100 years of Studio Babelsberg

Studio Babelsberg is not only the world's oldest large-scale film studio complex, it is said to be the birthplace of German film and a major force in the development of international cinema. And at this year's Berlinale, Studio Babelsberg will be celebrating their 100th anniversary.

Brad Pitt on the set of Quentin Tarantino's film Inglourious Basterds at Babelsberg Studios. Photo © Francois Duhamel

Babelsberg's story began with the production of Urban Gad's film Der Totentanz (The Dance of the Dead) starring Asta Nielsen, and in the 100 years since many greats have filmed there: Fritz Land, Alfred Hitchcock, Roman Polanski, and Quentin Tarantino.  In 1933 the studio was increasingly used for the production of Nazi propaganda films, and later became a part of the GDR.  When DEFA (Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft—a public-owned East German operation) was founded in 1949, they began producing films there—a total of 1500 between its foundation and 1990.  After the fall of the Berlin Wall the studios were privatized and are now headed by Carl Woebcken and Christoph Fisser.

“Studio Babelsberg has written film history and, both politically and film historically, experienced a turbulent 100 years. Today it still enjoys high regard at home and abroad as a production site. The Berlinale wants to congratulate the studio on its birthday and looks forward to many more Babelsberg films,” said Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick.

To celebrate the film studio's anniversary, a ten-film review of their history will be presented at this year's Berlinale.  One film will be shown from each decade of the studio's life, including Josef von Sternberg's The Blue Angel, Konrad Wolf's Goya, Roman Polanski's The Pianist, and Stephen Daldry's The Reader.

Babelsberg will also be honored at the Berlinale with a Berlinale Camera—an award that has been given out since 1986 to “film personalities or institutions to which [the Berlinale] feels particularly indebted and wishes to express its thanks.”

Current Babelsberg productions include Roland Emmerich's politcal thriller and pseudo-historical drama Anonymous, Joe Wright's action-thriller Hanna, and Jaume Collet-Serra's psychological thriller Unknown.  Visit the Berlinale website for birthday celebration screening information.