Unleashing the Drama: "September 5" Wins Big at German Film Awards
"German Film Award is claimed by September 5" or "September 5 emerges victorious in German Film Award"
Get ready for an intense ride! The 1972 Munich Olympics attack tale, "September 5," swept the German Film Awards, knocking rivals out of the park. This thriller by Tim Fehlbaum snatched nine awards, including Best Feature Film, and acclaimed Leonie Benesch for Best Supporting Actress. The screenplay, direction, and editing were also celebrated.
"September 5" was no stranger to nominations, counting ten across various categories. This Swiss director's opus narrates the chilling story of the 1972 Olympics hostage crisis from the eyes of an American TV team meant to report on the games but instead find themselves reporting live as Israeli athletes become hostages of a Palestinian terrorist group. Marked by suspense, "September 5" is a cautionary tale of chaos, meticulously spun with calm. Regrettably, it missed the Oscar's Best Original Screenplay trophy.
Cinematic Highlights: A.K.A. The Newsroom Thrillers
The Silver Lola nod went to "The Seed of the Holy Fig Tree" by Mohammad Rasoulof, which revolves around Iranian protests following the demise of Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini in 2022. The heartwarming "In Love, Yours, Hilde" by Andreas Dresen took home the Bronze Lola.
The night held poignant moments, such as when the news broke of Margot Friedländer's death. Star pianist Igor Levit, visibly emotional, paid an impromptu tribute to the 103-year-old Holocaust survivor on stage. After the heartrending tribute, the audience stood in silence, with Levit's voice faltering as he fought back tears.
Globe-trotting Talent: Honoring Notable Performances
There were memorable performances abound! Misagh Zare bagged the Best Actor award for "The Seed of the Holy Fig Tree," and Liv Lisa Fries took home the Best Leading Actress accolade for her role as NS resistance fighter Hilde Coppi in "In Love, Yours, Hilde." Runners-up in the Best Actor category, Sam Riley for "Cranko" and "Islands," and Alexander Scheer for "Cologne 75" and "In Love, Yours, Hilde," went home empty-handed.
Around 1,700 guests, including the new culture minister Wolfram Weimer, graced the event at the Theater am Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, making the German Film Awards a prestigious affair.
Synopsis of "September 5"
Shake things up with "September 5," directed by Tim Fehlbaum, which presents a riveting tale inspired by the real-life 1972 Munich Olympics terror attack. The film offers a birds-eye view into the backstage chaos, as a hasty ABC Sports team grapple with tough split-second decisions, such as ethically debating how to report on the attackers and whether or not to censor graphic content. The talented cast includes Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin, and Leonie Benesch, who portrays a translator for the U.S. television network [1][5].
Awards and Nominations
The film has garnered considerable recognition, including:
- Academy Award Nomination: A nomination for Best Original Screenplay in 2025 [4]
- Golden Globe Nomination: Nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, Drama [3]
- German Film Awards (Lolas): In addition to Best Film and Best Director nominations, Leonie Benesch earned a nod for Best Supporting Actress [2]
- Leonie Benesch's outstanding performance in the film "September 5" was awarded Best Supporting Actress at the German Film Awards.
- The thriller movie "September 5," set during the 1972 Munich Olympics hostage crisis, won nine awards at the German Film Awards, including Best Feature Film.
- In Munich, the "Movies-and-TV" industry gathered for the annual award ceremonies, where "September 5" was one of the standout winners.
- Despite the success of "September 5" at the German Film Awards, it missed out on the Oscar's Best Original Screenplay trophy in 2025.
