser

(board member Sparkasse Bremen)

For a decade, the Bremen Film Festival has been attracting more and more people to Bremen’s cinemas, and Sparkasse Bremen has been a partner from the very beginning. Promoting film culture and filmmaking is an important component of our social commitment.  

We are delighted to see the growing popularity of the Bremen Film Festival, both with audiences and filmmakers. Since last year, the already international film festival has also been thrilling audiences with its new competition for German premieres, bringing even more glamour, Hollywood flair and numerous film guests from all over the world to Bremen.  

Klaus Windheuser, board member of Sparkasse Bremen

Retrospective

As a director, Stephen Frears has overseen 73 film and TV productions and never restricted himself to one genre. This made it all the more difficult to make a small yet representative selection. Stephen Frears achieved his international breakthrough with “My Beautiful Laundrette”. “Prick Up Your Ears” was the first proof of his love for biographical stories. “High Fidelity” is considered a skillful excursion to North America and was the highest rated Sneak Preview at the Schauburg in Bremen for over a decade. “Florence Foster Jenkins” makes us laugh despite its tragedy and marvel at Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant in peak form. Lastly, there is the true story of the remains of Richard III. which Stephen Frears himself says he is very fond of.

The Lost King
Florence Foster Jenkins
My Beautiful Laundrette
High Fidelity

 

Prick Up Your Ears

 

Brian and Maggie
(will be show as part of the Gala)

About the Bremer Filmpreis by Sparkasse Bremen

 

Since 1999, the Bremer Filmpreis, donated by Sparkasse Bremen has been honouring personalities of the European film scene for many years of merit. Among the award-winning filmmakers are the Swiss actor Bruno Ganz, the Danish director Lars von Trier, the German actress Nina Hoss and actor and director  John Malkovich, who has been involved in many European productions.

 

With the cooperation partner Filmfest Bremen, the award, which is endowed with 8,000 euros, was given a new stage from 2019 onwards. Since then, the gala for the award has served as a festive opening event. The cooperation between Sparkasse Bremen and Filmfest Bremen makes it possible to continue the Bremer Filmpreis in a setting that is close to the audience and to once again award an annual prize of international appeal in the Hanseatic city. An important statement for Bremen as a centre for the art of film in our region.

A history of laureates

  • 2024

    John Malkovich

  • 2023

    Maria Schrader

  • 2022

    Aki Kaurismäki

  • 2021

    Hape Kerkeling

  • 2019

    Caroline Link

  • 2017

    Naum Kleimann

  • 2015

    Ruth Waldburger

  • 2014

    Sylvie Testud

  • 2013

    Béla Tarr

  • 2012

    Caroline Champetier

  • 2011

    Alberto Iglesias

  • 2010

    Ulrich Seidl

  • 2009

    Nina Hoss

  • 2008

    Lars von Trier

  • 2007

    Bettina Böhler

  • 2006

    Ken Loach

  • 2005

    Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne

  • 2004

    Kati Outinen

  • 2003

    Karl Baumgartner

  • 2002

    Marcel Ophüls

  • 2001

    Tilda Swinton

  • 2000

    Agnès Varda

  • 1999

    Bruno Ganz

Gefördert durch

Unterstützt von

Kooperationspartner

Medienpartner