Cinematic event bestows honorary accolade upon Corinna Harfouch
Corinna Harfouch, the renowned German actress, was the highlight of the 32nd Film Art Festival in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The festival, a great success according to Patron Schwesig, saw Harfouch receive the honorary award for her outstanding contribution to German-language film and acting art.
Harfouch, best known for her portrayal of Magda Goebbels in the acclaimed 2004 film The Downfall (Der Untergang), has delivered critically acclaimed performances in various other films. In Treffen in Travers, she was nominated for a European Film Award. Her role in Lara saw her play a woman confronting personal and family challenges on her 60th birthday. In Dying (2025), she portrayed an elderly woman suffering from cancer while caring for her husband with late-stage Parkinson’s disease. Harfouch also starred in the recent film The Assistance, which wrapped filming in 2025.
The role of Magda Goebbels in The Downfall remains a defining performance in Harfouch's career. The film, a respected historical drama focusing on Hitler’s final days in the Führerbunker, features Harfouch's performance as Goebbels, depicted as fiercely loyal to the Nazi regime.
In her acceptance speech, Harfouch expressed her gratitude for the award, describing her career as an incredibly lucky coincidence. She wished to continue learning in her acting career and intends to incorporate aging into her acting, choosing not to hide it behind masks.
The main prize of the festival, the Flying Stag, was awarded to the Austrian romantic film "Stars Under the City" by director Chris Raiber. Verena Altenberger, the main actress of "Stars Under the City", received the award for best acting performance in the competition. Director Max Gleschinski was honoured for the film "Alaska", while Helmut Köpping and Michael Ostrowski were honoured for their work in the film "The Uncle".
Patron Schwesig thanked the loyal audience for the success of the festival and praised the organizing team led by artistic director Volker Kufahl for their commitment. Harfouch, who stated that she would take on any role, but the role must have a certain quality as a basic requirement, expressed her joy at being part of such a prestigious event. Mareike Beykirch received the newcomer award for her role in the film "Mess".
Despite her success on the big screen, television initially put Harfouch off. She had to be persuaded to stand in front of the camera again. However, her career started mainly as a theater actress and was treated with respect.
In conclusion, the 32nd Film Art Festival was a resounding success, with Corinna Harfouch's honorary award being a highlight. In total, prizes were awarded in 13 categories, recognising the talent and hard work of many in the German-language film industry.
- Corinna Harfouch's career in films, spanning from 'The Downfall' to her recent work in 'The Assistance', showcases her significant contributions to the realm of entertainment, particularly movies-and-tv.
- During her acceptance speech, Harfouch expressed her wish to continue learning in her acting career and emphasized her intention to incorporate entertainment involving aging into her future roles.
