Jack Woodhead is a reincarnation of the cabaret in modern attire. His own show “Fish and Whips” is one of Berlin’s burlesque comedy must-see events. With flawless piano playing and grandiose singing, he always manages to walk the fine line between loud, funny, trashy tones and calm poetics.
When: 14.02.14
9 pm @TEDDY AWARD Gala
Where: Komische Oper Berlin
Ticket Hotline: Tel.: +49-(0)30-4799 7474
He bends his body into virtually impossible positions: South African Jade Lee Petersen is one of the few male contortionists. He was discovered by the art pool BASE BERLIN, the first to bring him to Germany. In Berlin, he developed a rococo rock contortion performance with varieté producers Markus Pabst and Pierre Caesar. Before the audience’s eyes, multi-faceted images emerge between the person and his costume. The superlatively heterogenous elements of style blend together into a single unit, into the fascinating lines of a being effectively androgynous.
When: 14.02.14
9 pm @TEDDY AWARD Gala
Where: Komische Oper Berlin
Ticket Hotline: Tel.: +49-(0)30-4799 7474
A master of the winds: Varieté director Pierre Caesar is performing again, set to float over the stage at the Teddy Awards. In a harness specially developed for him, he can defy gravity, flying as if on his own. He nails breathtaking double corks and triple somersaults with fascinating ease. Pierre Caesar displayed his bungee skills for the first time in front of Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Variety Show. Now, he performs a new form at the Teddy Award. We believe he can fly!
When: 14.02.14
9 pm @TEDDY AWARD Gala
Where: Komische Oper Berlin
Ticket Hotline: Tel.: +49-(0)30-4799 7474
Sigrid Grajek (aka comedy figure “Coco Lorès”) sees in Claire Waldoff the “mother of all cabaret satirists”. With suitable passion, the actress brings the life and songs of the notable cabaret singer to the stage by stepping into the character of Claire Waldoff and having her sing, play and tell things just like they are.
When: 14.02.14
11 pm @TEDDY AWARD After Show Lounge
Where: Komische Oper Berlin
Ticket Hotline: Tel.: +49-(0)30-4799 7474
Name: Lucia Kajankova
Country: Czech Republic
Festival: Mezipatra
How do you like Berlin? What is special about the city for you?
I adore Berlin and have been visiting the city quite regularly since I was 16. For me, it’s a sister-city to my home at Prague (and quite close to get there quickly) – but kinkier, more dynamic and mixed in what is there to experience expecially in the indie & queer scene, just the perfect place to be weird and enjoy that.
How would you describe the Berlinale in one sentence?
Where cinephiles, industry, emerging filmmakers, stars, friends and “wait-till-you-hear-about-my-new-project”-attention-hunters gather for ten days on an immensely fun and exhausting 10-day freezing hunt for films, caffeine and the one thing to remember after we all go home.
What was your first encounter with the TEDDY AWARD?
It was the same year I started programming and first visited Berlinale. Pretty much my whole schedule was quickly based on the TEDDY selection. Jake Yuzna’s Open, one of my favourite ground-breaking queer films won the Jury Special Mention.
In your eyes, what does the TEDDY AWARD symbolize? What does it stand for? What makes it unique?
It symbolizes the merge of grand film festivals (such as Berlinale itself, Cannes, Venice, Sundance and so) and the distinctive place of specialized queer / lgbt film festivals – as a communication space between the two worlds as well as an appreciation for the role queer / lgbt films and filmmakers have (and should have) in the main spotlight. And this was a long battle, of which TEDDY AWARD is one the important pioneers.
Tell us about a movie you’ve recently seen.
Wolf of Wall Street – pure orgy of what is the power of cinematic storytelling while rejecting the appeal to moralize that is often asked of artists. I tremendously enjoyed the film.
