GERMANY: Germany's answer to the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys - the Bambi - awarded in Stuttgart

German national goalkeepers Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann, Sweden's queen Silvia, the New York band "Scissor Sisters" and the German maker of a hit movie on the 2006 World Cup are among this year's recipients of the annual German media "Bambi" award hosted in Stuttgart on Thursday night (November 30). Considered Germany's answer to the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys, the Bambi honours celebrities from the world of entertainment, culture, sports and politics and is regarded as Germany's most prestigious media award. Hundreds of guests, among them stars and starlets, attended the ceremony at Stuttgart's Mercedes museum which was broadcast live on German public television. In the category of "shooting star," "Scissor Sisters" were awarded a Bambi just four days before the band's latest release of their single "Land Of A Thousands Words." "We'll find out how much it's worth when we go home and melt it down," singer Ana Matronic joked as she arrived on the red carpet. "No, it's fantastic, Germany is an incredible country and we had some amazing shows here and have lots of friends here, so it's great to be recognised," said Matronic of the Scissor Sisters. Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters was also pleased. "I think it's really important. We've been coming to Germany since 2003, first time we played here was New Year's 2003 at Panorama Bar in Berlin and, so, to go from there to here is really exciting for us. We physically put in a lot of hours, we worked really hard for it, so it's really exciting," he said. German-born queen Silvia of Sweden received an "Honourary Bambi" for her "outstanding involvement for children." Addressing the audience in her native language, queen Silvia told the crowd in her speech that "as a woman, as a mother and queen it took me a lot of courage too to discuss the sexual abuse of children." German movie maker Soenke Wortmann received his Bambi for "the most emotional documentary of the year" when he filmed "Germany. A summer fairy tale." Wortmann accompanied the Germany squad before and during the 2006 World Cup, documenting the team's highs and producing a box office hit. Other Bambi recipients this year included American actor Samuel L. Jackson in the category "Film International." "You can't rank prizes. I don't compare - you get them, you appreciate them, it's something I didn't expect. So, it's a pleasant surprise. It will have a special place along with the silver bear and other prizes I have at home I kinda hide and keep to myself so I'll have it and I'll feel good about it. It's great to be acknowledged for the hard work you put in," said Jackson. The crew of the movie "The Perfume" by producer Bernd Eichinger and director Tom Tykwer, with young British actor Ben Whishaw was awarded a Bambi for "Best Film of the Year." According to the organisers, the Hubert Burda media group, some 800 guests attended the annual event which was first held in 1948. Among those present in Stuttgart were tennis legend Boris Becker, Victoria Beckham, the chief organiser for the 2006 World Cup, Franz Beckenbauer and German-born fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. In past years, locations for the event changed from Berlin to Munich and most recently to Stuttgart.

ITN Source | December 7, 2006

Tags:. .tale. .museum. .documenting. .regarded. .language