Michael Ballhaus receives award from Max Ophüls Film Festival
A prize recognizing services to new German-language film
This year the Max Ophüls Film Festival (January 21-27) is awarding a special prize for services to new German film for only the second time. During the opening of the Saarbrucken festival, now in its thirty-fourth year, this honor will be bestowed on the cinematographer Michael Ballhaus. At eighteen years of age, Ballhaus had the opportunity to observe the shooting of Max Ophül’s LOLA MONTEZ (1955/56). He was so fascinated by the work of the cameraman Christian Matras that he decided to become a cameraman himself.
Michael Ballhaus eventually went on to gain three Oscar nominations. His path to international success was paved by his many collaborations with Rainer Werner Fassbinder during the 1970s. After moving to the USA he went on to work with Hollywood directors such as Mike Nichols, Francis Ford Coppola, Wolfgang Petersen, Robert Redford and above all Martin Scorsese.
In their statement explaining why they have chosen this year’s winner, the artistic directors of the Max Ophüls Film Festival, Gabriella Bandel and Philipp Bräuer, write: “For decades Michael Ballhaus has shown untiring commitment to providing invaluable services to new cinema as a teacher, mentor and patron, passing on his knowledge and international experience to young directors of photography to an extent far exceeding normal expectations. His passionate support for young cinematographic talent has also been given an institutional form with the founding of the Michael Ballhaus Foundation. It is a great honor to be able to recognize his services to new German-language cinema with this award.”
More information:
Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis
Photo left: © farbfilm verleih
Photo right: © Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis / Georg Valerius