The sound of fallingMasha Szilinski’s experimental drama that follows the lives of four young women from four different eras in rural East Germany, swept the German film awards, The Lolas, winning 10 Lolas including Best Picture and Best Director for Szilinski.
Shilinsky’s sophomore film, which premiered at Cannes last year and won the Jury Prize, was the 2026 frontrunner Lolas and won in every category that was on the nomination sheet. Winner of the Berlin Film Festival, directed by İlker Catak Yellow letterswhich had nine nominations for The sound of falling11, was close to closing, receiving only second place Silver Lola for Best Picture and Best Score for composer Marvin Miller.
Simon Verhoeven comedy Ah, diese Lücke, diese entsetzliche Lücketook home two acting awards: Best Actress for 85-year-old Sinta Berger, the Grande Dame of German cinema (and mother of Simone Verhoeven), who kissed her first-ever Lola in Berlin on Friday night, and Michael Wittenborn, another beloved veteran, who played her on-screen husband.
The Best Actor award went to August Diehl for his film The Disappearance of Josef Mengele, directed by Kirill Serebrennikov, in which he plays a famous Nazi doctor on the run in South America after World War II.
Actor Christian Friedel (area of interest, White lotus) hosted 76y Edition of the German Film Awards in a ceremony that was surprisingly emotional and political.
Legendary German director Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas, Between us, Perfect days) He received an honorary Lola for his life’s work. He used his speech to turn to self-criticism, reflecting on the decisions he made over his 60 years in cinema. In particular, Wenders talked about a scene from his 1975 film Wrong movewhich includes a topless shot of actress Nastaszja Kinski, who was only 13 years old at the time. Wenders said he will not be filming that scene today and is “struggling” with the question of whether to permanently cut it from the film, and is asking younger filmmakers in the audience to help resolve the issue.
The audience at the Berlin show gave Tricia Tuttle a standing ovation when she took the stage to present the Best Director award. It was a show of support for the director of the Berlin Film Festival, who nearly lost her job earlier this year amid a campaign led by the right-wing press to oust her over pro-Palestinian remarks made by one of this year’s Berlin Film Festival winners. Ingo Fleiss, producer Yellow lettersused his Silver Lola acceptance speech to directly call out German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer, sitting in the audience, who had pressured Tuttle to resign.
Below is the complete list of German Film Awards winners.
Lola for Best Picture
The sound of fallingmonastery. Masha Shilinsky
Lola won silver for Best Picture
Yellow lettersmonastery. İlker Katak
Lola Bronze for Best Film
Ah, diese Lücke, diese entsetzliche Lückemonastery. Simon Verhoeven
Best director
Masha Shilinsky l The sound of falling
Best Documentary Film
Siri Hostveit – Dancing around oneself
Best movie for children
Circus boy
Best Actor
August Diehl L The disappearance of Josef Mengele
Best Actress
Sinta Berger L Ah, diese Lücke, diese entsetzliche Lücke
Best Supporting Actress
Lena Orzendovsky The sound of falling
Best Supporting Actor
Michael Wittenborn L Ah, diese Lücke, diese entsetzliche Lücke
Best cinematography
Fabian Jumper The sound of falling
Best editing
Evelyn Rack L The sound of falling
Best sound design
Claudio DeMille, Billy Mind, Kay Teppel, Sebastian Heiser, and Jürgen Schulz. The sound of falling
Best result
Marvin Miller L Yellow letters
Best fashion design
Sabrina Kramer L The sound of falling
Best production design
Cosima Felinser and Mike Kiefer The sound of falling
Best hair and makeup
Anne-Marie Walther and Irina Schwarz The sound of falling
Best visual effects
Michael Wortman, Frank Schlegel Momo
Best result
Marvin Miller L Yellow letters
Audience Award for Best Successful Film
Manitou boatmonastery. Michael “Bully” Herbig
Lola Lifetime Achievements
Wim Wenders
Bernd Ischinger Prize
Thomas Wepke, Philipp Trauer
