The moment has come! After celebrating the incredible queer movies of the International Berlin Film Festival for the past month, we now know the names of the 2023 TEDDY AWARD winners.
The 37th edition of the TEDDY AWARD proved once again that there are infinite ways to tell queer stories. Our nominated films of 2023 illustrated this diversity in the best way possible, and we are overjoyed to see the work of all the directors, actors and behind-the-scenes workers being praised and appreciated. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, only one can win!
Without further ado, here are the 2023 winners. And the TEDDY goes to…
We’re excited to have four fantastic DJs on board who will provide the best sound for the big TEDDY Party at Berlin’s Volksbühne.
Pat Bernetti started her career in NYC and now resides in Berlin, playing in clubs, festivals, awards, galas and events all over the world, where she thrills the party crowds with her mix of RnB, Hip Hop, House, Pop, Funk, Oldies, Rock, Electro Swing & Charts.
DJ Trust.The.Girl is electrifying queer crowds all over Germany with her colorful, vibrant mix of diverse genres.
Amperia is a queer, non binary Berlin-based DJ. Known for their party Golosissima and as resident and curator of Autopoiesis and poly|motion, they will be playing a driving techno house set.
Ābnamā: a can of worms wearing lipstick on the can, a return to the source of all things considered and a flashback to bearings lost but never had. Based in Berlin, co-organizer and resident at DUMP, she is known for driving grooves that span across various genres.
You can find the full overview of queer films presented at the 37. TEDDY Awards here. Presentations of films from former TEDDY editions are available in our film database.
Curated by Panorama and organised with the Queer Academy, A Directors Exchange analyses the work of filmmakers whose films are being presented at the festival and are in contention for the TEDDY AWARD.
TIMETABLE
11.30am – 12.30pm: A Directors Exchange on Queering the Framework – In conversation with Patric Chiha and Matthew Rankin
Patric Chiha, director of Si c’était de l’amour, and Matthew Rankin, director of The Twentieth Century, use various styles and artistry in their films to queer the framework where stories told through dance and theatrical staging become celebrations of transformation.
Patric Chiha & Matthew Rankin
Patric Chiha: Born in Vienna, Austria in 1975, he studied fashion design in Paris and then film editing at the INSAS film school in Brussels. His short and documentary films have screened at several festivals. His feature film debut Domaine, starring Béatrice Dalle, premiered at the 2009 Venice Film Festival. His documentary Brothers of the Night screened in the 2016 Panorama.
Matthew Rankin: Born in Winnipeg, Canada in 1980. He studied at the Department of History and Classical Studies at McGill University in Montreal, as well as Université Laval in Quebec. In 2011, Rankin participated at Berlinale Talents. Following numerous short films, The Twentieth Century is his first feature film.
Moderation: Ana David
1pm – 2pm: A Directors Exchange on New Queer German Cinema – In conversation with Faraz Shariat and Leonie Krippendorff
Two films with a fresh take on coming of age and coming to terms with ideas of home and belonging in a post-migrant society. Faraz Shariat, director of Futur Drei and Leonie Krippendorff, director of Kokon, talk about their motivations, inspirations and desires for creating their own stories.
Faraz Shariat & Leonie Krippendorff
Faraz Shariat: Born in Cologne, Germany in 1994, he worked first as a director and actor at Schauspiel Köln and on video installations for the Staatstheater Hannover before studying dramatic arts at the University of Hildesheim. His work focuses on post-migrant experiences and stories about immigrant families. His debut feature film, Futur Drei, evolved from his autobiographical documentaries exploring his family history and from his work as a translator for refugees. The film was developed in collaboration with Paulina Lorenz and Raquel Molt in the Jünglinge film collective, where the three have been working together ever since they met at university.
Leonie Krippendorff: Born in Berlin, Germany in 1985, she studied directing at the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf from 2009 to 2016. Her graduation film, Looping, was nominated for numerous national and international prizes and won several. The screenplay for her debut feature film, Kokon, was selected for the 2018 Berlinale Talents Script Station. She is currently working on the screenplays for two new feature film projects. Variety chose her as one of “10 Europeans to Watch 2020.”
The exceptional Brazilian singer Edson Cordeiroand the BABYLON Orchester Berlinunder the direction of the composer and pianist Hans Brandner and the conductor Marcelo Falcão take the audience on a time journey to the Weimar Republic – into the so-called roaring ’20s and ’30s. An exciting era comes to life again.
Countertenor Edson Cordeiro will perform songs with the orchestra from this time singing as if he’d just stepped out of an expressionist silent movie -only with a four-octave voice! A singular and unique experience for eyes and ears.
In 1919, the first educational film about homosexuality – “Anders, als die anderen,” (“Different from the others”) – was directed by Richard Oswald, with Conrad Veidt in the leading role. This film also inspired a hit song of 1919, a hymn of the gay movement of the Weimar Republic “Das Lila Lied”. The lyrics say: “We are just different from the others, ” who only loved in step with morality…”
Holly Schlott
Holly Schlott is the first TransSaxophonist in Germany. Over 40 years in the music business worldwide on her way as Volker she finally decides on the occasion of her round birthday to “come to her own terms”. With her special TransSax she enchants the music world since 2018 now in a new shape. Her vision: a Global Trans Orchestra.
Emma Laule
Emma Laule combines elegance with power and presence in her aerial acrobatics. The Berlin-born artist studied first in Berlin and then in Holland, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Circus and Performance Art in 2016. In the same year she was awarded the silver medal and the special prize of the Tigerpalast at the International Youth Circus Festival.
Since then she has performed throughout Germany and around the world in variety shows, theatres and at festivals.In her productions she questions the traditional approach of the circus and searches for new possibilities of expression within the medium. As an acrobat in René Pollesch’s “Kill Your Darlings” she has already performed at the Volksbühne. At this year’s TEDDY-Award ceremony she will show her solo on the vertical rope.
LEOPOLD is a statement himself. With his impressive voice, a highly energetic stage presence and extravagant outfits he belongs to a new generation of self-confident queer artists. Musically inspired by geniuses like Janelle Monáe, Lizzo, Prince and Beyoncé, LEOPOLD shines with his stunning vocal skills, musical variety and powerful choreographies.
He breaks down gender boundaries and fights for real equality, acceptance and visibility of LGBTQI+. All songs are self-written and come with very personal lyrics. LEOPOLD creates his Power Pop with lots of heart, humanity and an empowering attitude.
