Desert Flower producer Peter Herrmann and Dietmar Güntsche and Wolfgang Behr, producers of Wolfgang Panzer’s Der Grosse Kater, shared the best producer prize at the 31st Bavarian Film Awards held over the weekend.

The prize comes with a $287,644 (€200,000) that will be shared and must be invested in new film productions.

Sherry Hormann’s Desert Flower has attracted more than 1m cinema-goers in Germany and taken over $9.8m (€6.8m) since its release by Majestic Filmverleih last September. Panzer’s adaptation of Thomas Hürlimann’s bestseller, starring Bruno Ganz, Marie Bäumer and Ulrich Tukur, is released by Frenetic Films in Swizerland this week and in Germany, through Central Film, in May.

Meanwhile, Benjamin Heisenberg was awarded the newcomer director prize ahead of the world premiere of his second feature The Robber (Der Räuber) in the Berlinale’s competition next month. The honours for best newcomer actor went to Friedrich Mücke for his performance in Markus Goller’s drama Friendship!, which was released by Sony Pictures Releasing on January 14.

Katharina Schüttler was named best newcomer actress for her role as the daughter of a former terrorist in Susanne Schneider’s drama The Day Will Come (Es Kommt Der Tag). Barbara Sukowa picked up the best actress award for her portrayal of Hildegard von Bingen in Margarethe von Trotta’s Vision. while Mark Waschke took best actor for playing the lead role in Juraj Herz’s Second World War drama Habermann, which also won best director.

Other films recognised include Vickie The Viking, which won best family film and the audience award, and Petra Seeger’s look at the life and work of neuroscientist Eric Kandel, In Search Of Memory, which won best documentary.

The Honorary Award recognised the career of the veteran cinematographer-producer-director Joseph Vilsmaier. His latest film, the mountaineering drama Nanga Parbat, opened in Germanby last week.

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