Helke Misselwitz, Director
Documentary and feature film director
Member of the Section (since 1991), Director (since 2024)
Helke Misselwitz
© Tony Vahl
Film and Media Arts Section
The Film and Media Arts Section organises exhibitions, film screenings and discussion forums and stages the annual Berlin Audio Play Festival. It is responsible, in alternate years, for awarding the prestigious Konrad Wolf Prize.
Members of the Film and Media Art Section, May 2024
© Marcus Lieberenz
About the Section
The Film and Media Arts Section – the most recent section to be created by the Akademie der Künste (West) – began work in 1985 under the directorship of Peter Lilienthal and Eberhard Fechner. Since the founding of the Akademie der Künste (East), filmmakers there had been part of its Performing Arts Section.
Konrad Wolf Prize 2023 awarded to Julian Assange, jury members Thomas Heise, Nele Hertling and Thomas Wendrich, along with Stella Assange, lawyer and wife of Julian Assange, who accepted the prize on his behalf (f.l.t.r.).
© David Baltzer
Reorganised in 1993 when the two academies were amalgamated, the section combines the cinematic arts, media art, photography, audio drama, and film criticism and theory. Alongside directors, it includes major international artists representing the crafts of cinematography, screenwriting, production, editing, sound, composition and set design.
Members are involved in the Akademie programme, supplying ideas for film and audio play events and exhibitions. They fulfil their remit with respect to cultural policy by initiating formats for discussing current issues, supporting petitions and representing artistic and cultural concerns on the rbb broadcasting board.
Directors
Peter Badel, Deputy Director
Cameraman
Member of the Section (since 2024), Deputy Director (since 2024)
Peter Badel
© Ulrich Wüst
Former Directors
Former directors are Thomas Heise (2018–2024), Rosa von Praunheim (2015–2018), Jutta Brückner (2009–2015), Hans Helmut Prinzler (2000–2009), Volker Koepp (1997–2000), Erwin Leiser (1996), Peter Lilienthal (1984–1996).
Former deputy directors are Helke Misselwitz (2018–2024), Michael Ruetz (2016–2018), Jutta Brückner (2015–2016; 2003–2009), Jeanine Meerapfel (2012–2015), Hans Helmut Prinzler (2009–2012; 1997–2000), Volker Koepp (2000–2003), Heiner Carow (1996), Reinhard Hauff (1992–1996), Eberhard Fechner (1984–1992).
Programme
Programming Focuses and Exhibitions
The section’s programming includes screenings of artistic documentaries with the filmmakers in attendance, films that embrace feminist counter-narratives and a re-reading of works from film history as seen from a contemporary perspective.
The photographic exhibitions and themed shows focus on the dialogue between artists and the arts, most recently Keep a Stiff Upper Lip! Gundula Schulze Eldowy and Robert Frank (2024), By-Products of Love – Rosa von Praunheim, Elfi Mikesch and Werner Schroeter (2018) and Tell It to the Stones – The Work of Danièle Huillet and Jean-Marie Straub (2017).
Other highlights included Thomas Heise’s installation Entfernte Verwandte (Distant Relatives) on the history of the Akademie (East), which featured as part of the exhibition Arbeit am Gedächtnis – Transforming Archives (2021), and the retrospective Helga Paris – Photographer (2019/20), one of the most successful exhibitions to be staged at the Pariser Platz venue.
The section works closely together with various partners such as the Berlin Audio Play Festival, the German Film Critics Association and Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art.
© Deutsche Kinemathek
© szim / Foto: Schäfers/Beims/Luncke
© Kati Misselwitz
Dokumentation: Peter Badel
Dokumentation: Peter Badel
© Heimann + Schwantes / Plakatmotiv: Helga Paris, Ramona, 1982
© Harf Zimmermann
© Markus Tiarks
Publications
HALT DIE OHREN STEIF! KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP!
Gundula Schulze Eldowy + Robert FrankHALT DIE OHREN STEIF! KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP!
Gundula Schulze Eldowy + Robert Frank€28
Poesie der Zeit
Poesie der Zeit
CONTINENT – In Search of Europe
CONTINENT – In Search of Europe