At the 62nd International Film Festival in Cannes Christoph Waltz was awarded “Best Actor” (Prix d'interprétation masculine) for his performance in the Studio Babelsberg production Inglourious Basterds.
He convinced the jury led by Isabelle Huppert with his outstanding performance of the SS-Officer Hans Landa. Since Quentin Tarantino’s new director’s stroke premiered, Christoph Waltz was considered an aspirant to the popular award. Inglourious Basterds is a German competition entry. The Film was made and handed in by executive producer Studio Babelsberg (Zehnte Babelsberg Film).
Director Quentin Tarantino calls Christoph Waltz a „linguistic genius“, without whom the movie never could have been made. Brad Pitt comments on Waltz being an actor who “blows your socks off”.
Says Paul Steinschulte, General Manager of Universal Pictures International Germany: „We are very happy for Christoph Waltz. Once more, in Inglourious Basterds he was able to show his tremendous acting skills and absolutely deserves this award.”
In the future, Studio Babelsberg is going to continue casting international films with German talents
Christoph Fisser
COO Studio Babelsberg AG
Co-Producer
Says Christoph Fisser, Vice-President of Studio Babelsberg AG and co-producer of Inglourious Basterds: We congratulate Christoph Waltz with all our heart. His powerfully eloquent and physically impressive interpretation of the character is true acting. He dominates the film, in the languages French, English or German as well as in Italian, if necessary. The worldwide attention caused by the film is also going to promote the careers of the other German cast involved. Along with Christoph Waltz, particularly August Diehl, Daniel Brühl and Til Schweiger performed their parts convincingly. In the future, Studio Babelsberg is going to go on casting international films with German talents. We are looking forward to a new project with Christoph Waltz.”
Beside Christoph Waltz and international Stars like Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Mike Myers and Michael Fassbender, the casts includes numerous German actors such as Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, Til Schweiger, Gedeon Burkhard, Sylvester Groth, August Diehl, Martin Wuttke, Richard Sammel, Christian Berkel and Sönke Möhring.
Inglourious Basterds was subsidized by German Federal Film Fund (DFFF), Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM). The film opens in cinemas worldwide by the end of August 2009. The film was produced by Academy Award nominee Lawrence Bender. Erica Steinberg and Lloyd Phillips, as well as Bob and Harvey Weinstein are Executive Producers. Co-producers of Studio Babelsberg are Charlie Woebcken, Christoph Fisser and Henning Molfenter. Pilar Savone is Associate Producer. The Weinstein Co. distributes the film in the United States, Universal Pictures International holds the rights for international distribution.
