The German premiere of Inglourious Basterds will take place in Berlin tomorrow. The movie is distributed by Universal Pictures International. Director Quentin Tarantino as well as the German and the international cast are expected at the theatre at Potsdamer Platz, among them Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, Til Schweiger, August Diehl and Gedeon Burkhard. Producers Lawrence Bender, Lloyd Phillips, Harvey Weinstein and Pilar Savone as well as Christoph Fisser, Henning Molfenter and Charlie Woebcken from Studio Babelsberg will join the cast on the red carpet. Inglourious Basterds was realized by Studio Babelsberg as executive production company and shot at Babelsberg’s famous stages as well as on location in Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony.
We were working with Quentin Tarantino for more than six months, preparing and then shooting at Babelsberg and on location in Germany and Paris. Once more our crew did an excellent job.
Charlie Woebcken
CEO Studio Babelsberg
Co-Producer
Charlie Woebcken, CEO Studio Babelsberg and co-producer of Inglourious Basterds:
“Having Quentin Tarantino in Babelsberg meant collaborating with one of the world’s most remarkable filmmakers. We were working together for more than six months, preparing and then shooting at Babelsberg and on location in Germany and Paris. Once more our crew did an excellent job. The Art Department Studio Babelsberg built impressive sets, not only at the stages of the renowned Marlene-Dietrich-Halle and on the Studio’s back lot, but also on various locations. In particular, we are glad about the large number of German actors participating in the movie. The worldwide attention is definitely going to promote the careers of the German cast involved. Along with Christoph Waltz, particularly August Diehl, Daniel Brühl and Til Schweiger performed their parts convincingly.”
German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) supported Inglourious Basterds with €6.8M. Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg subsidized the movie with €600,000, and Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM) contributed with €300,000. The movie had, however, a positive impact on German economy: Over €37M of the production costs were spent in Germany. The crew included more than 350 people, coming mainly from the region Berlin-Brandenburg. About 4,000 extras were engaged for the project. Moreover, numerous local companies like light and camera equipment suppliers, crafts enterprises, casting agencies, car rentals and hotels were involved.
Inglourious Basterds had its world premiere in May at the Festival de Cannes and was received with standing ovation. Christoph Waltz was awarded “Best Actor” for his performance. The movie opens in German theatres on August 20, 2009.
