Never in the history of the Oscars has a German film had as many chances of winning trophies as "Nothing New in the West" this year. The anti-war drama by director Edward Berger is the first German film to have a chance at the top category "Best Film". This is a sensation for the German film landscape. How much he wins in the end is of course uncertain. In the more than 90-year history of the prize, only nine German films have won a trophy at all - with the exception of German co-productions.
What the Academy Says About "Nothing New in the West."
A database search showed that there were several nominated films in the "Best Film" category with a German co-production, the Oscar Academy announced on Wednesday. "However, none of them were solely or primarily a German production."
It was announced on Tuesday that "Nothing New in the West" has nine chances for a trophy. Among them is a rare double nomination in the top category "Best Film" and as Best International Film. The drama is also for camera, make up
German successes at the foreign Oscar
In the past, the Academy rarely awarded prizes for German films. And if so, then only in ancillary areas. Only three German productions won the award for the best international (non-English language) film. Most recently, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck's "The Lives of Others" was successful in 2007. In 1980 the film adaptation of the novel "The Tin Drum" by Volker Schlöndorff received this award, in 2003 "Nowhere in Africa" by Caroline Link.
German documentaries and short films with Oscars
In 1960, the German documentary "Serengeti Shall Not Die" by Michael and Bernhard Grzimek won an Oscar. In 2009, the trophy for the best short film went to "Spielzeugland" by filmmaker Jochen Alexander Freydank. In the same category, Florian Gallenberger's short film "Quiero ser" won in 2001 and Pepe Danquart's short film "Schwarzfahrer" in 1994.
The German puppet animation film "Quest" by Tyron Montgomery and Thomas Stellmach secured the Oscar for best animated short film in 1997. Another puppet animation - "Balance" by Christoph and Wolfgang Lauenstein - won in this category in 1990.
Co-productions and prominent Germans with Oscars
As a production country, Germany was more often involved in films that were nominated in various categories or won Oscars, such as "Aviator", "Inglourious Basterds" or "The Reader". And of course there are prominent Germans who have won Oscars for films produced in other countries. The last Germans to win an Oscar were composer Hans Zimmer and special effects artist Gerd Nefzer for "Dune" in 2022. Zimmer has been nominated many times. Like Nefzer, he won twice.
