EVENT FSFF 2026: Hannelore-Elsner-Preisverleihung 2026

2026 Hannelore Elsner Award Ceremony

Actors and actresses fill the screen or the theater space. With a barely perceptible gesture, a barely noticeable glance, and a tiny change in their voice, they can open up a whole new world. Hannelore Elsner was such an actress. In memory of the actress, who passed away in 2019, the Hannelore Elsner Prize is awarded each year at the FÜNF SEEN FILMFESTIVAL. The award, endowed with 5,000 euros and established by Susanne and Carsten Zehm, honors outstanding achievements by German-speaking actresses.

In 2026, the award will be presented to the Swiss actressLuna Wedler. She will accept the award in person on September 4, 2026, at the Schlossberghalle in Starnberg. As part of the award ceremony, the film *SIE GLAUBEN AN ENGEL, HERR DROWAK?* by Nicolas Steiner, in which she plays the lead role alongside Karl Markovics, will be screened.

Host: BR host Christina Wolf (Bayern2 Welt am Morgen and kinokino)

In addition, the festival will honor the actress with a tribute and present the films *JE SUIS KARL* by Christian Schwochow, *SILENT FRIEND* by Ildikó Enyedi, and Mia Maariel Meyer’s film adaptation of Caroline Wahl’s bestseller *22 BAHNEN*.

Festival Director Matthias Helwig: “It’s impressive to see the body of work Luna Wedler has already built up at such a young age. However, it’s also perfectly understandable that so many directors—including some very famous ones—have entrusted her with the lead role: Luna Wedler plays her characters with great naturalness and conveys their emotions with impressive intensity, yet also with subtlety. We are delighted to be able to introduce this outstanding actress to our audience in the Five Lakes Region.”

Previous recipients of the Hannelore Elsner Prize:
2025: Leonie Benesch
2024: Corinna Harfouch
2023: Paula Beer
2022: Sandra Hüller
2021: Birgit Minichmayr
2020: Nina Hoss
2019: Barbara Auer