German Films: Global German Story Ambassadors

By Nick Vivarelli

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – German screen arts have not in the recent past been “associated with words such as ‘glamorous’ or ‘great actors’,” points out Mariette Rissenbeek, head of promotional entity German Films, but that is changing, and this year the org’s annual program Face to Face With seeks to build on the growing reputation of Teutonic thesps.

During the Berlinale’s Drama Series Days sidebar, Face to Face will shine a spotlight on six emerging German actors, who were chosen from the rising ranks of thesps who crossover between film and TV. It’s a versatile bunch who developed their acting chops performing theater or ballet or music, and in some cases now have multi-disciplinary artistic careers. But what’s boosted their status as global German industry ambassadors is starring in hit international skeins such as “Deutschland 83,” “Babylon Berlin” and “Dark.”