The film September 5 won top honors at the German Film Awards, or Lolas, held in Berlin on Friday night, May 9, 2025. Directed by Tim Fehlbaum, this real-life thriller, based on the terrorist attacks during the 1972 Munich Olympics, swept the awards, taking home nine Lolas, including accolades for best director, best editing, best cinematography, best sound design, best screenplay, best makeup, and best production design.
Leonie Benesch, who played a translator for the U.S. television network broadcasting the attacks live to the world, received the award for best supporting actress. September 5 premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2024 and later garnered a nomination for best original screenplay at the Oscars, with contributions from Fehlbaum, Moritz Binder, and Alex David.
Accepting his award for best director, Fehlbaum took a moment to praise his German team, while also delivering a pointed remark aimed at former President Donald Trump regarding his proposed tariffs on foreign films. "They can raise the tariffs as high as they want, there is no reason to make films anywhere else [than here]," he stated, highlighting the strength of the German film industry.
Wolfram Weimer, the newly appointed German culture minister, presented the award for best film and echoed Fehlbaum's sentiments, criticizing Trump's tariff proposal as "absurd" and humorously suggesting that the next step could be tariffs on jokes to prevent people from making fun of him.
In addition to September 5's success, Liv Lisa Fries won the best actress award for her portrayal of Hilde Coppi in From Hilde, With Love, a historical drama that also earned the bronze Lola for best film. In her acceptance speech, Fries addressed the alarming rise of far-right extremism in Germany, stating, "It’s getting serious. This can’t happen again." This theme of political awareness resonated throughout the ceremony, as several winners voiced concerns regarding the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has been gaining traction in recent polls despite being labeled extremist by Germany’s domestic intelligence service.
German musician Igor Levit, who paid tribute to Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer, called for action against extremism. Friedländer, who had become a national conscience through her public appearances, passed away on the same day as the awards ceremony at the age of 103.
Missagh Zareh received the best actor award for his role as an Iranian patriarch in The Seed of the Sacred Fig, directed by Mohammad Rasoulof. This film, which portrays a family fractured by conflicting loyalties to an oppressive Tehran regime, was produced as a German-French co-production and filmed secretly in Iran. It also won the silver Lola for best film. Rasoulof, who fled Iran last year and now resides in Berlin, expressed gratitude in his acceptance speech, stating, "Making this film was a miracle, but the miracle was the Iranian women, who made this film possible." He concluded with a heartfelt appeal for solidarity with the people of Iran.
The awards were hosted by Christian Friedel, known for his roles in The Zone of Interest and the third season of The White Lotus. He showcased his musical talents alongside his band, Woods of Birnam, adding a lively atmosphere to the ceremony.
Other notable winners included Petra Kelly – Act Now!, which won the award for best documentary film, and Akiko, der fliegende Affe, which took home the title of best children’s film. The complete list of winners at the 2025 German Film Awards highlights the diversity of talent and storytelling in contemporary German cinema.
As the evening concluded, the triumph of September 5 stood out not only for its accolades but also for its poignant reflection on a dark chapter in history, reminding audiences of the importance of vigilance against extremism and the power of storytelling in shaping societal values.
